Lakshman Rajapaksa

Hon. Lakshman Rajapaksa
Member of the Ceylon Parliament for Hambantota
In office 20 September 1947 – 30 May 1952
Preceded by	constituency established
Succeeded by	Charles Edirisuriya
In office 10 April 1956 – 19 March 1960
Preceded by	Charles Edirisuriya
Succeeded by	constituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Tissamaharama
In office March 1960 – 1965
Preceded by	constituency established
Succeeded by	Charles Edirisuriya
Member of Parliament for Mulkirigala
In office September 1976 – June 1977
Preceded by	George Rajapaksa
Succeeded by	T. D. Fransisku
Personal details
Born	24 July 1924[1]
Died	18 June 1981(1981-06-18) (aged 56)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Communist Party of Ceylon, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Independent, Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Relations	D. M. Rajapaksa (father) George Rajapaksa (brother)
Alma mater	Wesley College, Colombo[2]
Occupation	Politics

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

1. "Hon. Rajapaksa, Lakshman, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
2. 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.
3. Kurukularatne, Buddhika (12 December 2004). "Men and Memories : Rajapaksas of Giruwapattuwa - Lakshman's Fluctuating Political Career". The Island. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
4. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
5. de Costa, Jayatissa (7 June 2010). "Reminiscences of a close friend". Daily News. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
6. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1952" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
7. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1956" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
8. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 19 March 1960" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
9. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 20 July 1960" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
10. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 May 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
11. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 May 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
12. "Result of Parliamentary By Election 1976" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
13. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
14. "D. M. Rajapaksa: the Lion of Ruhuna". Daily News. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.