▁Trade ▁Commission er ▁of ▁C ey lon ▁in ▁England , ▁which ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁was ▁the ▁highest ▁appointment ▁available ▁to ▁represent ▁the ▁country ▁abroad . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁he ▁cont ested ▁the ▁by - e lection ▁for ▁the ▁seat ▁of ▁Mor atu wa ▁on ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁State ▁Council ▁of ▁C ey lon , ▁following ▁the ▁res ignation ▁of ▁the ▁sitting ▁member , ▁W . ▁A . ▁de ▁Silva . ▁He ▁was ▁un success ful , ▁losing ▁to ▁Thomas ▁Am ar as uri ya . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁parliament ary ▁election , ▁held ▁between ▁ 2 3 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁and ▁ 2 0 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁he ▁ran ▁as ▁an ▁Independent ▁for ▁the ▁seat ▁of ▁Hamb ant ota . ▁Per era ▁received ▁ 1 , 3 0 1 ▁votes ▁( 7 . 0 % ▁of ▁the ▁total ▁vote ) ▁and ▁was ▁defeated ▁by ▁the ▁Commun ist ▁Party ▁of ▁C ey lon ▁candidate , ▁Lak sh man ▁Raj ap ak sa , ▁who ▁received ▁ 8 , 7 4 0 ▁votes ▁( 4 7 % ▁of ▁the ▁total ▁vote ). ▁ ▁Personal ▁life ▁He ▁married ▁Jos lin ▁Catherine ▁n ée ▁Fernando ▁( 1 8 9 0 - 1 9 6 2 ) ▁and ▁they ▁had ▁five ▁children . ▁ ▁Per era ▁died ▁in ▁Col om bo ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 7 1 . ▁ ▁References ▁▁ ▁Category : 1