# Matale Electoral District (1947–1989)

Matale electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the town of Matale in Matale District, 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. Matale electoral district was replaced by the Matale multi-member electoral district at the 1989 general elections, the first under the PR system, though Matale continues to be a polling division of the multi-member electoral district.

## Members of Parliament

Key
Independent SLFP UNP
| Election | Member | Party | Term |
| 1947 | V. T. Nanayakkara | | 1947-1952 |
| 1952 | Bernard Aluwihare | United National Party | 1952-1956 |
| 1956 | Nimal Karunatilake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1956-1960 |
| 1960 (March) | Bernard Aluwihare | United National Party | 1960-1965 |
| 1960 (July) | Bernard Aluwihare | United National Party | 1960-1965 |
| 1965 | Alick Aluwihare | United National Party | 1965-1970 |
| 1970 | Richard Udugama | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1970-1977 |
| 1977 | Alick Aluwihare | United National Party | 1977-1989 |

## Elections
### 1947 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 1st parliamentary election held between 23 August 1947 and 20 September 1947:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| V. T. Nanayakkara | | Eye | 11,530 | 48.62 |
| Bernard Aluwihare | | Star | 9,525 | 40.12 |
| T. B. Wegodapola | | Lamp | 2,373 | 10.01 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 23,428 | 98.80 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 285 | 1.20 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 23,713 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 37,847 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62.65 |

### 1952 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 2nd parliamentary election held between 24 May 1952 and 30 May 1952 for the district:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Bernard Aluwihare | | Flower | 12,314 | 57.43 |
| V. T. Nanayakkara | | House | 8,898 | 41.95% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 21,212 | 98.93 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 229 | 1.07 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 21,441 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 29,272 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 73.25 |

### 1956 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 3rd parliamentary election held between 5 April 1956 and 10 April 1956:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Nimal Karunatilake | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 12,968 | 55.15 |
| Bernard Aluwihare | United National Party | Elephant | 10,372 | 44.11 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 23,340 | 99.26 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 175 | 0.74 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 23,515 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 33,081 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 71.08 |

### 1960 (March) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 4th parliamentary election held on 19 March 1960:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Bernard Aluwihare | United National Party | Elephant | 8,022 | 49.99 |
| T. D. Gunaratne | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 6,113 | 38.97 |
| M. B. Ratnayake | Mahajana Eksath Peramuna | Cart Wheel | 892 | 5.56 |
| S. B. Wijeratne | Communist Party | Star | 504 | 3.14 |
| A. K. Sumanapala | | Umbrella | 154 | 0.96 |
| Jinadasa Wickremasuriya | | Sun | 117 | 0.73 |
| Upali Monaravila Keppetipola | | Clock | 113 | 0.70 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 15,915 | 99.18 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 131 | 0.82 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 16,046 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 20,739 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 77.37 |

### 1960 (July) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 5th parliamentary election held on 20 July 1960:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Bernard Aluwihare | United National Party | Elephant | 8,961 | 54.13 |
| T. D. Gunaratne | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 7,489 | 45.24 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 16,450 | 99.37 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 105 | 0.63 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 16,555 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 20,739 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 79.83% |

### 1965 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 6th parliamentary election held on 22 March 1965:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Alick Aluwihare | United National Party | Elephant | 13,502 | 59.38 |
| W. Dorakumbura | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 9,025 | 39.70 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 22,527 | 99.07 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 212 | 0.93 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 22,739 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 27,414 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 82.95 |

### 1970 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 7th parliamentary election held on 27 May 1970:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Richard Udugama | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 13,428 | 51.01 |
| Alick Aluwihare | United National Party | Elephant | 12,778 | 48.54 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 26,206 | 99.54 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 120 | 0.46 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 26,326 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 30,396 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 86.61 |

### 1977 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 8th parliamentary election held on 21 July 1977 for the district:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Alick Aluwihare | United National Party | Elephant | 21,945 | 69.66 |
| Chandrasena Munaweera | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 9,039 | 28.69 |
| R. G. Karunaratne | | Eye | 361 | 1.15 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 31,345 | 99.50 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 156 | 0.50 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 31,501 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 36,395 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 86.55 |