A. E. Rajapakse

Gate Mudaliyar Alexander Edmund de Silva Wijegooneratne Samaraweera Rajapakse OBE (13 March 1866 – 20 September 1937) was a Ceylonese colonial-era politician and headman.[1]

He was born on 13 March 1866 in Negombo, the eldest son of Mudliyar John de Silva Wijegooneratne Rajapakshe, a member of the Salagama caste and Magdalene Mendis née Abeysekara.[2][3] The family owned and operated a number of cinnamon estates in the Negombo District.[4]

In 1922 he was elected as the first chairman of the Negombo Urban Council, a position he retained until 1923 and then from 1925 to 22 August 1934. In 1932 he was elected as the inaugural chair of the Association of Urban Councils of Ceylon.[5][6] Rajapakse also served on the Board of Agriculture.[6]

He was elected to the 1st State Council of Ceylon on 17 June 1931 for Negombo representing the Union Party.[7][8] He was subsequently re-elected to the 2nd State Council in 1936, with a 9,000 vote majority,[9] where he served on the Executive Committee for Agriculture and Lands. Dying in office on 20 September 1937.[10]

Rajapaske's daughter, Leila Mildred, married Alexander Nicholas De Abrew Abeysinghe, the first Mayor of the Negombo Municipal Council (1950) and the MP for Negombo (1952–56).[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Hon. Rajapakse, Alexander Edmund de Silva Wijegooneratne S., M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. ^ Rajapaksha, Anusha de Abrew (13 October 2004). "Preserving Ancestral Homes : Wasala Walawwa an Ancestral Home in Negombo". The Daily News. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  3. ^ Personalities, Sri Lanka: A Biographical Study (15th-20th Century), 1490-1990 A.D., A-Z. Ceylon Business Appliances Limited. 1994. p. 624. ISBN 9789559287001.
  4. ^ Administration Report of the Director of Agriculture. Ceylon Government Publications Bureau. 1911. p. 3.
  5. ^ Mendis, J. Vincent (1968). 75 not out in maturing Ceylon: an excursion into the near past. Caxton Printing Works. p. 215.
  6. ^ a b Who's who of Ceylon. 1920. p. 164.
  7. ^ Members of the Legislatures of Ceylon: 1931-1972. National State Assembly Library. 1972. p. 123.
  8. ^ The Ceylon Blue Book. Government Printer, South Africa. 1933. p. 129.
  9. ^ Rajan, M. S. (ed.). Studies in Politics : National and International. Vikas Publications. p. 274.
  10. ^ Ceylon Sessional Papers. Government Press. 1938. p. 3.
  11. ^ Fernando, W. T. A. Leslie. "Leftist Movement and the Catholic Community Setback for Leftists at Negombo Municipal Elections". The Island. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
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