He was a Communist ideologist and a member of Lanka Sama Samaja Party's central committee also led the GCSU's "Golden era" in its history.
During the years from 1965–70, many incidents happened in Sri Lanka's politics and the union reacted to the changes by taking the side of the worker.
Wickrema's leadership the GCSU started work to build their own headquarters in front of the "Lake House" (the office of the government newspapers).
Sri Lanka's celebrated dramatist Henry Jayasena staged dramas to raise funds for the new building.
He was subjected to political revenge and his close relatives who worked in the public sector were transferred to difficult areas.