8th Parliament of Sri Lanka Legislative body Parliament of Sri Lanka Term 22 July 1977 – 8 March 1989 Election 21 July 1977 Speaker Anandatissa de Alwis , UNP (1977–78)Abdul Bakeer Markar , UNP (1978–83)E. L. Senanayake , UNP (1983–89)Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees M. A. Bakeer Markar , UNP (1977–78)Norman Waidyaratne , UNP (1978–88)Deputy Chairman of Committees Edmund Samarawickrema , UNP Prime Minister J. R. Jayewardene , UNP (1977–78)Ranasinghe Premadasa , UNP (1978–89)Leader of the Opposition A. Amirthalingam , TULF (1977–83)Anura Bandaranaike , SLFP (1983–88)Leader of the House Ranasinghe Premadasa , UNP (1977–88)Ranil Wickremesinghe , UNP (1989)Chief Government Whip Vincent Perera , UNP Chief Opposition Whip X. M. Sellathambu , TULF (1977–83)Lakshman Jayakody , SLFP (1983–89)
The 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka was a meeting of the Parliament of Sri Lanka , with the membership determined by the results of the 1977 parliamentary election held on 21 July 1977. The parliament met for the first time on 22 July 1977 and was dissolved on 8 March 1989.
The United National Party won a 5 ⁄6 majority to form a government under J. R. Jayewardene . Later Jayawardane introduced a new constitution to Sri Lanka and was elected as the 1st Executive President of Sri Lanka .
On 22 December 1982, the 1982 Sri Lankan national referendum was held, giving the people of Sri Lanka the option to extend the life of parliament by 6 years without an election. It was the first and so far only national referendum to be held in Sri Lanka. The referendum was called for by President Jayawardene, who had been elected to a fresh six-year term as president in October 1982 . The government extended their term to stay in power in 1983 without an election and stayed in power until 1989.
The UNP won the largest landslide in Sri Lankan history (due to the first-past-the-post system). For the first time, a Tamil party won the second-highest number of seats in Parliament and became the Official Opposition .
Abeyratne Pilapitiya of the UNP was elected MP for Kalawana, but was subsequently unseated in an election petition. Sarath Muttetuwegama of the Communist Party was returned to Parliament in the ensuing by-election.
The 1977 election was the only one ever held under the 1972 constitution.[ 1]
Party Votes % Seats United National Party 3,179,221 50.92 140 Sri Lanka Freedom Party 1,855,331 29.72 8 Tamil United Liberation Front 421,488 6.75 18 Lanka Sama Samaja Party 225,317 3.61 0 Communist Party of Sri Lanka 123,856 1.98 0 Ceylon Workers' Congress 62,707 1.00 1 Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 22,639 0.36 0 Independents 353,014 5.65 1 Total 6,243,573 100.00 168 Registered voters/turnout 6,667,589 – Source: Kusaka Research Institute
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Colombo North M. Vincent Perera Elephant Colombo Central R.Premadasa Elephant Colombo Central M.Jabir A. Cader Eye Colombo Central M.Haleem Ishak Hand Borella M.H.Mohomed Elephant Colombo East A.Edmund Samarawickrema Elephant Colombo West J.R.Jayewardene Elephant Dehiwala S. de S. Jayasinghe Elephant Ratmalana Lalith Athulathmudali Elephant Kolonnawa Weerasinghe Mallimaratchchi Elephant Kotte Ananda Tissa de Alwis Elephant Kaduwela M.D.H. Jayawardana Elephant Awissawella M.D.Premarathna Eephant Homagama Gamani Jayasuriya Elephant Maharagama Premaratne Gunasekera Elephant Kesbewa Dharmasena Attigalle Elephant Moratuwa Tyronne Fernando Elephant
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Wattala D. Shelton Jayasinghe Elephant Negambo N. Denzil Fernando Elephant Katana Wijayapala Mendis Elephant Divulapitiya Ariyaratne Jayatillake Elephant Mirigama Mahendra Wijeratne Elephant Minuwangoda Bennet Gunasekera Elephant Attanagalla Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Hand Gampaha S. D. Bandaranayake Hand Ja-ela Joseph Michael Perera Elephant Mahara Tudor Gunasekera Elephant Dompe Sarathchandra Rajakaruna Elephant Biyagama Ranil Wickremasinghe Elephant Kelaniya Kaluwadewage Cyril Mathew Elephant
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Panadura Neville Fernando Elephant Bandaragama Senaraja Samaranayake Elephant Horana Indradasa Hettiarachchi Elephant Bulathsinhala O.S. Perera Elephant Mathugama Reginold V. Wijegooneratne Elephant Kalutara V.L.Wijemanne Elephant Beruwala Bakeer Markar Abduli Elephant Agalawatta Merill Kariyawasam Elephant
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Galagedara W. M. G. T. Banda Elephant Harispattuwa Abdul Cader Sahul Hameed Elephant Harispattuwa R. Premachandra Wijesiri Umbrella Pathadumbara T. B. Werapitiya Elephant Udadumbara R. B. Attanayake Elephant Teldeniya Gamini Rajapakse Elephant Kundasale D. M. Chandrapala Elephant Hewaheta Anura Daniel Elephant Senkadagala Shelton Ranaraja Elephant Mahanuwara E. L. Senanayake Elephant Yatinuwara Sunil Subasiri Abeysundara Elephant Udunuwara D. B. Wijetunga Elephant Gampola W. P. B. Dissanayake Elephant
