Gampola Electoral District
# Gampola Electoral District

Gampola electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the town of Gampola in Kandy District, Central Province. The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the proportional representation electoral system for electing members of Parliament. The existing 160 mainly single-member electoral districts were replaced with 22 multi-member electoral districts. Gampola electoral district was replaced by the Kandy multi-member electoral district at the 1989 general elections, the first under the proportional representation system.

## Members of Parliament

Key

Independent SLFP UNP

| Election | Member | Party | Term |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1947 | R. S. S. Gunawardena | United National Party | 1947 - 1948 |
| 1948 by-election | R. S. Pelpola | United National Party | 1948 -1952 |
| 1952 | M. W. R. de Silva | United National Party | 1952 - 1956 |
| 1956 | R. S. Pelpola | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1956 - 1960 |
| 1960 (March) | R. R. D. Bandaranayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1960 |
| 1960 (July) | L. B. Dassanayake | United National Party | 1960 -1970 |
| 1965 | L. B. Dassanayake | United National Party | 1960 -1970 |
| 1970 | D. M. Jayaratne | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1970 - 1977 |
| 1977 | W. M. P. B. Dissanayake | United National Party | 1977 -1989 |

## Elections

### 1947 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 1st parliamentary election held between 23 August 1947 and 20 September 1947:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| R. S. S. Gunawardena | United National Party | Hand | 10,434 | 49.67 |
| R. S. Pelpola | | Umbrella | 10,047 | 47.83 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 20,481 | 97.49 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 527 | 2.51 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 21,008 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 32,734 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 64.18 |

### 1948 By-Election

Following the first parliamentary election, R. S. Pelpola lodged an election petition with the courts, citing allegations of general intimidation and undue influence by the United National Party candidate, R. S. S. Gunawardena. In February 1948 the courts upheld the petition and ordered a new election for the seat be held. Results of the 1948 by-election held on 27 April 1948:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| R. S. Pelpola | | House | 7,912 | 40.49 |
| R. S. S. Gunawardena | | Elephant | 7,137 | 36.53 |
| A. Jayasinghe | | Key | 2,592 | 13.27 |
| Ellis Gunasekera | | Flower | 1,089 | 5.57 |
| E. S. Rathnaweera | | Eye | 396 | 2.03 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 19,072 | 97.61 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 467 | 2.39 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 19,539 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 32,734 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59.69 |

### 1952 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 2nd parliamentary election held between 24 May 1952 and 30 May 1952:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| M. W. R. de Silva | United National Party | House | 7,950 | 42.74 |
| P. M. Jayasena | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Star | 5,313 | 28.57 |
| R. S. Pelpola | Independent | Key | 2,352 | 12.65 |
| P. B. Goonatilake | Lanka Sama Samaja Party | Hand | 1,926 | 10.36 |
| C. B. Dharmasena | Republican | Elephant | 687 | 3.69 |
| D. G. Jayasinghe | | Umbrella | 190 | 1.02 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 18,418 | 99.03 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 181 | 0.97 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 18,599 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 25,598 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 72.66 |

### 1956 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 3rd parliamentary election held between 5 April 1956 and 10 April 1956:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| R. S. Pelpola | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 13,143 | 70.34 |
| M. W. R. de Silva | United National Party | Elephant | 4,302 | 23.02 |
| R. D. A. de Lanerolle | | Umbrella | 859 | 4.60 |
| Illangan Pelige Rajapakse | | Cartwheel | 208 | 1.11 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 18,512 | 99.07 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 173 | 0.93 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 18,685 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 29,764 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62.78 |

### 1960 (March) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 4th parliamentary election held on 19 March 1960:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| R. R. D. Bandaranayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 5,911 | 35.25 |
| H. W. Kirinda | United National Party | Elephant | 4,478 | 26.70 |
| L. B. Dassanayake | | Cartwheel | 3,665 | 21.86 |
| T. V. M. Noon | | Rooster | 1,328 | 7.92 |
| R. Weerasinghe Amaradasa | | Key | 805 | 4.80 |
| J. M. D. G. Jayasinghe | | Umbrella | 171 | 1.02 |
| Nayagam Sivagnanam | | Flower | 133 | 0.79 |
| M. T. B. Ratnayake | | Eye | 80 | 0.48 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 16,571 | 98.82 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 198 | 1.18 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 16,769 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 21,977 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 76.30 |

### 1960 (July) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 5th parliamentary election held on 20 July 1960:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| L. B. Dassanayake | United National Party | Elephant | 8,784 | 50.70 |
| R. R. D. Bandaranayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 8,225 | 47.48 |
| H. W. Kirinda | | Eye | 172 | 0.99 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 17,211 | 99.34 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 114 | 0.66 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 17,325 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 21,977 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78.83 |

### 1965 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 6th parliamentary election held on 22 March 1965:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| L. B. Dassanayake | United National Party | Elephant | 13,202 | 56.56 |
| R. R. D. Bandaranayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 9,573 | 41.02 |
| N. K. Punchirala | | Scales | 283 | 1.21 |
| Cyril S. Ketakumbura | | Sun | 73 | 0.31 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 23,131 | 99.11 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 209 | 0.89 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 23,340 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 27,320 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 85.43 |

### 1970 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 7th parliamentary election held on 27 May 1970:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| D. M. Jayaratne | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 14,463 | 51.73 |
| W. M. P. B. Dissanayake | United National Party | Elephant | 13,217 | 47.27 |
| Anuladasa Wanigasekera | | Flowers | 150 | 0.54 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 27,830 | 99.54 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 130 | 0.46 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 27,960 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 32,504 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 86.02 |

### 1977 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 7th parliamentary election held on 21 July 1977:

| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| W. M. P. B. Dissanayake | United National Party | Elephant | 21,269 | 58.05 |
| D. M. Jayaratne | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 15,048 | 41.07 |
| Aanula Wanigasekera | | Umbrella | 119 | 0.33 |
| Seinual Abdeen | | Eye | 45 | 0.12 |
| Sinnathamby Shanmugam | | Ladder | 39 | 0.11 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 36,520 | 99.67 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 122 | 0.33 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 36,642 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 41,442 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 88.42 |
