Nationality Sri Lankan Other political
affiliations People's Alliance Religion Theravada Buddhism | Political party United National Party Occupation Politician Party United National Party | |
Alma mater Maris Stella College, Negombo
Harischandra National College, Negombo Died 1 September 2012, Sri Lanka Education Maris Stella College, Harischandra National College | ||
Thenahandi Wijayapala Hector Mendis (16 December 1928 – 1 September 2012) was a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Life and career
Mendis was born on 16 December 1928, third child of the former mayor of Negombo and Magilin, Mudliyar David Mendis. He began his political career by joining UNP Youth League of Negombo at age 19 and was elected the Mayor of Negombo in 1954.
In 1960 he entered Parliament from the Katana electorate as a UNP candidate, and was re-elected in 1965 when he was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works, Post and Telecommunications. Except for a brief period after the defeat at the 1970 general election he represented the seat until 1989. After the landslide victory by the UNP in the 1977 general election, he was appointed Minister of Textile Industries in 1977 and in 1989 he was Minister of Transport and Highways. In 1993 after the assassination of President Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister, he was appointed Leader of the House.
Mendis became the Chief Opposition Whip after the 1994 parliamentary election until 1998 when he joined the People's Alliance Government with the UNP alternative group in opposition to the UNP leadership. He lost his seat in 2001.