Alfred Sir

Education

Born in Ratanpura, he was educated at South. Thomas" College, and played for his school cricket team

Career

He became the first speaker of both the State Council of Ceylon and Parliament of Ceylon. He was a controversial figure due to his resignation from the State Council and for organizing the Panamure in 1950. Molamure was elected to the Legislative Council of Ceylon from the Kegalle District in 1924.

In 1931, he was reelected to the First State Council from the Dedigama electorate.

The State Council was ceremonially opened on 10 July 1931, and Molamure was elected as the speaker three days earlier on 7 July having defeated Sir Stewart Schneider by 35 to 18 votes. However, he lost the post and seat 10 December 1934 after an absence of three months without leave following conviction in the misappropriation of funds while functioning as a trustee.

After brief absence from politics he was elected to the State Council in 1943 from Balangoda in by-election. At the first seating of parliament of the newly independent Ceylon, Molamure"s name was proposed as speaker by C. Sittampalam and South. U. Edirimanasingham when the opposition proposed Herbert Sri Nissanka.

In the following vote Molamure gained 58 and Sri Nissanka gained 41.

Thereby Molamure became the first speaker of parliament. He held the post of speaker until his death in 1950 before his term of office ended. He continued to organize s in Panamure which had been started by the Maduwanwela Maha Disawe in the late 1800s.

Sir Francis was the chief organizer of the last at Panamure in 1950, which lead to much controversy following the killing of the bull elephant who tried to break the Kraal blockade.

The incident lead to much public outcry and debates in parliament resulting in the band on s and capture of wild elephants. Molamure suffered a stroke while presiding over parliament at the speakers seat and was taken to the General Hospital in an unconscious state.

He died in hospital a day later on 24 January 1951.

Achievements

• He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by George VI in 1949 and was known as Sir Francis Molamure.

Membership

We was a member of the committee on higher education that was appointed by the Governor which recommend the formation of the University of Ceylon. He was a prominent member of the Ceylon National Congress. In 1947, he was reelected from Balangoda as a Member of the newly formed Parliament of Ceylon.

Molamure married Adeline Meedeniya who became the first female member of the State Council.

She was the daughter of J. H. Meedeniya Adigar, member of the Legislative Council. Their only daughter Seetha Molamure became a member of the Senate of Ceylon.