J. D. Weerasekera | |
---|---|
Member of the Ceylon Parliament for Kotagala | |
In office 1956–1960 | |
Preceded by | U. B. Unamboowe |
Succeeded by | seat abolished |
Member of Parliament for Kotmale | |
In office 1960–1965 | |
Preceded by | seat created |
Succeeded by | D. B. Ranatunga |
In office 1970–1977 | |
Preceded by | D. B. Ranatunga |
Succeeded by | Ananda Dassanayake |
Personal details | |
Born | Jinadasa Don Weerasekera 23 October 1917 Kotmale |
Died | 2011 93–94) | (aged
Nationality | Ceylonese |
Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
Other political affiliations | Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshaya |
Spouse | Zita Millicent née Amaratunge |
Children | Nilanthie,Tissa,Kanthie |
Profession | tea planter,politician |
Jinadasa Don Weerasekera (23 October 1917 - 2011) was a Ceylonese politician. [1] [2]
Weerasekera was educated at S. Thomas' College,Mount Lavinia and Ananda College,Colombo which after graduating was employed in the plantation industry. [3] In 1951 he was elected to the Madapane Village Council and became its chairman. [4] In 1952 at the 2nd parliamentary election,held between 24 May and 30 May,he contested the seat of Kotagala,as an Independent candidate but was defeated,securing 3,179 votes (25% of the total vote). [5] At the 3rd parliamentary election,held between 5 April 1956 and 10 April 1956,Weerasekera was elected,representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party,defeating the United National Party incumbent Ukku Banda Unamboowe,by 1,523 votes. [6] [7]
In 1959 he was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industries and Fisheries in the S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike cabinet. [8] In December 1959 he joined Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshaya (Ceylon Democratic Party),formed by Dr. Wijeyananda Dahanayake. In January 1960 when the Prime Minister Wijeyananda Dahanayake sacked his cabinet,Weerasekera was appointed Minister of Industries and Fisheries in his caretaker government. At the March 1960 elections to the fourth Parliament,Weerasekera contested the newly created seat of Kotmale as a candidate of the Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshaya,winning the seat by 919 votes (securing 35% of the total vote). [9] He was one of only four members of the party to be elected to parliament. Prior to the subsequent July 1960 elections he rejoined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and was successful in retaining the seat,winning by a margin of 2,172 votes (securing 57.5% of the total vote). [10] On 5 August 1960 he was appointed as the chief government whip,a position he held until 25 September 1963. [11] At the 1965 elections he was defeated by the United National Party candidate,D. B. Ranatunga,by 1,957 votes. He regained the seat at the 1970 parliamentary elections but did not challenge at the 7th parliamentary election,held on 21 July 1977.
Weerasekera married Zita Millicent Amaratunge (?-2015) and they had three children:Nilanthie,Tissa and Kanthie. He died in 2011. [3]
Wijeyananda Dahanayake was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the Prime Minister of Ceylon from September 1959 to March 1960.
Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshaya was a political party in Sri Lanka. LPP was led by Dr. Wijeyananda Dahanayake. In the 1960 elections LPP was part of the 'Mahajana Eksath Peramuna' coalition,consisting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party,Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party,Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna and LPP.
Richard Gotabhaya Senanayake was a Sri Lankan politician. He was Minister of Trade and Commerce during the period 1952-56 and 1956-60. He was elected a Member of Parliament from Dambadeniya in 1952 and in 1956 from Kelaniya,thus holding concurrent seats from two constituencies,while he retained his seat from Dambadeniya in 1960 and 1965. He was the eldest son of the freedom fighter Fredrick Richard Senanayake and was educated at the Royal College,Colombo and at Downing College,Cambridge and had become a barrister.
Alexander Perera Jayasuriya was a Ceylonese politician. He was a Minister of Health,Senator and Member of Parliament. He was one of the founders of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
Wijesekera Don Simon Abeygoonawardena was a Ceylonese businessman and politician. He was a member of parliament for Galle electorate,representing the United National Party.
Senapala Samarasekera was a Sri Lankan politician.
Henry Abeywickrema was a Sri Lankan politician.
Kumara Vidanelage Don Sugathadasa was a Ceylonese politician.
Mudiyanse Tennakoon was a Ceylonese politician,colloquially known as Podi Putha.
Kalukumara Wanninayake Range Bandaralage Kavisena Herat was a Ceylonese politician.
Robert Edward Jayatilaka was a Ceylonese politician.
Mudiyanselage Chandrasena Ratnayake Beligammana was a Ceylonese politician
Ukku Banda Unamboowe was a Ceylonese politician.
Malwattege Simon Andrew Peeris,OBE was a Ceylonese businessmen and politician.
Mudiyanselage Andrew Dissanayake was a Ceylonese businessman,landholder and politician.
Al-Haj Meeralebbe Poddy Mohamed Mustapha was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician.
Hettiarachchige Nimal Chandrasoma Karunatillake was a Ceylonese journalist,author and politician.
Punchi Banda Aloysius Weerakoon was a Ceylonese educator and politician.
Yakupitiyage Gunatilleke Jayasinghe was a Ceylonese politician. He was the member of the Parliament of Ceylon representing the Lanka Sama Samaja Party for the Bandarawela electorate.
Sooriyasena Jinadasa was a Ceylonese politician. He was the member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka for Maskeliya,representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.