Albert Silva

Background

He was born on June 15, 1915, and was educated at Mahinda College in Galle.

Career

Elected to the parliament from Galle elctorate in 1977, Albert de Silva was a legislature in the J.R. Jayawardene government. Albert de Silva defeated the former Prime Minister Doctor Wijayananda Dahanayake at the 1977 general election, contesting for the Galle seat. He made a great effort to develop the city of Galle, until he was unseated on an election petition filed by Wijayananda Dahanayake.

He served as the Member of Parliament for Kamburupitiya until his resignation on February 10, 1983.

The Galle Police station, Post Office and the main Business Terminus were built when he was the Member of Parliament in the area. He rendered yeoman service to uplift electricity, health and education facilities among the people of Galle.

As a politician, he also played a pioneer role in religious and social activities in the area and spent his personal wealth for the well-being of the poor people. Albert de Silva died on April 11, 2009 at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital after a brief illness, and was 93 at the time of his death.

Achievements

• A by-election was held on December 20, 1979 where Dahanayake won as a United National Party candidate for Galle.

Membership

Later the government appointed Albert Silva as the member of the parliament for Kamburupitiya electorate in Matara District. The first proper bus stand in Galle was erected in 1978 on the instructions and efforts of Albert Silva, then the Member of the parliament for Galle.