Major Lionel Victor Gooneratne, ED (1893-1971) was a Sri Lankan educationist and a municipal councillor. He was the Chairman of the Dehiwala Urban Council and the first Mayor of Dehiwala - Mt Lavinia. Educated at Royal College Colombo, Gooneratne entered the Training College English School before taking up a teaching position at Royal College Colombo. He served as Master at Royal College for 25 years from 1917 to 1942. Having been a cadet in his school days, Gooneratne was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1923 in the Ceylon Cadet Battalion which was at the time part of the Ceylon Defence Force and was later promoted to captain. He served as Commanding Officer, Junior Cadets of the Cadet Battalion.