S. K. K. Suriarachchi
Suriarachchi Kankanamalage Karunadasa Suriarachchi (5 February 1924 – 1991) was a Ceylonese politician. Suriarachchi received his education at the Government Senior School in Kadawatha and Ananda College, Colombo. He qualified as an English trained teacher (1st class) and worked as an assistant teacher at the Sivali Central College, Ratnapura. He then joined the faculty at Ananda College, where he taught for eight years. His first entry into politics was when he was returned uncontested to the Naranwala Village Committee in 1957, and became its chairman. At the 4th parliamentary election, held on 19 March 1960, Suriarachchi ran as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party candidate in the newly created electorate of Mahara. He polled 15,098 votes (52% of the total vote), 6,096 votes ahead of the United National Party candidate, Siridatta Jayakody. The election results however left neither of Ceylon's two major parties with a majority, with the result being the calling of another election. He was subsequently re-elected at the 5th parliamentary election held on 20 July 1960. This time receiving 17,791 votes (65% of the total vote) and 8,800 votes ahead of the United National Party candidate, Oscar de Levera. Suriarachchi was appointed the Chief Government Whip in September