He was educated at the Medagama School in Bibile, Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte and Zahira College, Colombo.

Following his studies he returned to Bibile, gained an appointment as an English teacher and was elected Chairman of the Medagama Village Council.

Re-elected in the 1989 general election, he was appointed Minister of Agricultural Development and Research in the cabinet of President R. Premadasa.

He was re-elected in the 2004 general election from the United National Party, and crossed over to UPFA government in 2007.

[1] His son Hareendra Dharmadasa Bandara served as a Member of Uva Provincial Council and is currently the organizer of Samagi Jana Balawegaya for Bibile electorate.