He was a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industries, Housing and Social Services and Member of Parliament for Hakmana.

[1][2] Born on 4 August 1907 in Matara to Candauda Arachchige Odiris de Silva and Nonahami Nanayakkara from Dangedara, Galle.

His father was a wealthy oil mill owner and a prominent philanthropist having founded Rahula College and Sujatha Vidyalaya.

In 1954, the Ruhunu Regiment was formed with Captain Dharmapala in command of the B Company based in Galle and Matara.

[7] In the early 1970s, he backed J. R. Jayewardene in his leadership bid for the United National Party against Dudley Senanayake.

[8] He was appointed by Prime Minister Jayewardene as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence on 1 September 1977 and he served until 15 August 1983.