Matara electoral district is one of the 22 multi-member electoral districts of Sri Lanka created by the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka. The district is conterminous with the administrative district of Matara in the Southern province . The district currently elects 7 of the 225 members of the Sri Lankan Parliament and had 578,858 registered electors in 2010. The district is the country's Electorate Number 08.
27-441: The Matara Electoral District consists of the following polling divisions: A: Deniyaya B: Hakmana C: Akuressa D: Kamburupitiya E: Devinuwara F: Matara G: Weligama Results of the 1st presidential election held on 20 October 1982 for the district: Results of the 2nd presidential election held on 19 December 1988 for the district: Results of the 9th parliamentary election held on 15 February 1989 for
54-594: A Buddhist majority (94.1%) Religion in Deniyaya Mangala Samaraweera Mangala Pinsiri Samaraweera ( Sinhala : මංගල පින්සිරි සමරවීර , Tamil : மங்கள சமரவீர ; pronounced [mˈʌŋgɘlɘ pinsiri sˈʌmɘrɘviːrɘ] 21 April 1956 – 24 August 2021) was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the first openly gay politician in Sri Lanka. He served as Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2019, and as
81-652: A Sinhalese majority (86.2%) . In comparison, the Matara Electoral District (which contains the Deniyaya Polling Division) has a Sinhalese majority (94.3%) Ethnicity in Deniyaya The Deniyaya Polling Division has a Buddhist majority (86.3%) and a significant Hindu population (10.9%) . In comparison, the Matara Electoral District (which contains the Deniyaya Polling Division) has
108-519: A pivotal role as a joint spokesperson of the opposition coalition candidate Maithripala Sirisena. After the 2019 Presidential election , Samaraweera joined the newly formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya which was launched in 2020 and led by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa . Mangala was reported to have played a major role in the break up of the United National Party and also led the formation of Samagi Jana Balavegaya. He resigned from
135-489: A politician, he was an advocate of liberalism and radical centrism and opposed militarisation , as well as ethnic and religious polarisation. He also advocated for LGBTQ rights in Sri Lanka , despite same-sex sexual activity and same-sex marriage being illegal in Sri Lanka. Mangala Samaraweera was born on 21 April 1956 in Matara, Sri Lanka , the son of Mahanama Samaraweera and Khema Padmawathi Amaraweera. His father
162-500: Is a Polling Division in the Matara Electoral District , in the Southern Province, Sri Lanka . The winner of Deniyaya has matched the final country result 6 out of 8 times. Hence, Deniyaya is a Weak Bellwether for Presidential Elections. The winner of Deniyaya has matched the final country result 6 out of 7 times. Hence, Deniyaya is a Strong Bellwether for Parliamentary Elections. The Deniyaya Polling Division has
189-526: The 12th parliamentary election held on 5 December 2001 for the district: The following candidates were elected: Mangala Samaraweera (PA), 105,992 preference votes (pv); Mahinda Wijesekara (UNF), 95,378 pv; Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena (UNF), 81,617 pv; Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena (PA), 64,756 pv; Justin Galappathi (UNF), 60,548 pv; Mallika de Mel (PA), 60,531 pv; Sagala Ratnayaka (UNF), 55,423 pv; and Jinadasa Kitulagoda (JVP), 4,799 pv. Results of
216-517: The 13th parliamentary election held on 2 April 2004 for the district: The following candidates were elected: Mangala Samaraweera (UPFA-SLFP), 118,848 preference votes (pv); Jinadasa Kitulagoda (UPFA-JVP), 109,417 pv; Pemasiri Manage (UPFA-JVP), 101,558 pv; Mahinda Wijesekara (UNF-UNP), 72,563 pv; Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena (UNF-UNP), 66,498 pv; Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena (UPFA-SLFP), 60,453 pv; Sagala Ratnayaka (UNF-UNP), 59,888 pv; and Chandrasiri Gajadeera (UPFA-CPSL), 46,138 pv. Results of
243-748: The 2nd Southern provincial council election held on 17 May 1993 for the district: Results of the 3rd Southern provincial council election held on 24 March 1994 for the district: Results of the 10th parliamentary election held on 16 August 1994 for the district: The following candidates were elected: Dullas Alahapperuma (PA), 76,678 preference votes (pv); Ronnie de Mel (UNP), 66,563 pv; Mahinda Wijesekara (PA), 65,769 pv; Chandrasiri Gajadeera (PA), 62,852 pv; Mangala Samaraweera (PA), 61,574 pv; Eugin Alwis Samarasinghe (PA), 57,455 pv; Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena (UNP), 52,294 pv; and Handunneththi Rannulu Wimalasiri (UNP), 33,078 pv. Results of
