I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla

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I.M.R.A Iriyagolla (b. 3 January 1907) was a Sri Lankan politician.[1]

[edit] Family

Born to a wealthy family in Iriyagolle in Katugampola, Iriyagolla was educated at Katugampola Village School, Ananda College Colombo & Nalanda College Colombo.

He has been an excellent student & gained admission to Ceylon Medical College but left before completing studies. Later on he has been working in many fields such as Police Department, as a journalist and editor of a Sinhala Newspaper.

In 1947, he contested Dandagamuwa electrorate & entered parliament as an Independent candidate. In 1956 when the late S.W.R.D Bandaranaike formed the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna [MEP] he was one of the signatories. In 1960 he joined United National Party [UNP] & was apponited as Cabinet Minister of Education & Cultural Affairs by Dudley Senanayake when UNP won elections in 1965.

During his era Education Department was drastically altered to suit the needs of the country. As a result under his supervision D.S Senanayake College Colombo was established. He also introduced agriculture as a subject to school curriculum.

Equally proficient in both Sinhala and English and as an erudite author and a person involved in the arts and culture, some songs like "Loken Uthum Rata Lankavai" and "Sema Danamana Dinu Sujathadarani" written by him are considered masterpieces in Sinhala music even today. He also translated Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables” from French into Sinhala as “Manuthapaya” which became so popular among readers.