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{{Short description|Sri Lankan politician}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=September 2019}}
{{EngvarB |date=September 2019}}
{{EngvarB |date=September 2019}}
'''Vithana Arachchige Sugathadasa''' [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (7 July 1912 &ndash; 1973) was a [[Sri Lanka]]n politician. He served as the first [[Minister of Sports (Sri Lanka)|Minister of Sports]] and twice as the [[Mayor of Colombo]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dissanayake |first1=I |title=V.A. Sugathadasa -The first Sports Minister in Sri Lanka An honourable man with a farsighted vision |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/V-A--Sugathadasa--The-first-Sports-Minister-in-Sri-Lanka-An-honourable-man-with-a--farsighted-vision/131-170770 |accessdate=3 September 2019 |newspaper=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|The Daily Mirror]]|date=10 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.lk/members-of-parliament/directory-of-members/viewMember/2722|title=Hon. Sugathadasa, Vithana Arachchige, M.P.|work=Directory of Past Members|publisher=[[Parliament of Sri Lanka]]|accessdate=4 September 2019}}</ref>
'''Vithana Arachchige Sugathadasa''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (7 July 1912 &ndash; 10 July 1973) was a [[Sri Lanka]]n politician. He served as the first [[Minister of Sports (Sri Lanka)|Minister of Sports]] and twice as the [[Mayor of Colombo]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dissanayake |first1=I |title=V.A. Sugathadasa -The first Sports Minister in Sri Lanka An honourable man with a farsighted vision |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/V-A--Sugathadasa--The-first-Sports-Minister-in-Sri-Lanka-An-honourable-man-with-a--farsighted-vision/131-170770 |access-date=3 September 2019 |newspaper=[[The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|The Daily Mirror]]|date=10 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.lk/members-of-parliament/directory-of-members/viewMember/2722|title=Hon. Sugathadasa, Vithana Arachchige, M.P.|work=Directory of Past Members|publisher=[[Parliament of Sri Lanka]]|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
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==Political career==
==Political career==
===Colombo Municipal Council===
===Colombo Municipal Council===
Sugathadasa entered politics having been elected to the [[Colombo Municipal Council]] as a municipal councillor from the Kochchikade ward as an independent candidate. He later joined the [[United National Party]] and was elected Deputy Mayor in 1949. On 6 March 1956 he was elected [[Mayor of Colombo]], defeating Dr [[N. M. Perera]]. He held the post till 1 December 1957. He was again elected as Mayor of Colombo on 12 January 1960 and served till 10 January 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colombo.mc.gov.lk/past-mayors.php|title=Past Mayors of Colombo|publisher=[[Colombo Municipal Council]]|accessdate=4 September 2019}}</ref>
Sugathadasa entered politics having been elected to the [[Colombo Municipal Council]] as a municipal councillor from the Kochchikade ward as an independent candidate. He later joined the [[United National Party]] and was elected Deputy Mayor in 1949. On 6 March 1956 he was elected [[Mayor of Colombo]], defeating Dr [[N. M. Perera]]. He held the post until 1 December 1957. He was again elected as Mayor of Colombo on 12 January 1960 and served until 10 January 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colombo.mc.gov.lk/past-mayors.php|title=Past Mayors of Colombo|publisher=[[Colombo Municipal Council]]|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref>


===Parliament===
===Parliament===
Sugathadasa first ran for the multi-member constituency of [[Colombo Central Electoral District|Colombo Central]] at the [[1947 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1st parliamentary election]]s held in 1947. He polled seventh out of
Sugathadasa first ran for the multi-member constituency of [[Colombo Central Electoral District|Colombo Central]] at the [[1947 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1st parliamentary election]]s held in 1947. He polled seventh out of
fifteen candidates, receiving 4,898 votes (4.*(% of the total vote). He stood again for Colombo Central at the [[1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election|3rd parliamentary election]], held in April 1956, finishing in fifth place out of seven candidates, with 18,234 votes (12.3% of the total vote).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/election-results/parliamentary-elections/general-election-1956.pdf |title=Results of Parliamentary General Election 1956 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=4 September 2019}}</ref> He was successful at the [[March 1960 Ceylonese parliamentary election|4th parliamentary election]], held on 19 March 1960, where he was elected to parliament representing [[Colombo North Electoral District|Colombo North]], obtaining 9,446 (41.6% of the total vote) and unseating the sitting member, [[Vivienne Goonewardena]]. He was able to retain the seat at the [[July 1960 Ceylonese parliamentary election|July 1960 general election]], increasing his majority to 50.1% of the total vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/election-results/parliamentary-elections/general-election-1960-07-20.pdf |title=Results of Parliamentary General Election July 1960 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=4 September 2019}}</ref> He was subsequently re-elected at the [[1965 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1965 parliamentary election]]s, the [[1970 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1970 general election]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/election-results/parliamentary-elections/general-election-1970.pdf |title=Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka }}</ref> and the [[1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1977 election]]. In 1966, he was appointed as the first [[Minister of Sports (Sri Lanka)|Minister of Sports]] by Prime Minister [[Dudley Senanayake]] and served till 1970.
fifteen candidates, receiving 4,898 votes (4.8% of the total vote). He stood again for Colombo Central at the [[1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election|3rd parliamentary election]], held in April 1956, finishing in fifth place out of seven candidates, with 18,234 votes (12.3% of the total vote).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/election-results/parliamentary-elections/general-election-1956.pdf |title=Results of Parliamentary General Election 1956 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> He was successful at the [[March 1960 Ceylonese parliamentary election|4th parliamentary election]], held on 19 March 1960, where he was elected to parliament representing [[Colombo North Electoral District|Colombo North]], obtaining 9,446 (41.6% of the total vote) and unseating the sitting member, [[Vivienne Goonewardena|Vivienne Goonewardene]]. He was able to retain the seat at the [[July 1960 Ceylonese parliamentary election|July 1960 general election]], increasing his majority to 50.1% of the total vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/election-results/parliamentary-elections/general-election-1960-07-20.pdf |title=Results of Parliamentary General Election July 1960 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> He was subsequently re-elected at the [[1965 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1965 parliamentary election]]s and the [[1970 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1970 election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/election-results/parliamentary-elections/general-election-1970.pdf |title=Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka }}</ref> In 1966, he was appointed as the first [[Minister of Sports (Sri Lanka)|Minister of Sports]] by Prime Minister [[Dudley Senanayake]] and served until 1970. He also served as Chairman of the National Olympic and Commonwealth Games Committee and was the President of the [[Sri Lanka Tennis Association|Ceylon Lawn Tennis Association]] from 1958 to 1968.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tennis: All important Court |url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20121230/282029029564782 |access-date=5 March 2021 |publisher=Sunday Times}}</ref>

