Dharmadasa Banda
Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Dharmadasa Banda (7 February 1938 – 23 October 2010), known commonly as R. M. Dharmadasa Banda, was a Sri Lankan politician, a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and a former cabinet minister. He was a Basnayaka Nilame (Lay Custodian) of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya.
R. M. Dharmadasa Banda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cabinet Minister of Additional Plantation Crops | |
| In office 2007–2010 | |
| Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for Monaragala District | |
| In office 1989–2000 | |
| In office 2004–2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 February 1938 |
| Died | 23 October 2010 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | United National Party (Democratic) |
| Other political affiliations | United People's Freedom Alliance |
| Alma mater | Zahira College, Colombo |
| Profession | Teacher |
Political career
Dharmadasa Banda entered active politics in the late 1960s as the Chief United National Party Organizer for the Bibile Electorate, after his brother R. M. Gunasekera who was also an M.P. for Bibile was assassinated in 1964. He contested in the 1965 General Elections from the United National Party, and was elected as Member of Parliament for Bibile Electorate defeating Ronnie de Mel. Though he was defeated at the 1970 General Elections, he re-contested & won in the 1977 General Elections.
He held his first ministerial portfolio when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Textile Industries by Prime Minister J R Jayawardena.He Later served in the Ministerial Cabinet of President R. Premadasa as the Minister of Agriculture. He served as the Cabinet Minister for Additional Plantation Crops from 2007 to 2010.
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