in 1952 she contested the seat of kelaniya at the 2nd parliamentary election, representing the sri lanka freedom party, against the united national party incumbent (and her nephew), j. r. jayewardene, losing by 6,235 votes. at the 3rd parliamentary elections in 1956, she ran in mirigama electorate and was elected, receiving 36,193 votes (75.25% of the total vote) defeating the sitting member, john amaratunga. in june 1956 she was appointed as minister of health in the s. w. r. d. bandaranaike cabinet, the country's first female cabinet minister. in june 1959 she was appointed as the minister for local government and housing a position she retained in the subsequent dahanayake cabinet.