Nuwaraeliya District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Navalapitiya Chandradra Karunaratne Elephant Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya Gamini Dissanayake Elephant Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya Anura Bandaranaike Hand Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya S. Thondaman Cockerei Kothmale Ananda Dassanayake Hand Hanguranketha George Abeygoonasekera Elephant Walapane Renuka Herath (Mrs.) Elephant
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Balapitiya Norman Waidyaratna Elephant Ambalangoda Raitor Thilakasekara Elephant Karandeniya Bandulahewa Senadheera Elephant Bentara-Elpitiya Rupasena Karunatilake Elephant Hiniduma M.S. Amarasiri Elephant Baddegama E.D. Wickrematilaka Elephant Rathgma Edwin Thilakaratne Elephant Galle Albert de Silva Elephant Akmeemana Sumanadasa Abeywickrama Elephant Habaraduwa P. Sumathiratne Elephant
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Hakmana Harshanath Wanigasekara Elephant Akuressa Dayananda Wickremasinghe Elephant Kamburupitiya Don Edwin Malawaraarachchi Elephant Devinuwara Ronnie de Mel Elephant Matara S.K. Piyadasa Elephant Weligama Montague Jayawickrema Elephant Deniyaya Keerthi Abeywickrama Elephant
Hambantota District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Mulkirigala T.D.Fransisku Elephant Beliatta Ranjith Atapattu Elephant Tangalle Jinadasa Weerasinghe Elephant Tissamaharama P.M.B. Cyril Elephant
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Kayts K.P. Ratnam Sun Waddukkodai T. Thirunavukarasu Sun Kankesanthurai A. Amirthalingam Sun Kopai S. Kathiravelupillai Sun Udduppidi T. Rasalingam Sun Point-Pedro K. Thurairatnam Sun Chavakachcheri V.N. Navaratnam Sun Nallur M. Sivasithamparam Sun Jaffna V. Yogeswaran Sun
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Kilinochchi V. Anandasangary Sun Mannar P.S. Soosaithasan Sun Mulativu X.M.Sellathambu Sun Vavuniya T. Sivasithamparam Sun
Trincomalee District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Seruvila H.D.L. Leelaratne Elephant Trincomalee R. Sampathan Sun
Batticalao District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Mutur M.E.H. Maharoof Elephant Kalkudah K.W. Devanayagam Elephant Batticaloa C.Rajadurai & Farid Meeralebbai Sun & Elephant Paddiruppu P. Ganeshalingam Sun
North Western Province [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Puttalam M.H.M. Neina Marikkar Elephant Anamaduwa Ashoka Wadigamangawa Elephant Chilaw Harindra Corea Elephant Nattandiya Harold Herath Elephant Wennappuwa Festus Perera Elephant
Kurunegala District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Galgamuwa H.M.A. Lokubanda Elephant Nikaweratiya H.B. Wanninayake Elephant Yapahuwa H.B. Abeyratne Elephant Hiriyala S.B. Herath Elephant Wariyapola Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake Elephant Panduwasnuwara Kalubanda Ratnayake Elephant Bingiriya J.L. Sirisena Elephant Katugampola Gamini Jayawickrama Perera Elephant Kuliyapitiya Lionel Jayatillake Elephant Dambadeniya Ukkubanda Wijekoon Elephant Polgahawela J.A.D.S. R. Jayakody Elephant Kurunegala Dingiri Banda Welagedera Elephant Mawathagama G.M. Premachandra Elephant Dodangaslanda S.W. Alawatuwala Elephant
North Central Province [ edit ] Anuradapura District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Medawachchiya Maithripala Senanayake Hand Horoupothana E. L. B. Hurulle Elephant Anuradhapura East W.Y. Herath Elephant Anuradhapura West K.D.M.C. Bandara Elephant Kalawewa A.M.S. Adikari Elephant Mihintale Dayaratne Walagambahu Elephant Kekirawa G.D. Mahindsoma Elephant
Polonnaruwa District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Minneriya Merril de Silva Elephant Medirigiriya A.D.B. Ekanayake Elephant Polonnaruwa H.G.P. Nelson
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Mahiyangana C.P.J.Seneviratne Elephant Viyaluwa Weerawanni Samaraweera Elephant Passara W.M. Karunaratne Elephant Badulla D. Vincent Perera Elephant Hali-ela R.M. Abeykoon Elephant Uva-paranagama R.M. Karunaratne Elephant Welimada Percy Samaraweera Elephant Bandarawela R.M.Apphamy Elephant Haputale W.J.M.Lokubandara Elephant
Monaragala District [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Bibile R.M.Dharmadasa Banda Elephant Moneragala R.M. Punchi Bandara Elephant Wellawaya J.M. Kumaradasa Elephant
Sabaragamuwa Province [ edit ] Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Dedigama Nissanka Parakrama Wijayaratne Elephant Galigamuwa Wimala Kannangara (Mrs.) Elephant Kegalle N.A. Seneviratne Elephant Rambukkana Asoka Karunaratne Elephant Mawanella C.R. Beligammana Elephant Aranayaka Wasantha Udayaratne Elephant Yatiyantota K. Vincent Perera Elephant Ruwanwella P.C. Imbulana Elephant Deraniyagala A.K.D. Wanigaratne Elephant
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol Ehaliyagoda Mervyn Kularatne Elephant Ratnapura G.V. Punchinilame Elephant Pelmadulla Chandrasekera Gankanda Elephant Balangoda M.L.M.Aboosally Elephant Rakwana H. Kularatne Elephant Nivitigala Gamini Athukorale Elephant Kalawana Abeyratna Pilapitiya Elephant Kolonna Caluwadewage Nanda Mathew Elephant
Source [ 2] [ 3]