# 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka

The 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka, known officially as the 1st Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, was a meeting of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, with the membership determined by the results of the 1977 parliamentary election held on 21 July 1977. The parliament met for the first time on 22 July 1977 and was dissolved on 8 March 1989.
The United National Party won a 5⁄6 majority to form a government under J. R. Jayewardene. Later Jayawardane introduced a new constitution to Sri Lanka and was elected as the 1st Executive President of Sri Lanka.
On 22 December 1982, the 1982 Sri Lankan national referendum was held, giving the people of Sri Lanka the option to extend the life of parliament by 6 years without an election. It was the first and so far only national referendum to be held in Sri Lanka. The referendum was called for by President Jayawardene, who had been elected to a fresh six-year term as president in October 1982. The government extended their term to stay in power in 1983 without an election and stayed in power until 1989.

## Results

The UNP won the largest landslide in Sri Lankan history (due to the first-past-the-post system). For the first time, a Tamil party won the second-highest number of seats in Parliament and became the Official Opposition.
Abeyratne Pilapitiya of the UNP was elected MP for Kalawana, but was subsequently unseated in an election petition. Sarath Muttetuwegama of the Communist Party was returned to Parliament in the ensuing by-election.
The 1977 election was the only one ever held under the 1972 constitution.
Seats :
| | United National Party | 3,179,221 | 50.92 | 140 |
| | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1,855,331 | 29.72 | 8 |
| | Tamil United Liberation Front | 421,488 | 6.75 | 18 |
| | Lanka Sama Samaja Party | 225,317 | 3.61 | 0 |
| | Communist Party of Sri Lanka | 123,856 | 1.98 | 0 |
| | Ceylon Workers' Congress | 62,707 | 1.00 | 1 |
| | Mahajana Eksath Peramuna | 22,639 | 0.36 | 0 |
| | Independents | 353,014 | 5.65 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 6,243,573 | 100.00 | 168 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 6,667,589 | – | |
| Source: Kusaka Research Institute |||||

## Electorate Results
### Western Province
#### Colombo District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Colombo North | M. Vincent Perera | Elephant |
| Colombo Central | R.Premadasa | Elephant |
| Colombo Central | M.Jabir A. Cader | Eye |
| Colombo Central | M.Haleem Ishak | Hand |
| Borella | M.H.Mohomed | Elephant |
| Colombo East | A.Edmund Samarawickrema | Elephant |
| Colombo West | J.R.Jayewardene | Elephant |
| Dehiwala | S. de S. Jayasinghe | Elephant |
| Ratmalana | Lalith Athulathmudali | Elephant |
| Kolonnawa | Weerasinghe Mallimaratchchi | Elephant |
| Kotte | Ananda Tissa de Alwis | Elephant |
| Kaduwela | M.D.H. Jayawardana | Elephant |
| Awissawella | M.D.Premarathna | Eephant |
| Homagama | Gamani Jayasuriya | Elephant |
| Maharagama | Premaratne Gunasekera | Elephant |
| Kesbewa | Dharmasena Attigalle | Elephant |
| Moratuwa | Tyronne Fernando | Elephant |

#### Gampaha District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Wattala | D. Shelton Jayasinghe | Elephant |
| Negambo | N. Denzil Fernando | Elephant |
| Katana | Wijayapala Mendis | Elephant |
| Divulapitiya | Ariyaratne Jayatillake | Elephant |
| Mirigama | Mahendra Wijeratne | Elephant |
| Minuwangoda | Bennet Gunasekera | Elephant |
| Attanagalla | Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias | Hand |
| Gampaha | S. D. Bandaranayake | Hand |
| Ja-ela | Joseph Michael Perera | Elephant |
| Mahara | Tudor Gunasekera | Elephant |
| Dompe | Sarathchandra Rajakaruna | Elephant |
| Biyagama | Ranil Wickremasinghe | Elephant |
| Kelaniya | Kaluwadewage Cyril Mathew | Elephant |

#### Kalutara District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Panadura | Neville Fernando | Elephant |
| Bandaragama | Senaraja Samaranayake | Elephant |
| Horana | Indradasa Hettiarachchi | Elephant |
| Bulathsinhala | O.S. Perera | Elephant |
| Mathugama | Reginold V. Wijegooneratne | Elephant |
| Kalutara | V.L.Wijemanne | Elephant |
| Beruwala | Bakeer Markar Abduli | Elephant |
| Agalawatta | Merill Kariyawasam | Elephant |

