Nandana Gunathilake

Masteaga Don Nandana Gunathilake (7 September 1962 – 18 January 2026) was a Sri Lankan politician and member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was the candidate of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna at the 1999 Sri Lankan presidential election, placing 3rd in the election.

Personal life Nandana Gunathilake was born on 7 September 1962 in Panadura, Kalutara District in a family with four siblings.

Gunathilake continued to work for JVP until 2004, where he was a member of the Politburo and helped rebuild the JVP after the second insurrection. He was the candidate of the JVP in the 1999 presidential elections, in which Gunathilake stated he ran as "the common candidate of the left". Gunathilake received 344,173 votes, becoming the third-most voted candidate at the election.

Gunathilake left the JVP in 2004, citing the party's policy changes, After leaving the JVP, he formed the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (NFF) along with Wimal Weerawansa in 2008. Gunathilake then served as Acting Minister of Posts and Telecommunications from 2009 to 2010 as well as Acting Minister of Tourism in 2009. After several disputes, he joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in 2010,

Gunathilake later defected to the United National Party in 2015 and supported presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena in the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election. During this period, Gunathilake worked as the mayor of the Panadura Urban Council from April 2018 to 19 March 2023 twice from the United People's Freedom Alliance and the United National Party.

Illness and death Gunathilake continually suffered from multiple organ failure throughout late 2025 and received medications frequently. He posted a note on his official Facebook page about his illness while in the hospital.

Gunathilake died on 18 January 2026 at the age of 63 while receiving treatment at Ragama Hospital. His remains were kept at the Panadura Urban Council from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on 19 January 2026 for public respects. The body was then placed at the Young Men's Buddhist Association Hall from 5:00 p.m. until 21 January. His funeral was held at 4:00 p.m. at the Wadduwa Public Playground on 21 January 2026.