Hon. Nalanda Ellawala | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament forRatnapura | |
| In office 1994–1997 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nalanda Sampath Ellawala (1967-03-26)26 March 1967 |
| Died | 11 February 1997(1997-02-11) (aged 29) |
| Manner of death | Assassination |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
| Other political affiliations | People's Alliance |
| Relations | Nanda (father),Surangani (mother) |
| Alma mater | S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia |
| Occupation | Politician |
Nalanda Sampath Ellawala (26 March 1967[1] – 11 February 1997) was a Sri Lankan politician. He was assassinated in 1997 aged 29.
Nalanda Sampath Ellawala was born 26 March 1967, to theRadalaEllawala family fromRatnapura. His family was active in theSri Lanka Freedom Party, his fatherNanda Ellawala, a member of parliament forRatnapura (1970–1977), and his motherSurangani Ellawala, later served as theGovernor of the Central Province (2015–2016).[2] His father was a cousin ofSirimavo Bandaranaike who was aPrime Minister of Ceylon while another aunt Viollet Ellawala was married to John Hercules Meedeniya,Rate Mahatmaya, uncle ofRanil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka. Nalanda Ellawala studied atS. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.
Ellawala entered active politics in 1994, when he was elected to theSabaragamuwa Provincial Council fromSri Lanka Freedom Party. He then succeeded his father as the chief party organizer for the Ratnapura District and contested the1994 general election in which he was elected to theParliament of Sri Lanka as one of the youngest members.
Ellawala was mortally wounded in a crossfire between his party supporters which includedDilan Perera and political rivals inKuruwita. He died at the age of 29, on 11 February 1997.[3] A police constable was also shot dead and an inspector of police fatally wounded. Two members of parliament,Susantha Punchinilame, andMahinda Ratnatilaka, together with four others (security guards of the two members) were charged with the murder.[4] In December 2013 Punchinilame was cleared of all charges and subsequently released.[5]
