D. A. Rajapaksa

Don Alwin Rajapaksa (; ; 5 November 1905 – 7 November 1967) was a Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament who represented the Beliatta electorate in Hambantota district from 1947 to 1965. A founding member of Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land in Wijeyananda Dahanayake's government, he was the father of two Sri Lankan Presidents; Mahinda and Gotabaya.

Personal life Don Alwin Rajapaksa was born on 5 November 1905 in a hamlet called Medamulana and had his early education at Mandaduva School in Weeraketiya. His father Don David Rajapaksa, who held the post of Vidane Arachchi in Ihala Valikada Korale, sent him for secondary education to Richmond College, Galle. Having completed his education, he helped his father manage the family estate, which consisted of paddy fields and coconut plantations. He captained the Richmond College cricket team for three years.

He was married to Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake Palatuwe Hamine. Several parliamentarians, including Rajapaksa, Herbert Sri Nissanka and D. S. Goonesekera, followed Bandaranaike when he crossed the floor of the house to the opposition benches on 12 July 1951. The Rajapaksas supported Bandaranaike at the general elections of 1952, winning the Beliatta electorate for the SLFP where he defeated his opponent by a majority of 17,382 votes. Later on, in the historic general elections of 1956, Rajapaksa won the seat from Sri Lanka Freedom Party with 26,215 votes, which was 15,335 votes more than the opposition. He lost his seat in the general election of 1965 to his rival, D. P. Atapattu.

Family

Don David Rajapaksa Vidanarachchi

He held the colonial post of Vidane Arachchi in Ihala Valikada Korale, Giruvapattuva in the Hambantota District.

Don Mathew Rajapaksa (1897-1945)

He was the State Councillor for Hambantota District from 1936 to 1945.

Don Alwin Rajapaksa (1905-1967)

He was one of the founding members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and was also a Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Cabinet Minister.

Family tree

1. Don David Rajapaksa Vidanarachchi (feudal post) + Dona Gimara Weerakoon Ratnayake 1.1. Don Mathew Rajapaksa (State Councillor) 1.1.1. Lakshman Rajapaksa (Member of Parliament) 1.1.2. George Rajapaksa (1926 – 1976) (Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister of Fisheries and Health) 1.1.2.1. Nirupama Rajapaksa (former Deputy Minister of Water Supply & Drainage and Member of Parliament)

1.2. Don Alwin Rajapaksa (1905 – 1967) (Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land) + Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake

1.2.1. Jayanthi Rajapaksa (1940 –) (children: Himal Laleendra Hettiarachchi, Rangani Hettiarachhi)

1.2.2. Chamal Rajapaksa (1942 –) (former Member of Parliament, former Cabinet Deputy Minister, former Full Minister and former Speaker)(Children: Shashindra Rajapaksa, Shameendra Rajapaksa)

1.2.3. Mahinda Rajapaksa (1945 –) (former Member of Parliament, former Cabinet Minister, former Leader of Opposition, former Prime Minister, former President of Sri Lanka)(children: Namal Rajapaksa, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Rohitha Rajapaksa)

1.2.4. Chandra Rajapaksa (1947 – 2018) (children: Chaminda Rajapaksa)

1.2.5. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (1949 –) (former President of Sri Lanka – 7th Executive President and former Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order)(children: Manoj Rajapaksa)

1.2.6. Basil Rajapaksa (1951 –) (former Cabinet Minister and former Member of Parliament) (Children: Thejani Rajapaksa, Bimalka Rajapaksa, Ashantha Rajapaksa)

1.2.7. Dudley Rajapaksa (1957 –) (children: Mihiri Rajapaksa)

1.2.8. Preethi Rajapaksa (1959 –) (children: Malaka Chandradasa, Madhawa Chandradasa, Madini Chandradasa, Malika Chandradasa)

1.2.9. Gandani Rajapaksa (1962 –) (children: Eshana Ranawaka, Nipuna Ranawaka, Randula Ranawaka)