 He received 4,740 votes (35.4% of the total vote) defeating four other Independents.On 16 January 1948 Sinne Lebbe tabled before parliament the following motion; 

The motion however was drafted by J. R. Jayewardene, the member for Kelaniya, who persuaded Sinne Lebbe to move the motion, as he was a Muslim thereby creating confusion amongst any likely opposition by the Tamil members of parliament.The motion was seconded by A. Ekanayake Gunasinha, the member for Colombo Central Electoral District.