# Bentara-Elpitiya Electoral District

Bentara-Elpitiya electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between March 1960 and February 1989. The district was named after the towns of Bentara(Bentota) and Elpitiya in Galle District, Southern 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. Bentara-Elpitiya electoral district was replaced by the Galle multi-member electoral district at the 1989 general elections.

## Members of Parliament

Key
Independent SLFP UNP
| Election | Member | Party | Term |
| 1960 (March) | R. G. Samaranayake | United National Party | 1960 |
| 1960 (July) | Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1960-1965 |
| 1965 | R. G. Samaranayake | United National Party | 1965-1966 |
| 1966 parliamentary by-election | Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1966-1970 |
| 1970 | Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1970-1977 |
| 1977 | Rupasena Karunatillake | United National Party | 1977-1989 |

## Elections
### 1960 (March) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 4th parliamentary election held on 19 March 1960:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| R. G. Samaranayake | United National Party | Elephant | 7,769 | 24.03 |
| Albert Kariyawasam | Mahajana Eksath Peramuna | Cartwheel | 7,177 | 22.20 |
| Henry Abeywickrema | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 4,319 | 13.36 |
| Leslie Sirimanne | | Sun | 3,727 | 11.53 |
| K. A. Wimalapala | Communist Party of Ceylon | Star | 3,678 | 11.37 |
| J. D. A. Jayasekera | | Mortar | 1,652 | 5.11 |
| K. Surasena | Lanka Sama Samaja Party | Key | 1,522 | 4.71 |
| P. A. Premadasa | | Cockrel | 1,141 | 3.53 |
| D. B. Wickrema Arachchi | | Umbrella | 804 | 2.49 |
| D. K. Mahavithana | | Lamp | 192 | 0.59 |
| P. A. Dharmasena Wijeratne | | Eye | 180 | 0.56 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 32,161 | 99.46 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 175 | 0.54 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 32,336 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 41,412 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78.08 |

### 1960 (July) Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 5th parliamentary election held on 20 July 1960:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 18,349 | 58.03 |
| R. G. Samaranayake | United National Party | Elephant | 12,362 | 39.10 |
| J. D. A. Jayasekera | Mahajana Eksath Peramuna | Cartwheel | 819 | 2.59 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 31,530 | 99.72 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 88 | 0.28 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 31,618 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 41,412 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 76.35 |

### 1965 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 6th parliamentary election held on 22 March 1965:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| R. G. Samaranayake | United National Party | Elephant | 22,085 | 49.47 |
| Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 21,084 | 47.23 |
| J. P. Gajanayake | Mahajana Eksath Peramuna | Cartwheel | 1,172 | 2.63 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 44,341 | 99.32 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 304 | 0.68 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 44,645 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 52,449 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 85.12 |

### 1966 Parliamentary By-Election

Results of the parliamentary by-election, held on 24 October 1966:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 24,132 | 51.57 |
| C. W. Samaranayaka | United National Party | Elephant | 22,455 | 47.99 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 46,587 | 99.56 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 206 | 0.44 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 46,793 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 56,158 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 83.32 |

### 1970 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 7th parliamentary election held on 27 May 1970:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 29,801 | 56.63 |
| Rupasena Karunatillake | United National Party | Elephant | 22,709 | 43.15 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 52,510 | 99.78 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 114 | 0.22 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 52,624 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 59,022 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 89.16 |

### 1977 Parliamentary General Election

Results of the 8th parliamentary election held on 21 July 1977:
| Candidate | Party | Symbol | Votes | % |
| Rupasena Karunatillake | United National Party | Elephant | 26,679 | 59.61 |
| Albert Kariyawasam | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | Hand | 14,825 | 33.12 |
| Peter Jayasekera | Communist Party of Ceylon | Star | 2,842 | 6.35 |
| Sirisena Jayasekera | | Lamp | 109 | 0.24 |
| K. A. Chandrasena | | Eye | 97 | 0.22 |
| Ariyadasa P. Thanthrige | | Umbrella | 76 | 0.17 |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 44,628 | 99.71 |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 130 | 0.29 |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | Total Polled | 44,758 | 100.00 |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 51,656 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 86.65 |