21 Facts About Vasudeva Nanayakkara

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was born on 3 January 1939 and is a Sri Lankan left-wing politician, Member of Parliament and presidential candidate in the 1982 and 1999 Sri Lankan presidential elections.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara's father Francis Nanayakkara was a successful businessmen with ventures in wholesale trade, transport and plantations.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara had four brothers and four sisters which included Yasapalitha Nanayakkara and Hemakumara Nanayakkara.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara entered the Ceylon Law College, qualifying as an proctor and started his legal practice.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara joined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party as student in 1958.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was elected to parliament at the 1970 parliamentary election, representing Kiriella for the LSSP.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara later left the LSSP and in 1977 joined with other former members of the LSSP, including Vikramabahu Karunaratne, to form the Nava Sama Samaja Party.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was the NSSP's candidate in Ehaliyagoda at 1977 parliamentary election but failed to get elected.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was the NSSP's candidate at the 1982 presidential election.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara came fifth and last after receiving only 17,005 votes.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara re-entered parliament after the 1989 parliamentary election, representing Ratnapura District for the USA.

Shortly before the 1994 parliamentary election Vasudeva Nanayakkara left the NSSP and rejoined the LSSP, one of the constituent parties of the People's Alliance, an alliance of opposition parties.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was chosen as one of the PA's parliamentary candidates for Ratnapura District and duly elected.

Later Vasudeva Nanayakkara became critical of President Kumaratunga's policies, such as privatisation and the handling of the civil war.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was suspended from the LSSP in April 1999.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was chosen as the UPFA's mayoral candidate for Colombo at the 2006 local government elections.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was elected to the Colombo Municipal Council but the UPFA failed to gain control of the council.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara became the leader of the opposition on the council.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was chosen as one of the UPFA's parliamentary candidates for Ratnapura District at the 2010 parliamentary election.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara was appointed the minister of Water supply in 2020 but was removed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara later claimed that his language was unintentional but refused to apologise.