# Medawachchiya Electoral District

Medawachchiya electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the town of Medawachchiya in Anuradhapura District, North Central Province. The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the proportional representation electoral system for electing members of Parliament. The existing 160 mainly single-member electoral districts were replaced with 22 multi-member electoral districts. Medawachchiya electoral district was replaced by the Anuradhapura multi-member electoral district at the 1989 general elections.
During the time of this electorate the sole member of parliament was Maithripala Senanayake.

## Members of Parliament

Key
Independent SLFP UNP
| Election | Member | Party | Term |
| 1947 | Maithripala Senanayake | United National Party | 1947 - 1989 |
| 1952 | Maithripala Senanayake | United National Party | 1947 - 1989 |
| 1956 | Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1947 - 1989 |
| 1960 (March) | Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1947 - 1989 |
| 1960 (July) | Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1947 - 1989 |
| 1965 | Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1947 - 1989 |
| 1970 | Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1947 - 1989 |
| 1977 | Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1947 - 1989 |

## Elections
### 1947 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 1st parliamentary election held between 23 August 1947 and 20 September 1947:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | United National Party | Hand | 3,283 | 45.20 |
| Ariya Pathirana | | Cart Wheel | 1,404 | 19.33 |
| W. Tennakoon | | Elephant | 1,247 | 17.17 |
| S. M. U. B. Madukande | | Umbrella | 1,196 | 16.47 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 7,130 | 98.17 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 133 | 1.83 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 7,263 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 11,400 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63.71 |

### 1952 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 2nd parliamentary election held between 24 May 1952 and 30 May 1952:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | United National Party | Hand | 8,112 | 78.88 |
| Ariya Pathirana | | Elephant | 2,039 | 19.83 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 10,151 | 98.71 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 133 | 1.29 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 10,284 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 13,351 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 77.03 |

### 1956 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 3rd parliamentary election held between 5 April 1956 and 10 April 1956:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 10,829 | 88.89 |
| S. H. Mahadiulwewa | United National Party | Elephant | 1,269 | 10.42 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 12,098 | 99.30 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 85 | 0.70 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 12,183 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 15,492 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78.64 |

### 1960 (March) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 4th parliamentary election held on 19 March 1960:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 9,475 | 75.92 |
| S. H. Mahadiulwewa | United National Party | Elephant | 2,133 | 17.09 |
| Ariya Pathirana | | Cockerel | 509 | 4.08 |
| A. E. O. Weerasinghe | | Umbrella | 226 | 1.81 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 12,343 | 98.90 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 137 | 1.10 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 12,480 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 16,579 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75.28 |

### 1960 (July) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 5th parliamentary election held on 20 July 1960:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 9,534 | 79.96 |
| B. K. Piyadasa | United National Party | Elephant | 2,236 | 19.59 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 11,770 | 98.71 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 154 | 1.29 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 11,924 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 16,579 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71.92 |

### 1965 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 6th parliamentary election held on 22 March 1965:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 10,839 | 61.67 |
| D.M. Ariyadasa | United National Party | Elephant | 6,108 | 34.75 |
| M.W.K. Pandula | | Sun | 264 | 1.50 |
| W.S.Abhayasinghe | | Cart Wheel | 156 | 0.89 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 17,420 | 99.11 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 209 | 0.89 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 17,576 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 21,538 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 81.61 |

### 1970 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 7th parliamentary election held on 27 May 1970:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 17,094 | 68.65 |
| D.M. Ariyadasa | United National Party | Elephant | 7,496 | 30.10 |
| W.S.Abhayasinghe | | Bell | 135 | 0.54 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 24,725 | 99.29 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 177 | 0.71 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 24,902 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 29,245 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 85.15 |

### 1977 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 8th parliamentary election held on 21 July 1977:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Maithripala Senanayake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 14,228 | 49.67 |
| D.M. Ariyadasa | United National Party | Elephant | 13,862 | 48.39 |
| Edmond Don Siyambalapitiya | | Book | 435 | 1.52 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 28,525 | 99.57 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 122 | 0.43 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 28,647 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 32,284 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 88.73 |