270-749: The 3rd presidential election held on 9 November 1994 for the district: Results of the 4th Southern provincial council election held on 10 June 1999 for the district: Results of the 4th presidential election held on 21 December 1999 for the district: Results of the 11th parliamentary election held on 10 October 2000 for the district: The following candidates were elected: Mangala Samaraweera (PA), 93,110 preference votes (pv); Mahinda Wijesekara (PA), 83,625 pv; Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena (UNP), 81,053 pv; Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena (PA), 70,091 pv; Sagala Ratnayaka (UNP), 58,634 pv; Dullas Alahapperuma (PA), 48,721 pv; Chandrasiri Gajadeera (PA), 43,913 pv; and Jinadasa Kitulagoda (JVP), 4,012 pv. Results of
297-1073: The 5th Southern provincial council election held on 10 July 2004 for the district: The following candidates were elected: Akalanka Buddika Pathirana (UNP), 44,165 preference votes (pv); S. Rathanayake (UPFA), 42,771 pv; Justin Galappaththi (UNP), 31,953 pv; Arachchige Saman Kumara Suraweera (UPFA), 29,813 pv; L. B. Lal Premanath (UPFA), 29,790 pv; N. K. Sisira Kumara (UPFA), 29,064 pv; Gunasekara Wickramarathna Hemal (UPFA), 29,021 pv; S. Vijaya Bindu Weerasinghe (UPFA), 26,270 pv; Dhamvijaya Wijesekara Dahanayake (UPFA), 25,174 pv; Abewickrama Danvas Stanly (UPFA), 25,057 pv; Handunneththi Rannulu Piyasiri (UPFA), 24,841 pv; Weerasumana Weerasinghe (UPFA), 22,095 pv; Suduweli Kondage Lakmal Nilantha (UPFA), 19,192 pv; Handunge Sosindra Nandana (UPFA), 18,422 pv; Sirisena Wijewickrama Kankanamge (UNP), 17,878 pv; Kapila Jayantha Wellappili (UNP), 14,620 pv; Amaraweera Wickrama Gunawardhana Jinadasa (UNP), 11,122 pv; and Madduma Patabandige Praneeth Padmathilaka (UNP), 9,312 pv. Results of
SECTION 10
#1732798552586324-1104: The 5th presidential election held on 17 November 2005 for the district: Results of the 6th Southern provincial council election held on 10 October 2009 for the district: The following candidates were elected: Gunasekara Wickramarathna Hemal (UPFA), 63,323 preference votes (pv); Akalanka Buddika Pathirana (UNP), 57,802 pv; Abeywardhana Sarath Yapa (UPFA), 45,882 pv; Chandima Rasaputhra (UPFA), 40,066 pv; Dhamvijaya Wijesekara Dahanayake (UPFA), 32,972 pv; S. Vijaya Bindu Weerasinghe (UPFA), 32,041 pv; Weerasumana Weerasinghe (UPFA), 31,945 pv; Anthonige Hewa Piyasena (UPFA), 31,423 pv; Manoj Sirisena Hewagampalage (UPFA), 31,033 pv; Kanchana Wodatha Wijesekara (UPFA), 30,870 pv; Jayantha Kodithuwakku Hewa Kodithuwakku Manamalarachchige (UPFA), 29,282 pv; Justin Galappaththi (UPFA), 28,371 pv; Aruna Gunarathna (UPFA), 28,239 pv; Gayan Sanjeewa Hewa Wellalage (UNP), 17,654 pv; Kapila Jayantha Wellappili (UNP), 15,041 pv; Sirisena Wijewickrama Kankanamge (UNP), 14,274 pv; A. A. Haputhanthrige Windana Nishantha (UNP), 13,758 pv; and N. K. Sisira Kumara (JVP), 3,189 pv. Results of
351-640: The 6th presidential election held on 26 January 2010 for the district: Results of the 14th parliamentary election held on 8 April 2010 for the district: The following candidates were elected: Sanath Jayasuriya (UPFA), 74,352 preference votes (pv); Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena (UPFA-SLFP), 70,439 pv; Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena (UPFA), 67,510 pv; Buddhika Pathirana (UNF), 62,499 pv; Mangala Samaraweera (UNF-SLFP(P)), 59,836 pv; Chandrasiri Gajadeera (UPFA-CPSL), 51,742 pv; Hemal Gunasekara (UPFA), 51,013 pv; and Wijaya Dahanayaka (UPFA), 44,463 pv. Deniyaya Polling Division The Deniyaya Polling Division
378-753: The Minister of Foreign Affairs , for two terms from 2005 to 2007 and 2015 to 2017. He created a stir in Sri Lankan politics when he was sacked as a minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2007, after which he split from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to form his own wing (Mahajana wing), which later merged with the United National Party in 2010. Samaraweera served as a politician for over 30 years in his career until his retirement from politics in 2020. During his tenure as
405-660: The Parliament of Sri Lanka as a representative of the Matara District in 1989, and he was appointed Minister of Post and Telecommunications in the cabinet of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 1994. He also served as the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Public Utilities in the same Cabinet after a reshuffle and was later given the Deputy Minister of Finance portfolio. Following
432-563: The Sri Lanka Freedom Party as its chief organiser in Matara in 1983. He was introduced as Khema's boy when he was appointed as SLFP's chief organiser. He later became the SLFP party's Assistant Secretary and Coordinating Secretary of the Mother's Front. He also served as human rights campaigner in the 1980s during when Ranasinghe Premadasa was the President of Sri Lanka. He first entered
