Dissanayake lost his cabinet position after Rajapaksha was defeated at the 2015 presidential election in Sri Lanka.

In the 1977 General Elections Dissanayake contested the Hanguranketha Electorate from the Communist Party but was defeated.

In December 2009, Dissanayaka crossed over again, to the SLFP.Dissanayake lost his cabinet position after Rajapaksha was defeated at the 2015 presidential election in Sri Lanka.

Dissanayake was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment by five Judge Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva on 7 December 2004 for defaming the Supreme Court during a speech he made at a function in Habaraduwa in the year 2003.

[citation needed] In 2000, former Sri Lankan sprint athlete Susanthika Jayasinghe alleged during a live segment on Lasantha Wickrematunge's show that Dissanayaka had attempted to sexually harass her.