He died on 10 July 1973, at the age of 61, whilst still a sitting member of parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2009/07/05/jun01.asp|newspaper=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|Sunday Observer]]|title=Birth and death anniversaries from July 5 - July 11|date=5 July 2009|access-date= 4 September 2019}}</ref> His position in parliament was filled by [[Vincent Perera]], who successfully contested the by-election for the seat in September 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/election-results/parliamentary-elections/general-election-by-elections-1947-1988.pdf |title=Results of Parliamentary By Election held between 1947 and 1988 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref>


==Honours==
==Honours==
In 1955 he was made an Officer in the [[Order of the British Empire]] in the [[1955 New Year Honours|New Years Honours list]].<ref>Ceylon list: {{London Gazette |issue=40369 |date=31 December 1954 |pages=47–48 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref>
The [[Sugathadasa Stadium]], was named in his honour, having been built on land donated my Sugathadasa.

The [[Sugathadasa Stadium]], was named in his honour,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2006/08/15/d60815040125.htm|title=10th South Asian Games Colombo 2006 Festival kicks off quietly|first=Al Musabbir|last=Sadi|newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]|date=15 August 2006|access-date=6 September 2019}}</ref> having been built on land donated by Sugathadasa.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Members of the 6th Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Members of the 6th Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Members of the 7th Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Members of the 7th Parliament of Ceylon]]
[[Category:Sinhalese politicians]]
[[Category:United National Party politicians]]
[[Category:United National Party politicians]]
[[Category:Ceylonese Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from British Ceylon]]

Latest revision as of 08:28, 15 July 2023

Vithana Arachchige Sugathadasa, OBE (7 July 1912 – 10 July 1973) was a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the first Minister of Sports and twice as the Mayor of Colombo.[1][2]

Early life

[edit]

Born to a wealthy business family, he had two siblings. He was educated at St. Benedict's College, Colombo and Ananda College.

Political career

[edit]

Colombo Municipal Council

[edit]

Sugathadasa entered politics having been elected to the Colombo Municipal Council as a municipal councillor from the Kochchikade ward as an independent candidate. He later joined the United National Party and was elected Deputy Mayor in 1949. On 6 March 1956 he was elected Mayor of Colombo, defeating Dr N. M. Perera. He held the post until 1 December 1957. He was again elected as Mayor of Colombo on 12 January 1960 and served until 10 January 1963.[3]

Parliament

[edit]

Sugathadasa first ran for the multi-member constituency of Colombo Central at the 1st parliamentary elections held in 1947. He polled seventh out of fifteen candidates, receiving 4,898 votes (4.8% of the total vote). He stood again for Colombo Central at the 3rd parliamentary election, held in April 1956, finishing in fifth place out of seven candidates, with 18,234 votes (12.3% of the total vote).[4] He was successful at the 4th parliamentary election, held on 19 March 1960, where he was elected to parliament representing Colombo North, obtaining 9,446 (41.6% of the total vote) and unseating the sitting member, Vivienne Goonewardene. He was able to retain the seat at the July 1960 general election, increasing his majority to 50.1% of the total vote.[5] He was subsequently re-elected at the 1965 parliamentary elections and the 1970 election.[6] In 1966, he was appointed as the first Minister of Sports by Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake and served until 1970. He also served as Chairman of the National Olympic and Commonwealth Games Committee and was the President of the Ceylon Lawn Tennis Association from 1958 to 1968.[7]

He died on 10 July 1973, at the age of 61, whilst still a sitting member of parliament.[8] His position in parliament was filled by Vincent Perera, who successfully contested the by-election for the seat in September 1973.[9]

Honours

[edit]

In 1955 he was made an Officer in the Order of the British Empire in the New Years Honours list.[10]

The Sugathadasa Stadium, was named in his honour,[11] having been built on land donated by Sugathadasa.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dissanayake, I (10 July 2019). "V.A. Sugathadasa -The first Sports Minister in Sri Lanka An honourable man with a farsighted vision". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Hon. Sugathadasa, Vithana Arachchige, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Past Mayors of Colombo". Colombo Municipal Council. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Results of Parliamentary General Election 1956" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Results of Parliamentary General Election July 1960" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  7. ^ "Tennis: All important Court". Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Birth and death anniversaries from July 5 - July 11". Sunday Observer. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Results of Parliamentary By Election held between 1947 and 1988" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  10. ^ Ceylon list: "No. 40369". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1954. pp. 47–48.
  11. ^ Sadi, Al Musabbir (15 August 2006). "10th South Asian Games Colombo 2006 Festival kicks off quietly". The Daily Star. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
[edit]
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