R. G. Samaranayake

Hon. R. G. Samaranayake
Member of the Parliament of Ceylon
In office March 1960 – July 1960
Preceded by	seat created
Succeeded by	Albert Kariyawasam
Constituency	Bentara-Elpitiya
In office 1965–1966
Preceded by	Albert Kariyawasam
Succeeded by	Albert Kariyawasam
Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
In office 1977–1989
Constituency	Beruwala
Personal details
Born	Richard Gregory Samaranayake (1923-11-12)12 November 1923
Died	18 June 1992(1992-06-18) (aged 68)
Political party	United National Party
Spouse	Irene née Jirasinghe
Children	2

Richard Gregory Samaranayake (12 November 1923 - 18 June 1992) was a Ceylonese planter and politician.^[1][2]

Richard Gregory Samaranayake was born on 12 November 1923, the eldest son of Hettiarachchige Don Saman Samaranayake of Mirigama. He was educated at Royal College, Colombo. He possesses a Diploma in Agriculture.

He contested the 4th parliamentary election, held on 19 March 1960, as the United National Party candidate in the newly created electorate of Bentara-Elpitiya. He defeated the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna candidate, Albert Kariyawasam, by 592 votes.^[3] At the subsequent 5th parliamentary election, held on 20 July 1960, Samaranayake lost to Kariyawasam, who now represented the Sri Lanka Freedom Party by 5,987 votes.^[4]

At the 6th parliamentary elections, held on 22 March 1965, Samaranayake received 22,085 votes (49% of the total vote) defeating the sitting member, Kariyawasam, by 5,987 votes.^[5][6] In November 1965 an Election Judge ruled the election result void, on the grounds that a sub-agent of Samaranayake, Soma Withanachchi, made false and misleading statements (allegations of bribery by Kariyawasam) at an election campaign meeting on 5 March 1965. A subsequent appeal by Samaranayake was dismissed on 1 August 1966 and the original decision was upheld.^[7] At the subsequent parliamentary by-election, held on 24 October 1966, his brother, Colin Wijesekera, ran in his place but was defeated by Kariyawasam by 1,677 votes.^[8][9]

Samaranayake married Irene Jirasinghe, the daughter of Reggie F. Jirasinghe and D. C. Wijesundere, they had two children.

References

1. "Hon. Samaranayake, Richard Gregory, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
2. Members of the Legislatures of Ceylon, 1931-1972. National State Assembly Library. 1972. p. 62.
3. "Result of Parliamentary General Election - 19 March 1960" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
4. "Result of Parliamentary General Election - 20 July 1960". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
5. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
6. Parliament of Ceylon (1966). Report on the Sixth Parliamentary General Election of Ceylon, 22d March, 1965. Vol. 20. Government Press. p. 42.
7. "The New Law Reports of Ceylon". LXIX. Ministry for Justice. 1966. Retrieved 29 May 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
8. "South Asian Studies : a Biannual Journal on South Asian Affairs". 2–4. South Asian Studies Centre, Department of Political Science, University of Rajasthan. 1969: 72. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
9. "Results of the by Elections Subsequent to Parliamentary General Election of 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 May 2021.