Wijeyananda Dahanayake
| The Right Honourable Wijeyananda Dahanayake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Ceylone | |
| In office 1959–1960 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Solomon Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike |
| Succeeded by | Dudley Senanayake |
| Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for Galle | |
| In office 14 October 1947 – 19 March 1960 | |
| Succeeded by | W. D. S. Abeygoonawardena |
| In office 20 July 1960 – 21 July 1977 | |
| Preceded by | W. D. S. Abeygoonawardena |
| Succeeded by | Albert de Silva |
| In office 20 December 1979 – 15 February 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Albert de Silva |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 October 1902 Galle, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 4 May 1997 (aged 94) Galle, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality |  Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Lanka Sama Samaja Party Sri Lanka Freedom Socialist Party United National Party |
| Alma mater | Richmond College, Galle |
| Profession | Politician, Teacher |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
Wijeyananda Dahanayaka (Sinhalese: විජෙයානන්ද දහනායක; 22 October 1902 – 4 May 1997) was a Sri Lankan political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1959 to 1960.[1]
Early life
He was born as a twin in the Galle district. Wijeyananda Dahanayaka was educated at a well known educational institution in Southern Sri Lanka, Richmond College in Galle.[2]
Political career
Dahanayaka was a member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party before joining the administration of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, prime minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He served as cabinet minister of education in the Bandaranaike Administration, from 1956 to 1959.
Prime Minister of Ceylon
He took office as prime minister, cabinet minister of defence external affairs and education when Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was assassinated in September 1959. He led the caretaker government for a year. His most notable action was the repeal of the Act which suspended capital punishment.
Dahanayaka contested the March 1960 General Election in Ceylon under the nomination of his newly formed Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshaya (Ceylon Democratic Party). He could not be re-elected as an MP, as he had lost his Galle constituency in that election.
He had also served as a cabinet minister of home affairs in Dudley Senanayake's government from 1965 to 1970 and cabinet minister of cooperatives in Junius Richard Jayawardene's government from 1986 to 1988.
Dahanayaka died on 4 May 1997 at the age of 94 in Galle, Sri Lanka.[3]
References
External links
- Website of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka Freedom Party's official Website
- Amara Samara in Sinhala
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike |
Prime Minister of Ceylon 1959–1960 |
Succeeded by Dudley Senanayake |
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