The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the proportional representation electoral system for electing members of Parliament.
[1] Manipay electoral district was replaced by the Jaffna multi-member electoral district at the 1989 general elections, the first under the PR system, though Manipay continues to be a polling division of the multi-member electoral district.
Results of the 4th parliamentary election held on 19 March 1960:[2] Results of the 5th parliamentary election held on 20 July 1960:[4] Results of the 6th parliamentary election held on 22 March 1965:[5] Results of the 7th parliamentary election held on 27 May 1970:[6] Results of the 8th parliamentary election held on 21 July 1977:[7] Visvanathan Dharmalingam 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, Dharmalingam forfeited his seat in Parliament on 8 October 1983.
[8] Visvanathan Dharmalingam was murdered on 2 September 1985.