Although the UNP lost power at the General Election in 1994, Dayaratna was re-elected as a UNP member for Ampara District. He was re-elected at the subsequent elections held in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2010. He was the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Welfare of under the UNF Government. In 2007 he joined the UPFA with 17 others to support Mahinda Rajapaksa, but joined the UNP in 2015.