Theodore Braybrooke Panabokke

Theodore Braybrooke Panabokke (11 May 1909 – 1989) was Sri Lankan politician, lawyer and diplomat.[1][2] He was a former Parliamentary Secretary of Agriculture, Member of Parliament and Ceylon's High Commissioner to India. He was the Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya.[3]

Hon.

Theodore Braybrooke Panabokke
Member of Parliament
for Galaha
In office
1947–1956
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded byT. B. Ilangaratne
High Commissioner to India
In office
1978–1982
Prime MinisterJ. R. Jayewardene
Preceded byArthur Basnayake
Succeeded byBernard Tilakaratna
Chancellor University of Peradeniya
In office
1 February 1984 – 1989
Preceded byVictor Tennekoon
Succeeded byFredrick de Silva
Personal details
Born(1909-05-11)11 May 1909
Gampola, Ceylon
Died1989 (aged 80)
Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partyUnited National Party
Spouse(s)Somawathie née Nugapitiya
Childrentwo daughters
Alma materRoyal College Colombo, Colombo Law College
Occupationlawyer, politician, businessman, diplomat

Early life and education

Theodore Braybrooke Panabokke was born on 11 May 1909, the eldest son of Sir Tikiri Bandara Panabokke Adigar, first Minister of Health in the State Council of Ceylon and Mantri Kumarihamy Keppetipola.[4] He was educated at Royal College Colombo and at the Colombo Law College. As his father, he became a Proctor and practiced in Gampola.

Political career

In 1947 he successfully contested the first parliamentary elections as a representative of United National Party in the Galaha electorate. He received 7,638 votes (28% of the total vote) defeating five other candidates.[5] At the 2nd parliamentary election, held in May 1952, he retained his seat, defeating Piyasena Tennakoon by 4,606 votes (securing 48% of the total vote).[6] He was a Member of Parliament from 1947 to 1956 and held the post of Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Justice in the first Dudley Senanayake cabinet and Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Food in the Kotelawala cabinet. During this time he was a member of the Kandyan Peasantry Commission and was appointed as Chairman of the People’s Bank in 1965. He failed to get re-elected at the 3rd parliamentary election held in April 1956, where he was defeated by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party nominee, T. B. Ilangaratne, 6,434 votes, only receiving 38% of the total vote, as opposed to Ilangaratne's 61%.[7]

From 1976 to 1977 he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sri Lanka Freedom from Hunger Campaign. In 1978 he was appointed High Commissioner to India and served till 1982,[8] thus becoming the only father son pair to hold the post. From 1984 to 1986 he was Chairman of the Nation Builders’ Association.

He was appointed Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya in 1984 and held office until his death in 1989.[9]

Family

Panabokke married Somawathie Nugapitiya, daughter of Kuda Banda Nugapitiya in 1939 and had two daughters. His home was Elpitiya Walauwa in Gampola.[10]

See also
  • Sri Lankan Non Career Diplomats

References
  1. "Hon. Panabokke, Theodore Braybrooke, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  2. Parliament of Sri Lanka (1983). Goonetilleke, T. V. (ed.). Members of the Legislatures of Sri Lanka, 1931-83: Record of Service. Library of Parliament. p. 139.
  3. Past Chancellors, University of Peradeniya
  4. Wright, Arnold, ed. (1999). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources. Asian Educational Services. p. 815. ISBN 9788120613355.
  5. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  6. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1952" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  7. "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1956" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  8. "Former Sri Lankan Envoys to India". High Commission of Sri Lanka In India. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  9. "Past Chancellors". University of Peradeniya. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  10. Elpitiya Walauwa
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