Mahinda Rajapaksa: Difference between revisions
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'''Mahinda Rajapaksa''' (born [[November 18]], [[1945]]), is the fifth [[President of Sri Lanka|President]] of the Democratic Socialist Republic of [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|Honourable Prime Minister]] of the [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|13th Parliament]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. He was sworn in as Sri Lanka's 5th President on [[19 November]] [[2005]]. He is a prominent member of the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]], and is married to [[Shiranthi Rajapaksa]]. |
'''Mahinda Rajapaksa''' (born [[November 18]], [[1945]]), is the fifth [[President of Sri Lanka|President]] of the Democratic Socialist Republic of [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|Honourable Prime Minister]] of the [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|13th Parliament]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. He was sworn in as Sri Lanka's 5th President on [[19 November]] [[2005]]. He is a prominent member of the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]], and is married to [[Shiranthi Rajapaksa]]. |
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Born a [[Sinhalese]] [[Buddhist]] in the southern rural district of [[Hambantota]], Rajapaksa is a human-rights lawyer, who has represented [[Hambantota]] in the [[Parliament of Sri Lanka]] since 1970, while his father, [[Don Alwin Rajapaksa]], represented the same area between 1947 and 1960. He is a long-time ally of [[President of Sri Lanka|President]] [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]], the leader of [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]; largest party in the ruling [[United |
Born a [[Sinhalese]] [[Buddhist]] in the southern rural district of [[Hambantota]], Rajapaksa is a human-rights lawyer, who has represented [[Hambantota]] in the [[Parliament of Sri Lanka]] since 1970, while his father, [[Don Alwin Rajapaksa]], represented the same area between 1947 and 1960. He is a long-time ally of [[President of Sri Lanka|President]] [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]], the leader of [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]; largest party in the ruling [[United People's Freedom Alliance]] (UPFA). The UPFA does not however, have an overall majority despite winning the largest number of seats in the [[Sri Lankan legislative election, 2004|legislative elections of 2004]]. |
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After the legislative elections of 2004, President [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]] was widely expected to appoint her close advisor and former Foreign Minister, [[Lakshman Kadirgamar]] as Prime Minister. However, perhaps because Kadirgamar was perceived as lacking popular credentials or because he is a [[Tamil people|Sri Lankan Tamil]] and a [[Christian]], Kumaratunga selected Rajapaksa instead. Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 13th Prime Minister on [[April 6]] [[2004]]. |
After the legislative elections of 2004, President [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]] was widely expected to appoint her close advisor and former Foreign Minister, [[Lakshman Kadirgamar]] as Prime Minister. However, perhaps because Kadirgamar was perceived as lacking popular credentials or because he is a [[Tamil people|Sri Lankan Tamil]] and a [[Christian]], Kumaratunga selected Rajapaksa instead. Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 13th Prime Minister on [[April 6]] [[2004]]. |
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Revision as of 01:27, 21 November 2005
| Order | 5th President of Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| 13th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka | |
| Term of Office | November 19, 2005 - present |
| April 6, 2004 - present | |
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1945 |
| Place of Birth | Hambantota, Sri Lanka |
| Wife | Shiranthi Rajapaksa |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Politician |
| Political Party: | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
Mahinda Rajapaksa (born November 18, 1945), is the fifth President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and Honourable Prime Minister of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was sworn in as Sri Lanka's 5th President on 19 November 2005. He is a prominent member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and is married to Shiranthi Rajapaksa.
Born a Sinhalese Buddhist in the southern rural district of Hambantota, Rajapaksa is a human-rights lawyer, who has represented Hambantota in the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 1970, while his father, Don Alwin Rajapaksa, represented the same area between 1947 and 1960. He is a long-time ally of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the leader of Sri Lanka Freedom Party; largest party in the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). The UPFA does not however, have an overall majority despite winning the largest number of seats in the legislative elections of 2004.
After the legislative elections of 2004, President Chandrika Kumaratunga was widely expected to appoint her close advisor and former Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar as Prime Minister. However, perhaps because Kadirgamar was perceived as lacking popular credentials or because he is a Sri Lankan Tamil and a Christian, Kumaratunga selected Rajapaksa instead. Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 13th Prime Minister on April 6 2004.
Minister for Labour and for Fisheries
Rajapaksa was Minister for Labour and for Fisheries in Kumaratunga's cabinet from 1994 to 2001. He created controversy when he moved to introduce a labour charter and set up villages for fishermen. His labour reforms were resisted by employers who asked the then-President to remove him from the labour ministry. His labour charter was never implemented.
Unlike some members of the new government coalition, Rajapakse is believed to support peace talks with the Tamil Tigers as a means of ending the civil war with the Tamil secessionist movement. But his recent alignment with political parties such as JVP and JHU raised large concerns within his own party. SLFP leader President Chandrika Kumaratunga openly accused Rajapakse of pushing the country towards war because of his pact with nationalist forces.
Rajapaksa was chosen in front of Anura Bandaranaike, brother of Chandrika Kumaratunga, as the Presidential Candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party for the Presidential election held on November 17 2005. Rajapaksa was up against Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the United National Party (Sri Lanka's largest political party) in this election. Rajapaksa defeated Wickremasinghe and took office as president on November 19.
Related articles
External links
- Mahinda Rajapaksa's Official Site
- "Mahinda 4 Sri Lanka" A website with Mahinda Rajapaksa Biography, Photos, News and Critics
- BBC report on the election victory