R. G. Samaranayake
Richard Gregory Samaranayake (12 November 1923 - 18 June 1992) was a Ceylonese planter and politician.[1][2]
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 12 November 1923 |
| Died | 18 June 1992 (aged 68) |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Spouse | Irene née Jirasinghe |
| Children | 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 edit
- ^ "Hon. Samaranayake, Richard Gregory, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Members of the Legislatures of Ceylon, 1931-1972. National State Assembly Library. 1972. p. 62.
- ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election - 19 March 1960" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election - 20 July 1960". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
- ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ Parliament of Ceylon (1966). Report on the Sixth Parliamentary General Election of Ceylon, 22d March, 1965. Vol. 20. Government Press. p. 42.
- ^ "The New Law Reports of Ceylon". LXIX. Ministry for Justice. 1966. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "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) - ^ "Results of the by Elections Subsequent to Parliamentary General Election of 1965" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 May 2021.