Ukku Banda Wanninayake was born in Kurunegala on 23 November 1905 and was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.
Wanninayake was elected to the 2nd State Council of Ceylon in 1943 at the by-election for the seat of Puttalam, following the death of the sitting member, John Herbert Ilangantileke.
At the 1st parliamentary elections in 1947 he contested the seat of Nikaweratiya, representing the United National Party, losing to Kavisena Herath, who ran as an independent, by 582 votes.
[1][2] In 1955 Wanninayake was elected as a member of the Senate of Ceylon and served as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Finance from 1954 to 1956.
At the 4th parliamentary election held on 19 March 1960, he contested the newly created seat of Yapahuwa Electoral District, representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.