Dingiri Bandara Welagedara Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Hon.
Dingiri Banda Welagedara
Order:1st
Office:Governor of North Central Province
Term Start:May 1988
Term End:May 1989
Predecessor:Office created
Successor:E. L. Senanayake
Constituency Mp2:Kurunegala
Parliament2:Ceylonese
Term Start2:1952
Term End2:1956
Predecessor2:Herbert Sri Nissanka
Successor2:D. B. Monnekulama
Term Start3:1965
Term End3:1970
Predecessor3:Jayah Pathirana
Successor3:P. Wijesinghe
Term Start4:1977
Term End4:1988
Predecessor4:P. Wijesinghe
Successor4:seat abolished
Birth Date:31 October 1915
Birth Place:Polgahawela, Sri Lanka
Party:United National Party
Alma Mater:Ananda College, Colombo
Nalanda College, Colombo
St. John's College, Jaffna

Dingiri Banda Welagedera (31 October 1915 – 2 April 1989) also known as D. B. Welagedera was the Deputy Minister of Plan Implementation and Minister a former Member of Parliament representing Kurunegala District. Welagedera served as the 1st Governor of North Central Province. He was appointed in May 1988 and was Governor until May 1989. He was succeeded by E. L. Senanayake.[1]

Born on 31 October 1915 at Panaliya, Polgahawela, as Welagedara Mudiyanselage Dingiri Banda Welagedera was the only child of the family. He was educated at Ananda College, Colombo, Nalanda College, Colombo and at St. John's College, Jaffna before entering Colombo Law College. He joined government service in the first batch of Divisional Revenue Officers that replaced the native headmen system. He was elected the president of the Divisional Revenue Officers' Association.[2]

He resigned from government service to contest the 1952 general election from the United National Party from the Kurunegala District. He was elected to the House of Representatives defeating Herbert Sri Nissanka. He contested the July 1960 general election but lost to D. B. Monnekulama, but was successful in the 1965 general election and again defeated Monnekulama in the 1977 general election. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Nationalised Services from 1965 to 1970 and was appointed Deputy Minister of Plan Implementation in 1977. He served as Governor of the North Central Province from May 1988 to May 1989.

He died on 2 April 1989 and his body was donated to the Colombo Medical College. The Welagedara Stadium and the Welagedara Ayurveda Hospital has been named after him.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cahoon. Ben. Sri Lankan Provinces from 1988. World Statesmen.org. 2 March 2013.
  2. News: D.B. Welagedara: Humble hero . 6 December 2019 . Daily News.