President elected as a Member of Parliament for the first time 42 years ago

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the SLFP candidate for Beliatta Electorate in the Parliamentary General Election conducted on May 27, 1970 was elected as a Parliamentarian by a majority of 6,626 votes.

He was elected at the age of 24 and was then the youngest Parliamentarian.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended Parliament for the first time as a member of Parliament on June 7 in 1970.