Dinesh Gunawardena Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 22 July 2022 Date of Birth: 02.03.1949 Country: Sri Lanka

Content:

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political Career
3. 2000-2010: Cabinet Positions
4. 2010-Present: Parliamentary and Prime Ministerial Tenure

Early Life and Education

Dinesh Gunawardena, the current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, was born on March 2, 1949, into a prominent political family. His father, Philip Gunawardena, was known as the "Father of Sri Lankan Socialism," while his mother, Kusumasri Gunawardena, served as a Member of Parliament. His aunt, Vivienne Gunawardena, was regarded as "a distinguished female personality of the Sri Lankan left."

Gunawardena received his early education at the Royal Primary School, Colombo, and the prestigious Royal College, Colombo. He furthered his studies at the Netherlands School of Business and the University of Oregon, where he earned a bachelor's degree. While in the United States, he became actively involved in student activism, participating in anti-Vietnam War protests.

Political Career

1972-2000: Entry into Politics

After graduating from the University of Oregon, Gunawardena worked in New York before returning to Sri Lanka in 1972 following his father's death. He was appointed to the Central Committee of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) in August 1973 and became the MEP's General Secretary in 1974.

Gunawardena unsuccessfully contested the MEP nomination for Avissawella in the 1977 parliamentary election but was elected to Parliament in a by-election held in the Maharagama electorate in 1983. He represented the MEP's Colombo district in the 1989 and 1994 parliamentary elections.

2000-2010: Cabinet Positions

In 2000, the MEP joined the People's Alliance (PA). Gunawardena contested the 2000 parliamentary election on the PA ticket and was re-elected to Parliament. He served as Minister of Transport and later received the additional portfolio of Minister of Environment.

After the 2001 parliamentary election, Gunawardena joined the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and held the post of Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply. He also served as Deputy Minister of Education. In 2008, he was appointed Chief Government Whip.

2010-Present: Parliamentary and Prime Ministerial Tenure

Gunawardena was re-elected to Parliament in the 2010 parliamentary election and was appointed Minister of Water Supply. He lost his cabinet position after the 2015 presidential election but was re-elected to Parliament. In 2017, he was suspended from Parliament for disrupting proceedings.

On July 22, 2022, amidst a severe economic and political crisis, Gunawardena was appointed Prime Minister following the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the parliamentary election of Ranil Wickremesinghe as his successor. Gunawardena and Wickremesinghe had been classmates in school.

Sri lanka

Dinesh Gunawardena