Born to a wealthy business family from the Udalamatta village near Galle in the south of Ceylon, on 3 January 1939.

His father Francis Nanayakkara was a successful businessmen with ventures in wholesale trade, transport and plantations.

Nanayakkara's family were strong supporters of the United National Party, however he was converted to socialism by Tissa Vitharana.

[6] In 1987 the NSSP joined with the LSSP, CP and Sri Lanka People's Party to form the United Socialist Alliance (USA).

[13] Nanayakkara then formed a new party called the Left & Democratic Alliance and stood as its candidate, against President Kumaratunga, at the 1999 presidential election.

In a heated debate in the Parliament Vasudeva shouted at Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in foul language and called him 'Pakaya' which went viral over the internet.

[16] Again in 2017 Vasudeva used profane language and after government MP Harsha de Silva advised him to mind his language Vasudeva began insulting the PM, IGP, Attorney General and the Bribery Department claiming everything is under the Prime minister's buttocks which led to government ministers questioning if he was under Mahinda Rajapaksa's buttocks for which he replied that, "That was a blessing.