E. L. Senanayake

Hon. Deshamanya Edward Lionel Senanayaka
13th Speaker of the Parliament
In office 6 September 1983 – 20 December 1988
President	J. R. Jayewardene
Prime Minister	Ranasinghe Premadasa
Preceded by	Bakeer Markar
Succeeded by	M. H. Mohamed
Mayor of Kandy
In office 1964–1968
Preceded by	Noel Wimalasena
Succeeded by	Bennet Soysa
In office 1956–1960
Preceded by	Bennet Soysa
Succeeded by	Bennet Soysa
In office 1950–1954
Preceded by	Bennet Soysa
Succeeded by	Bennet Soysa
Personal details
Born	(1920-08-08)8 August 1920
Died	29 January 2000(2000-01-29) (aged 79)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	United National Party
Alma mater	Trinity College, Kandy Ceylon University College

Deshamanya Edward Lionel Senanayake (known commonly as E.L Senanayake) (8 August 1920 – 29 January 2000) was a Sri Lankan politician belonging to the United National Party. He was the 12th Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament. Senanayake was the Governor of North Central Province and Central Province of Sri Lanka. He was elected to the Sri Lankan Parliament from Mahanuwara in Kandy.

He was the son of Gate Mudaliyar James Senanayake and was educated at Trinity College, Kandy and at the University College, Colombo graduating with an honours degree in Economics. Having entered politics at the age of 23 after being elected to the Kandy Municipal Council, he went on to serve as Mayor before being elected to Parliament.

Early life and education

Born at Milton House, Castle Street, Kandy to Wasala Mudaliyar James Senanayake; he was educated at Trinity College, Kandy and at the University College, Colombo graduating with an honours degree in Economics.

E. L. Senanayake Statue at Kandy.

Political career

He was elected to the Kandy Municipal Council in 1943. In 1946 he was elected as the Deputy Mayor of Kandy and was elected Mayor of Kandy in 1950 as the country’s youngest mayor. During his tenure the new Kandy Central Market was constructed, the Kandy water supply scheme at Getambe, the D.S. Senanayake Public Library, the E.L. Senanayake Children's Library, the Auditorium and the E. L. Senanayake Children's Park at Ampitiya.

He was elected to parliament from the 1953 general election from the United National Party. He lost his seat in the 1956 general election, but was re-elected in the March 1960 general election and retained his seat in the next consecutive elections and remained member of parliament till 1988. He served as Health Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Lands, before being elected Speaker of the Parliament. Following his retirement politics he was appointed Governor of the North Central Province and thereafter Governor of Sabaragamuwa. He was awarded the title of Deshamanya by the President of Sri Lanka.

Family

His brother Dr James Senanayake was a member of the Senate of Ceylon and his younger brother Earnest Senanayake served as a Member of the Kandy Municipal Council. He was married to Seetha Senanayake, who served as his private secretary. Two of their sons Dhathusena and Rajasinghe served as Members of the Kandy Municipal Council, while another son Kesera served as a diplomat and was a member of the Central Provincial Council. His family donated the Miltion Senanayake Memorial Library at Trinity College Kandy, a ward at the Mahaiyawa Home for Elders, contributions towards the Pothgul Viharaya at Malabar Street Kandy and the YMCA building at Sangaraja Mawatha Kandy.