M. D. H. Jayawardena

Mahabalage Don Henry Jayawardena (29 March 1915 – 29 September 1986) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, businessman and politician. Jayawardena served as the Minister of Finance, Minister of Health, Minister of Housing and Scientific Research and Minister of Plantation Industries between 1954–1977.[1]

Hon.

M. D. H. Jayawardena
Minister of Plantation Industries
In office
23 July 1977 – 1979
PresidentJ. R. Jayewardene
Prime MinisterRanasinghe Premadasa
J. R. Jayewardene
Minister of Housing and Scientific Research
In office
1968–1970
Prime MinisterDudley Senanayake
Minister of Health
In office
1965–1968
Prime MinisterDudley Senanayake
Preceded byBadi-ud-din Mahmud
Succeeded byGeorge Rajapaksa
Minister of Finance
In office
1 July 1954 – 18 February 1956
Prime MinisterJohn Kotelawala
Preceded byOliver Goonetilleke
Succeeded byStanley de Zoysa
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Horana
In office
1952–1956
Preceded byA. P. Jayasuriya
Succeeded byK. A. S. Palansuriya
Member of Parliament
for Kottawa
In office
1965–1970
Preceded byRobert Gunawardena
Succeeded byChandra Gunasekera
Personal details
Born
Mahabalage Don Henry Jayawardena

(1915-03-29)29 March 1915
Padukka, British Ceylon
Died29 September 1986(1986-09-29) (aged 71)
Sri Lanka
Political partyUnited National Party

Early life and education

Born to M.D.S Jayawardena Ralahami, he was educated at Trinity College, Kandy and at the Ceylon University College, where he graduated with a degree in economics. In 1938, he entered Ceylon Law College becoming an advocate. Traveling to the United Kingdom, he qualified as a Barrister and returned to Ceylon in 1946 and starting his legal practice.[2]

Political career

Joining the United National Party in 1947, he was elected to parliament from the Horana electorate in the 1952 parliamentary election and was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Finance, serving from October 1953 to July 1954. When the Minister of Finance, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke was appointed Governor General, Jayawardena was succeeded him as Minister of Finance, serving from July 1954 to February 1956. He contested the 1956 parliamentary election from Horana, but lost to Sagara Palansuriya. In 1958, he was appointed general secretary of the United National Party, serving till 1972. He contested the Kottawa electorate in the July 1960 parliamentary election, but lost to Robert Gunawardena. He again contested from Kottawa in the 1965 parliamentary election and won defeating Robert Gunawardena and was appointed Minister of Health. During his tenure the Emergency Care Unit of the Colombo General Hospital was built. He served until 1968, when he was appointed Minister of Housing and Scientific Research and served till 1970. He lost his parliamentary seat 1970 parliamentary election to Chandra Gunasekera. He was re-elected in the 1977 parliamentary election and was appointed Minister of Plantation Industries serving till 1979.[2]

Family

He married the daughter of Benthota Hendrique Karunarathne in 1942 and they had three children.[2]

References
  1. De Silva, K. M. (1994). J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka: 1906-1956. University of Hawaii Press. p. 325. ISBN 9780824811839.
  2. Herath, Ravi Prasad. "Tiger among the felines". Daily News. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
 Minister of Plantation Industries
1970–1977		 Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Minister of Housing and Scientific Research
1968–1970		 Succeeded by
Preceded by
Badi-ud-din Mahmud		 Minister of Health
1965–1968		 Succeeded by
George Rajapaksa
Preceded by
Robert Gunawardena		 Member for Kottawa Electoral District
1965–1970		 Succeeded by
Chandra Gunasekera
Preceded by
Oliver Goonetilleke		 Minister of Finance
1954–1956		 Succeeded by
Stanley de Zoysa
Preceded by
A. P. Jayasuriya		 Member for Horana Electoral District
1952–1956		 Succeeded by
K. A. S. Palansuriya
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