E.P. Paul Perera, PC (1929–2007) was a

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

n lawyer and politician. He was a Minister of Science and Technology, Deputy Minister of Justice and a member of parliament.

Early life and education

Educated at Maris Stella College, Negombo; Perera gained a BA honours degree in history from the

University of Colombo (Buddhih Sarvatra Bhrajate) , mottoeng = ''Wisdom Enlightens'' , established = , endowment = Sri Lankan rupee, LKR 1.461 1,000,000,000 (number), billion

and starting work in the

Department of National Archives The Department of National Archives ( Sinhala: ජාතික ලේඛනාරක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව ''jāthika lēkhanārakshana depārthamēnthuwa'') is a government department in Sri Lanka which is the repo ...

as the Assistant Government Archivist. He then entered the

Ceylon Law College Sri Lanka Law College (abbreviated as SLLC), formerly known as Ceylon Law College, is a law college, and the only legal institution where one can enroll as a attorney-at-law in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1874, under the then Council of Legal ...

and took oaths as an

Advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries' legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However, ...

in 1960.

Legal career

After becoming an Advocate, he joined the Port Cargo Corporation, where he served as the Board Secretary and Legal Officer. In June 1967, he joined the unofficial bar, building an extensive legal practice. In December 1988, he was appointed a

President's Counsel President's Counsel (postnominal PC) is an eminent lawyer who is appointed by the President of Sri Lanka to be one of the "President's Counsel learned in the law". The term is also recognized as an honorific which replaced the practice of appoint ...

Political career

In 1977, with the start of the J.R. Jayewardene administration, Perera was appointed the Competent Authority of Times of Ceylon newspapers as well as Director of

Bank of Ceylon Bank of Ceylon (BOC; Sinhala: ලංකා බැංකුව ''Lanka Bænkuwa'', Tamil: இலங்கை வங்கி ''Ilangai Vangi'') is a state-owned, major commercial bank in Sri Lanka. Its head office is located in an iconic cyli ...

, Director (Administration) of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission (GCEC) and in 1982 its Director General working with

Upali Wijewardene Philip Upali Wijewardene (17 February 1938 – 13 February 1983: si, උපාලි විජේවර්ධන) was a Sri Lankan business magnate. Considered one of the best-known entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, he had accumulated a net worth of ...

. In July 1983, Perera became a

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

from the Kaduwela electorate succeeding M. D. H. Jayawardena and was appointed acting District Minister of Polonnaruwa in October 1983. In 1988, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice, becoming the Minister of Justice during the later stage of Jayewardene administration. He contested from the Attanagalla electorate in the 1989 parliamentary elections and was re-elected to parliament and served as Minister State of Science and Technology from 1989 to 1990, when he was promoted to Non-Cabinet Minister of Science and Technology by President

Ranasinghe Premadasa Sri Lankabhimanya Ranasinghe Premadasa ( si, රණසිංහ ප්‍රේමදාස ''Raṇasiṃha Premadāsa'', ta, ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசா ''Raṇaciṅka Pirēmatācā''; 23 June 1924 – 1 May 1993) was t ...

. In 1993, he was appointed Cabinet Minister of Lands by President Wijetunga. He lost his seat in the 1994 parliamentary elections. He was a Working Committee Member of the

United National Party The United National Party, often abbreviated as UNP ( si, එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය, translit=Eksath Jāthika Pakshaya, ta, ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி, translit=Aikkiya Tēciyak Kaṭci), ...

in 1973 and active in politics until his final illness and death in August 2007. His remains were cremated at the Colombo General Cemetery in Borella on 15 August 2007.

Family

His wife Kulaseeli Perera, was the Chairman of the Western Provincial Council. They had four sons, Ronald, Arnold, Harold, Rodney and a daughter Pushpamala.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perera, Paul Members of the 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka Members of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka Sinhalese politicians Sinhalese lawyers United National Party politicians 1929 births 2007 deaths Alumni of Maris Stella College Alumni of the University of Colombo Alumni of Sri Lanka Law College President's Counsels (Sri Lanka)