News

All in the family – father and son duos

View(s):

There will be four sets of father-son duos in the ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and former speaker Chamal Rajapaksa – both sons of the late D.A. Rajapaksa – have been elected to parliament from the Kurunegala and Hambantota districts respectively. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Namal, was elected from Hambantota while Chamal Rajapaksa’s son, Shasheendra. secured a seat from Moneragala.

The third duo comprises former minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon and his son, Pramitha. Both were elected on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ticket from the Dambulla electorate in Matale. Janaka Bandara’s father, T.B. Tennakoon, was also a MP after winning a seat in 1956.

The fourth father-son duo are former minister Dinesh Gunawardena, elected to parliament from the SLPP in the Colombo district, and his son Yadamini Gunawardena, who has been nominated as a National List MP from the SLPP.

Mahinda Rajapaksa and son Namal