A long-standing remember of the United National Party, Anandatissa de Alwis had served as first editor of the party journal "Siyarata" and the first president of the All Ceylon United National Party Youth Front. He had also served as its General Secretary.[4]
Anandatissa de Alwis contested the 1952 general election and the 1956 general election from the Kotte electorate from the United National Party, but was defeated by Robert Gunawardena. He was elected to parliament in 1977 general elections from the Kotte electorate and was elected as Speaker on 4 August 1977 and served till he stepped down in 1978. During his tenor he was instrumental in shifting parliament to the new parliament complex in Kotte. He was thereafter appointed as Minister of State by President J. R. Jayewardene. In 1994 he was appointed Governor of the North Western Province by President Wijethunga and served until 1995.[5][6][7][8]