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D. S. Goonesekera

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D. S. Goonesekera
Minister of Labour and Social Services
In office
28 May 1963 – 1964
Prime MinisterSirimavo Bandaranaike
Preceded byM. P. de Z. Sriwardene
Succeeded byM. H. Mohamed
Member of the Ceylon Parliament
for Habaraduwa
In office
1960–1964
Preceded byPrins Gunasekera
Member of the Ceylon Parliament
for Udugama
In office
1956–1960
Preceded byNeal de Alwis
In office
1947–1952
Succeeded byNeal de Alwis
Personal details
Born(1896-11-13)13 November 1896
Habaraduwa, British Ceylon
Died7 August 1983(1983-08-07) (aged 86)
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partySri Lanka Freedom Party
SpouseNandawathie Victoria Wickremasinghe
Children5
ResidenceAlfred House Gardens Colombo 03
Alma materDharmika School, Katukurunda
Mahinda College, Galle
Occupationland surveyor, politician
ProfessionSurveyor

Don Samuel Goonesekera (13 November 1896 – 7 August 1983) was a politician and member of parliament.

Don Samuel Goonesekera was born 13 November 1896 in Habaraduwa, the only son of Don Marthelis Goonesekera and Dona Clare Abeygoonewardena. He received his primary education from the Dharmika School, Katukurunda, Habaraduwa and his secondary education at Mahinda College, Galle. He then worked as a land surveyor before entering into politics. In 1927 he became the chairman of the Kodagoda Village Council. In 1939 he was elected as a Councilor (representing the Main Street Ward) on the Galle Municipal Council and in 1944 was subsequently elected as Mayor of Galle. At the first parliament election in 1947 he contested the seat for the Udugama Electoral District, on behalf of the United National Party, becoming its first MP. In the subsequent parliamentary election in 1952 he lost the seat, after switching to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He was successful in regaining the seat at the 1956 parliamentary election.[1] In 1959 he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Trade and Commerce by Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.

He had five children: Tilak (1929-2021), who was a consultant eye surgeon and married to Padma née Wickremasinghe (1931-2019) also a consultant eye surgeon. Their daughter, Damithri, also became a consultant eye surgeon; Sanath, a medical administrator; Vineetha Indrani and Mahinda, medical specialists; and Palitha, an attorney at law.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Jayawardane, Ishara (17 July 2012). "A Politician and a Gentleman". Daily News. Retrieved 6 February 2017.