Florence Senanayake

Hon.
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
(1903-06-19)19 June 1903
Died 3 December 1988(1988-12-03) (aged 85)
Nationality Sri Lankan
Political party Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Spouse(s) 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 Senanayake (née Mendis) (19 June 1903 - 3 December 1988) was the first female Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon).[1][2]

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 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 four 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]

References

  1. ↑ "Hon. Senanayake, Daisy Maria Florence (Mrs.), M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "First parliamentary elections". Sunday Times. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Wijesekera, Chitra (1995). Women in Our Legislature. Sarvodaya Vishva Lekha. pp. 49–50. ISBN 9789559579700.
  4. ↑ Ervin, Charles Wesley. "Glossary of People". Encyclopedia of Marxism. Marxists Internet Archive. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1952" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
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