459-453: The 2019 Presidential election during his tenure as finance minister. He was openly homosexual . In November 2018, after homophobic comments made by President Maithripala Sirisena , he wrote on Twitter that “I would rather be a butterfly than a leech Mr. President!!!” In May 2021, he featured in a YouTube video, "Light Upali", where he played the role of a warrior defending social media platform TikTok . He died on 24 August 2021 at
486-530: The Matara Magistrate's Court issued a Court order to arrest him and 10 others for their alleged involvement in obstructing a peaceful protest march in Matara by UNP activists, to oust its leader Ranil Wickramasinghe . On 12 January 2015, Samaraweera was again appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs under newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena . During the 2015 Presidential election , he played
513-589: The National Design Center of Sri Lanka and served as a visiting lecturer in the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya . Veteran textile designer Chandra Thneuwera invited him to join her at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies while he was working as a consultant for the Ministry of Textile Industries under the guidance of Wijayapala Mendis . Samaraweera entered politics from
540-581: The age of 65 due to COVID-19. Prior to his death, he was admitted into the intensive care unit of the Lanka Hospital in Colombo after being tested positive for COVID-19 in August 2021. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated with both doses. Before his death was officially confirmed on 24 August 2021, rumours of his death started circulating on social media from 18 August. He
567-496: The campaign manager for Presidential candidate and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse . When Rajapakse won and took office in November 2005, he surprised many by appointing Samaraweera to the additional post of Foreign Minister instead of Prime Minister; Samaraweera maintained his other posts. In late January 2007, Samaraweera was replaced as Foreign Minister, but remained as Minister of Ports and Aviation. On 9 February 2007, he
SECTION 20
#1732798552586594-460: The district: The following candidates were elected: Gamini Fonseka (UNP), 19,618 preference votes (pv); Mahinda Wijesekara (SLFP), 18,517 pv; Mangala Samaraweera (SLFP), 11,971 pv; Ranjan Wijayawardhana (UNP), 9,925 pv; Abeywardhana Dayananda Wickremasinghe (UNP), 9,579 pv; Madurapala Ediriweera (UNP), 8,562 pv; H. R Piyasiri (UNP), 8,446 pv; Hewagampolage Sirisena (SLFP), 8,212 pv; and Peter Silva Loku Galappaththy (UNP), 7,094 pv. Results of
621-675: The election defeat of his party in 2001, he was made the Chief Opposition Whip and the Treasurer of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. In 2004 he became the Minister of Ports, Aviation and Media in the new cabinet of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga . In June 2005, after conflicts with Kumaratunga, he dropped the Media Ministry, but remained Cabinet Minister of Ports and Aviation. He became
648-485: The finance minister he was accused of spreading hate speech about Buddhism due to his opposition to Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism and monks urged immediate action against him for his comments about Buddhism . He also criticised Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith in 2018 for Ranjith's comments on human rights and, in 2019, blamed Ranjith for visiting a Buddhist monk who was fasting. He was accused of using Sri Lanka Transport Board buses to transport and locate voters for
675-503: The position of Finance minister as of 17 November 2019 only hours prior to release of the general election results. In June 2020, he announced that he would not contest the 2020 parliamentary election which was held on 5 August 2020 and urged the public not to vote for his preferential number and revealed that it would be impossible to remove his name from the nomination list. On 9 June 2020, he also announced that he would step back and quit parliamentary politics. In 2019, while being
702-675: Was a cabinet Minister of Local Government, Housing, Communications, Posts and Telecommunications in Sirimavo Bandaranaike 's government and his mother served as a member of the Matara Urban Council. Educated at Royal College, Colombo and at Waltham Forest College, London , he gained a BA in Clothing Design and Technology from St. Martin's School of Art in London , he served as a design consultant to
729-400: Was sacked from the cabinet together with ministers Anura Bandaranaike and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi after falling out with the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa. He then went on to create a new political party, the SLFP (Mahajana) wing. Mangala later became a vocal critic of Rajapaksa family and Rajapaksa government after being ousted by Mahinda Rajapaksa from his cabinet. In October 2013,
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