Don Mathew Rajapaksa (known as D. M. Rajapaksa - the Lion of Ruhuna) (27 November 1896–18 May 1945) was a Ceylonese politician and a member of State Council of Ceylon (1936–1945). Don Mathew Rajapksa was the second of three sons born to Don David Rajapaksa (Vidane Arachchi of Ralahamy) and Dona Gimara Moonesinghe, his brothers being Don Coronelis Charles and Don Alvin. Rajapaksa had his early education at the local village school, Mandaduwa Government School in Weeraketiya and his secondary education at Richmond College, Galle and Wesley College, Colombo. Following the death of his father, Rajapaksa left school at age sixteen and returned home together with his brothers, to assist his widowed mother.