Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne Sri Lankan politician and statesman, Prime Minister from 21 April 2010 to 9 January 2015. Date of Birth: 07.06.1931 Country: Sri Lanka

1. Political Career and Early Life
2. Foundation of Sri Lanka Freedom Party
3. Entry into Parliament
4. Ministerial Positions
5. Prime Ministership

Political Career and Early Life

D.M. Jayaratne, a prominent Sri Lankan politician and statesman, was born on June 7, 1931. He received his education at Dolowa Maha Vidyalaya in Gampola, near Kandy. In the mid-1950s, he pursued an Arts degree at the University of Peradeniya.

Foundation of Sri Lanka Freedom Party

In 1951, along with S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Jayaratne played a key role in establishing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He briefly taught at Dolowa Maha Vidyalaya and later worked as a Postmaster in Dolowa (1960-1962) and Gampola.

Entry into Parliament

In 1970, Jayaratne was elected to Parliament under the SLFP led by Sirimavo Bandaranaike. However, he faced defeat in the 1977 elections, with the SLFP being reduced to just eight seats in Parliament. He returned to Parliament only in 1989.

Ministerial Positions

From 1994 onwards, Jayaratne held various ministerial positions in successive Sri Lankan governments. He served as Minister for Lands, Agriculture and Forestry (1994-2000), Minister for Agriculture, Food and Co-operatives (2000-2004), Minister for Postal Services, Telecommunications and Development of Central Province (2004-2005), Minister for Postal Services, Telecommunications and Rural Development (2005-2007), and Minister for Plantation Industries (2007-2010).

Prime Ministership

Following the victory of the United People's Freedom Alliance in the 2010 general election, Jayaratne was sworn in as Prime Minister on April 21, 2010, as the SLFP's most senior figure. Under Sri Lanka's constitution, the Prime Minister holds a largely ceremonial role. Concurrently, he also held the position of Minister for Buddhist Affairs and Religious Affairs.