He has also been the premier on four occasions, after holding deputy minister, cabinet minister, leader of the House and the opposition leader positions.

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera too, first entered parliament in 1977 and continued until 1988 when he resigned to contest the north western provincial council polls.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was first elected to parliament in 1970, but lost his seat at the 1977 election.

He returned to parliament at the 1983 election and continued until 2005.