### Central Province
#### Matale District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Dambulla | K. W. R. M. Ekananayake | Elephant |
| Laggala | K. Y. M. Wijeratne Banda | Elephant |
| Matale | Alick Aluvihare | Elephant |
| Rattota | P. B. Kaviratne | Elephant |

#### Kandy District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Galagedara | W. M. G. T. Banda | Elephant |
| Harispattuwa | Abdul Cader Sahul Hameed | Elephant |
| Harispattuwa | R. Premachandra Wijesiri | Umbrella |
| Pathadumbara | T. B. Werapitiya | Elephant |
| Udadumbara | R. B. Attanayake | Elephant |
| Teldeniya | Gamini Rajapakse | Elephant |
| Kundasale | D. M. Chandrapala | Elephant |
| Hewaheta | Anura Daniel | Elephant |
| Senkadagala | Shelton Ranaraja | Elephant |
| Mahanuwara | E. L. Senanayake | Elephant |
| Yatinuwara | Sunil Subasiri Abeysundara | Elephant |
| Udunuwara | D. B. Wijetunga | Elephant |
| Gampola | W. P. B. Dissanayake | Elephant |

#### Nuwaraeliya District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Navalapitiya | Chandradra Karunaratne | Elephant |
| Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya | Gamini Dissanayake | Elephant |
| Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya | Anura Bandaranaike | Hand |
| Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya | S. Thondaman | Cockerei |
| Kothmale | Ananda Dassanayake | Hand |
| Hanguranketha | George Abeygoonasekera | Elephant |
| Walapane | Renuka Herath (Mrs.) | Elephant |

### Southern Province
#### Galle District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Balapitiya | Norman Waidyaratna | Elephant |
| Ambalangoda | Raitor Thilakasekara | Elephant |
| Karandeniya | Bandulahewa Senadheera | Elephant |
| Bentara-Elpitiya | Rupasena Karunatilake | Elephant |
| Hiniduma | M.S. Amarasiri | Elephant |
| Baddegama | E.D. Wickrematilaka | Elephant |
| Rathgma | Edwin Thilakaratne | Elephant |
| Galle | Albert de Silva | Elephant |
| Akmeemana | Sumanadasa Abeywickrama | Elephant |
| Habaraduwa | P. Sumathiratne | Elephant |

#### Matara District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Hakmana | Harshanath Wanigasekara | Elephant |
| Akuressa | Dayananda Wickremasinghe | Elephant |
| Kamburupitiya | Don Edwin Malawaraarachchi | Elephant |
| Devinuwara | Ronnie de Mel | Elephant |
| Matara | S.K. Piyadasa | Elephant |
| Weligama | Montague Jayawickrema | Elephant |
| Deniyaya | Keerthi Abeywickrama | Elephant |

#### Hambantota District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Mulkirigala | T.D.Fransisku | Elephant |
| Beliatta | Ranjith Atapattu | Elephant |
| Tangalle | Jinadasa Weerasinghe | Elephant |
| Tissamaharama | P.M.B. Cyril | Elephant |

### Northern Province
#### Jaffna District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Kayts | K.P. Ratnam | Sun |
| Waddukkodai | T. Thirunavukarasu | Sun |
| Kankesanthurai | A. Amirthalingam | Sun |
| Kopai | S. Kathiravelupillai | Sun |
| Udduppidi | T. Rasalingam | Sun |
| Point-Pedro | K. Thurairatnam | Sun |
| Chavakachcheri | V.N. Navaratnam | Sun |
| Nallur | M. Sivasithamparam | Sun |
| Jaffna | V. Yogeswaran | Sun |

#### Vanni District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Kilinochchi | V. Anandasangary | Sun |
| Mannar | P.S. Soosaithasan | Sun |
| Mulativu | X.M.Sellathambu | Sun |
| Vavuniya | T. Sivasithamparam | Sun |

### Eastern Province
#### Trincomalee District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Seruvila | H.D.L. Leelaratne | Elephant |
| Trincomalee | R. Sampathan | Sun |

#### Batticalao District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Mutur | M.E.H. Maharoof | Elephant |
| Kalkudah | K.W. Devanayagam | Elephant |
| Batticaloa | C.Rajadurai & Farid Meeralebbai | Sun & Elephant |
| Paddiruppu | P. Ganeshalingam | Sun |

