Chandra Gunasekera

Handapangoda Mudalige Chandrapala Gunasekera (known as Chandra Gunasekera) (10 June 1922 – before 2006) was a Sri Lankan politician who served as a Member of Parliament.^[1] He was the Deputy Minister of Culture and Social Services.^[2]

Hon. Chandra Gunasekera
Member of Parliament for Kottawa
In office June 1970 – 1977
Personal details
Born	(1922-06-10)10 June 1922 Sri Lanka
Died	pre-2006
Political party	Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Alma mater	Nalanda College Colombo
Occupation	Politics

Gunasekera first contested for a parliamentary seat at the 1st parliamentary election, held between August and September 1947, in the Attangalla electorate, representing the Lanka Sama Samaja Party. He was beaten by the United National Party candidate, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, 31,463 votes to 4,609 votes.^[3]

At the 6th parliamentary election, held on 22 March 1965, Gunasekera ran in the Kottawa electorate. He failed to get elected and was defeated by the United National Party candidate, Mahabalage Don Henry Jayawardena, by 2060 votes. Gunasekera received 13,911 votes (36% of the total vote).^[4]

He was successful in winning the seat at the subsequent 7th parliamentary election, held on 27 May 1970, defeating Jayawardena by 11,495, securing 61% of the total vote.^[5]

Prior to the 1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections the Kottawa electorate was replaced by the Colombo East Electoral District, Gunasekera contested the seat of Attangalla, where he challenged the sitting member and Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike. He came third in the electoral race, 29,159 votes behind Bandaranaike and 18,496 votes behind the United National Party candidate, A. W. G. Seneviratne, only securing 2% of the total vote.^[6]

The Lanka Sama Samaja Party was the first Marxist party in Sri Lanka. He was educated at Nalanda College Colombo.^[7][8][9]

Gunasekera died prior to 2006.^[10]

References

1. "Gunasekera, Handapangoda Mudalige Chandrapala, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
2. "Sri Lanka News". Sundayobserver.lk. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
3. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-09.
4. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
5. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
6. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
7. "The Sunday Leader Online - Issues". Thesundayleader.lk. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
8. "Features | Sundayobserver.lk - Sri Lanka". Sundayobserver.lk. 2008-11-23. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
9. "Online edition of Sunday Observer - Features". Sundayobserver.lk. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
10. Samaranayake, Ajith (2 July 2006). "The Incomparable Orator". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 24 May 2022.