D.P. Atapattu

Don Peter Atapattu (September 17, 1899 - December 14, 1976) was a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka. Born in Nakulugamuwa, Sri Lanka, he received his secondary education at St Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia and Ananda College, Colombo. After graduating from Colombo Law College, he started a law practise in Tangalle. From 1927-70, he represented Beliatte electorate in Hambantota district from the United National Party in all six elections from 1947 through 1965. He won in 1960 and 1965, while his long-standing rival, D.A. Rajapaksa, won the others. In the 1965 Dudley Senanayake government, Atapattu was Secretary to the Minister of State, J.R. Jayawardena. He died at his home in Tangalle in 1973. His son, Dr. Ranjit Atapattu, was Minister of Health from 1977 until 1989.