Sumanadasa Abeywickrama

Hon. Sumanadasa Abeywickrama
Member of Parliament for Akmeemana
In office 1977–1983
Preceded by	Senapala Samarasekera
Succeeded by	Richard Pathirana
Personal details
Born	Sumanadasa Abeywickrama (1928-02-05)5 February 1928
Died	27 February 2006(2006-02-27) (aged 78)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	United National Party
Spouse	Enid née Dias Nagahawatta
Relations	Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama (uncle) Keerthi Abeywickrama (cousin) Keerthilatha Abeywickrama (cousin)
Children	3

Sumanadasa Abeywickrama (5 February 1928 – 27 February 2006) was a Sri Lankan politician and a Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.^[1]

Abeywickrama was the son of Don Hendrick Abeywickrama, a Vidane Arachchi in Morawaka, Sri Lanka and Angelina (née Jayawickreme Wijetunge). He married Enid Dias Nagahawatta, former principal of the School of Nursing, Galle. They had three children.^[2][3][4]

Abeywickrama joined the United National Party and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Akmeemana Electoral District at the 8th Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election in 1977.^[5][6] He served as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Development and Research in the Jayewardene cabinet.^[7]

Abeywickrama contributed immensely to the development of the Galle District, particularly in his electorate. Under the village reawakening concept, he succeeded in building the highest number of housing units for homeless people in the area. Large housing projects like Amalgama and Apegama are examples of his efforts. In addition to that Abeywickrama contributed towards development of several highways, irrigation and educational programmes, including the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.^[3] He resigned from his seat in Parliament on 10 February 1983, along with 17 other members of the United National Party.^[7] He subsequently contested the parliamentary by-election for the seat but lost to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party candidate, Richard Pathirana, by 2,778 votes (only securing 44% of the total vote).^[8]

He was the cousin of Keerthisena Abeywickrama, District Minister for Matara and Member of Parliament for Deniyaya. They both contested for the United National Party and won seats at the 8th Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election in 1977.^[5] He was also the cousin of Keerthilatha Abeywickrama, Member of Parliament for Deniyaya (after the death of her brother, Keerthisena) and nephew of Padikara Muhandiram Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama.

Abeywickrama died on 27 February 2006 and was buried on the family estate in Morawaka.^[3][9]

See also

• List of political families in Sri Lanka
• Abeywickrama
• List of United National Party MPs

References

1. "Hon. Abeywickrema, Sumanadasa, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
2. "Our History". Gurubeula Resort. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
3. "Ex-Parliamentarian dies". The Island. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
4. "Obituaries". The Daily News. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
5. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
6. Dissanayaka, T. D. S. A. (1977). J. R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: The Inside Story of how the Prime Minister Led the UNP to Victory in 1977. Swastika Press. p. 158.
7. Rajasingham, K. T. (2002). "Sri Lanka: The Untold Story, Chapter 28". Asian Times. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
8. "Results of the Parliamentary By-Elections 1947-1988" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
9. "Obituaries". The Daily News. 3 March 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2020.