Daisy Maria Florence Senanayake (née Mendis) (19 June 1903 – 3 December 1988) was the first female Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon).[1][2]
Florence Senanayake | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ceylon Parliament for Kiriella | |
| In office 1947–1952 | |
| Preceded by | seat created |
| Succeeded by | A. E. B. Kiriella |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Daisy Maria Florence Mendis 19 June 1903 |
| Died | 3 December 1988 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Lanka Sama Samaja Party |
| Spouse | Reginald S. Vincent Senanayke |
| Relations | K. E. Mendis (father) |
| Children | Nimal, Laki, Daya, Evan, Rani, Lalitha |
| Alma mater | Princess of Wales' College, Colombo |
| Occupation | politician |
Daisy Maria Florence Mendis was born on 19 June 1903 into a family of eight children in Rawatawatta, Moratuwa. Her father, K. E. Mendis, was a planter. She was educated at the Princess of Wales' College, Colombo.[3]
In 1925 she married Reginald S. Vincent Senanayke (1898–1946), a planter and founding member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and its treasurer between 1935 and 1939.[4]
Senanayake was elected in 1947 at the 1st Ceylonese parliamentary elections, as the member for Kiriella, representing the Lanka Sama Samaja Party.[5] She polled 5,535 votes (35.5% of the total vote) winning against a field of five other male candidates, with her nearest opponent, T. K. W. Chandrasekera, receiving 3,294 votes (21.1% of the total vote). Senanayake failed to retain the seat at the 2nd parliamentary elections in 1952, where she received 3,192 votes (15% of the total votes), with the successful candidate, A. E. B. Kiriella, polling 9,978 votes (48% of the total vote).[6]
She and her husband had six children, including the Laki Senanayake who became an artist.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Hon. Senanayake, Daisy Maria Florence (Mrs.), M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ "First parliamentary elections". Sunday Times. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ Wijesekera, Chitra (1995). Women in Our Legislature. Sarvodaya Vishva Lekha. pp. 48–50. ISBN 9789559579700.
- ^ Ervin, Charles Wesley. "Glossary of People". Encyclopedia of Marxism. Marxists Internet Archive. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1952" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Raheem, Ismeth. "Laki as I knew him". Sunday Times. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
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