ig ama ▁Bud d har ak k ith a , ▁as ▁a ▁young ▁mon k ▁supporting ▁his ▁promotion ▁to ▁chief ▁priest ▁of ▁the ▁Kel ani ya ▁Temple . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 2 ▁she ▁cont ested ▁the ▁seat ▁of ▁Kel ani ya ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁parliament ary ▁election , ▁representing ▁the ▁Sri ▁L anka ▁Fre edom ▁Party , ▁against ▁the ▁United ▁National ▁Party ▁inc umb ent ▁( and ▁her ▁nep hew ), ▁J . ▁R . ▁Jay ew ard ene , ▁losing ▁by ▁ 6 , 2 3 5 ▁votes . ▁At ▁the ▁ 3 rd ▁parliament ary ▁elections ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁she ▁ran ▁in ▁Mir ig ama ▁elect or ate ▁and ▁was ▁elected , ▁receiving ▁ 3 6 , 1 9 3 ▁votes ▁( 7 5 . 2 5 % ▁of ▁the ▁total ▁vote ) ▁defe ating ▁the ▁sitting ▁member , ▁John ▁Am ar at ung a . ▁In ▁June ▁ 1 9 5 6 ▁she ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁Minister ▁of ▁Health ▁in ▁the ▁S . ▁W . ▁R . ▁D . ▁Band ar ana ike ▁cabinet , ▁the ▁country ' s ▁first ▁female ▁cabinet ▁minister . ▁In ▁June ▁ 1 9 5 9 ▁she ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁the ▁Minister ▁for ▁Local ▁Government ▁and ▁H ous ing ▁a ▁position ▁she ▁retained ▁in ▁the ▁subsequent ▁D ah an ay ake ▁cabinet . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 1 ▁November ▁ 1 9 5 9 ▁she ▁was ▁arrested ▁by ▁the ▁police ▁in ▁connection ▁with ▁the