Sri Lankan politician
Lakshman Rajapaksa (24 July 1924 – 1981) was a Sri Lankan politician.
Rajapaska contested Hambantota electorate in 1947 General Elections , representing the Communist Party of Ceylon .[ 3] He was successful defeating his rival, Charles Edirisuriya , by a mere 400 votes,[ 4] becoming the youngest MP in the first Parliament.[ 5] Although he was defeated by Edirisuriya at the subsequent 1952 General Elections by almost 4,000 votes.[ 6] Rajapaska won the 1956 General Elections defeating Edirisuriya by 11,554 votes[ 3] [ 7] and was appointed as a Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Commerce and Trade.
At the March 1960 General Elections he successfully ran in the newly created Tissamaharama electorate as the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna candidate.[ 8] He won in the subsequent July 1960 General Elections [ 9] and helped to topple Sirimavo Bandaranaike ’s government by voting with the opposition's motion of no confidence in December 1964.[ 3] At the 1965 General Elections Rajapaska contested as an independent in the seat of Tissamaharama narrowly losing to his long-term rival, Edirisuriya, by 236 votes.[ 3] [ 10] He contested the seat again as an independent at the 1970 General Elections where he was defeated by the SLFP candidate, Tennyson Edirisuriya.[ 3] [ 11]
Following the death of his younger brother George Rajapaksa , Minister of Health and Fisheries on 18 June 1976 he was selected as the SLFP candidate for the 1976 Mulkirigala by election.[ 3] He was successful defeating the UNP candidate, T. D. Fransisku, by 4,000 votes.[ 12]
He then ran as the SLFP candidate in Tissamaharama electorate at the 1977 General Elections , losing by 7,770 votes to the UNP candidate, P. M. B. Cyril.[ 13]
Personal life
He was the eldest son of D. M. Rajapaksa , who was a member of State Council of Ceylon and the Senate of Ceylon .[ 2] [ 14]
References
^ "Hon. Rajapaksa, Lakshman, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka . Retrieved 17 May 2017 .
^ a b Pathirana, Mahinda; Premasiri, P. H. G. (3 September 2011). "The Rajapaksas' contribution to Lankan politics" . Daily News . Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013 .
^ a b c d e f Kurukularatne, Buddhika (12 December 2004). "Men and Memories : Rajapaksas of Giruwapattuwa - Lakshman's Fluctuating Political Career" . The Island . Retrieved 17 May 2017 .
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
^ de Costa, Jayatissa (7 June 2010). "Reminiscences of a close friend" . Daily News . Retrieved 17 May 2017 .
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1952" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1956" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 19 March 1960" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 20 July 1960" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 May 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Result of Parliamentary By Election 1976" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 May 2017 .
^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF) . Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 May 2017 .
^ "D. M. Rajapaksa: the Lion of Ruhuna" . Daily News . 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013 .
One–member (1947 – 1960) Multi–member (1989 – Present)