#### Ampara District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Ampara | P. Dayaratna | Elephant |
| Sammanthurai | M. A. Abdul Majeed | Elephant |
| Kalmunai | Abdul Rasak Mansoor | Elephant |
| Potuvil | M.A.M. Jalaldeen & C.Kanagaratnam | Elephant & -Sun |

### North Western Province
#### Puttalam District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Puttalam | M.H.M. Neina Marikkar | Elephant |
| Anamaduwa | Ashoka Wadigamangawa | Elephant |
| Chilaw | Harindra Corea | Elephant |
| Nattandiya | Harold Herath | Elephant |
| Wennappuwa | Festus Perera | Elephant |

#### Kurunegala District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Galgamuwa | H.M.A. Lokubanda | Elephant |
| Nikaweratiya | H.B. Wanninayake | Elephant |
| Yapahuwa | H.B. Abeyratne | Elephant |
| Hiriyala | S.B. Herath | Elephant |
| Wariyapola | Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake | Elephant |
| Panduwasnuwara | Kalubanda Ratnayake | Elephant |
| Bingiriya | J.L. Sirisena | Elephant |
| Katugampola | Gamini Jayawickrama Perera | Elephant |
| Kuliyapitiya | Lionel Jayatillake | Elephant |
| Dambadeniya | Ukkubanda Wijekoon | Elephant |
| Polgahawela | J.A.D.S. R. Jayakody | Elephant |
| Kurunegala | Dingiri Banda Welagedera | Elephant |
| Mawathagama | G.M. Premachandra | Elephant |
| Dodangaslanda | S.W. Alawatuwala | Elephant |

### North Central Province
#### Anuradapura District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Medawachchiya | Maithripala Senanayake | Hand |
| Horoupothana | E. L. B. Hurulle | Elephant |
| Anuradhapura East | W.Y. Herath | Elephant |
| Anuradhapura West | K.D.M.C. Bandara | Elephant |
| Kalawewa | A.M.S. Adikari | Elephant |
| Mihintale | Dayaratne Walagambahu | Elephant |
| Kekirawa | G.D. Mahindsoma | Elephant |

#### Polonnaruwa District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Minneriya | Merril de Silva | Elephant |
| Medirigiriya | A.D.B. Ekanayake | Elephant |
| Polonnaruwa | H.G.P. Nelson |

### Uva Province
#### Badulla District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Mahiyangana | C.P.J.Seneviratne | Elephant |
| Viyaluwa | Weerawanni Samaraweera | Elephant |
| Passara | W.M. Karunaratne | Elephant |
| Badulla | D. Vincent Perera | Elephant |
| Hali-ela | R.M. Abeykoon | Elephant |
| Uva-paranagama | R.M. Karunaratne | Elephant |
| Welimada | Percy Samaraweera | Elephant |
| Bandarawela | R.M.Apphamy | Elephant |
| Haputale | W.J.M.Lokubandara | Elephant |

#### Monaragala District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Bibile | R.M.Dharmadasa Banda | Elephant |
| Moneragala | R.M. Punchi Bandara | Elephant |
| Wellawaya | J.M. Kumaradasa | Elephant |

### Sabaragamuwa Province
#### Kegalla District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Dedigama | Nissanka Parakrama Wijayaratne | Elephant |
| Galigamuwa | Wimala Kannangara (Mrs.) | Elephant |
| Kegalle | N.A. Seneviratne | Elephant |
| Rambukkana | Asoka Karunaratne | Elephant |
| Mawanella | C.R. Beligammana | Elephant |
| Aranayaka | Wasantha Udayaratne | Elephant |
| Yatiyantota | K. Vincent Perera | Elephant |
| Ruwanwella | P.C. Imbulana | Elephant |
| Deraniyagala | A.K.D. Wanigaratne | Elephant |

#### Ratnapura District

| Electorate | Name of the Elected | Symbol |
| Ehaliyagoda | Mervyn Kularatne | Elephant |
| Ratnapura | G.V. Punchinilame | Elephant |
| Pelmadulla | Chandrasekera Gankanda | Elephant |
| Balangoda | M.L.M.Aboosally | Elephant |
| Rakwana | H. Kularatne | Elephant |
| Nivitigala | Gamini Athukorale | Elephant |
| Kalawana | Abeyratna Pilapitiya | Elephant |
| Kolonna | Caluwadewage Nanda Mathew | Elephant |
Source