Sri Lanka Freedom Party
In 1980 he entered politics and became the Akmeemana Sri Lanka Freedom Party organiser. He was first elected to the Parliament in 1983 in the Akmeemana by-election that year. Richard Pathirana served as the Chief Opposition Whip From 1989 to 1994 in the Sri Lankan parliament and he was the Galle District leader for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party at many elections.