The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the proportional representation electoral system for electing members of Parliament.
[1] Kopay electoral district was replaced by the Jaffna multi-member electoral district at the 1989 general elections, the first under the PR system, though Kopay continues to be a polling division of the multi-member electoral district.
Results of the 1st parliamentary election held between 23 August 1947 and 20 September 1947:[2] Results of the 2nd parliamentary election held between 24 May 1952 and 30 May 1952:[3] Results of the 3rd parliamentary election held between 5 April 1956 and 10 April 1956:[5] C. Vanniasingam died on 17 September 1959.
[11] M. Alalasundaram and all other TULF MPs boycotted Parliament from the middle of 1983 for a number of reasons: they were under pressure from Sri Lankan Tamil militants not to stay in Parliament beyond their normal six-year term; the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka required them to swear an oath unconditionally renouncing support for a separate state; and the Black July riots in which up to 3,000 Tamils were murdered by Sinhalese mobs.
After three months of absence, Alalasundaram forfeited his seat in Parliament on 5 January 1984.