Mahinda Rajapaksa served as President of Sri Lanka twice.
Mahinda Rajapaksa is a well-known politician in Sri Lanka who has served in a number of key capacities in the executive branch. He was born on November 18, 1945, making him 77 years old at the moment. When Rajapaksa joined Parliament in the 1970s, his political career officially began. He thereafter went on to hold the positions of Prime Minister from 2019 to 2020 and President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015.Early Life and Education
Mahinda Rajapaksa was born into a prominent political family. His father, D.A. Rajapaksa, was a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister in the Sri Lankan government. Mahinda Rajapaksa received his primary education at Richmond College in Galle and later attended Nalanda College in Colombo. He obtained a law degree from the University of Colombo and practiced law for a brief period before entering politics.
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Political Career
Mahinda Rajapaksa began his political career in the 1970s when he became a member of Parliament. He went on to hold various high-profile positions in the government, including the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, the Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, and the Minister of Agriculture, Lands, and Forestry.
In 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected as the President of Sri Lanka, defeating Ranil Wickremesinghe in a closely contested election. During his tenure as President, Rajapaksa implemented several development projects, including the construction of highways, ports, and airports. He also played a crucial role in ending the long-standing civil war in Sri Lanka by defeating the Tamil Tigers, a militant organization that had been fighting for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency was marked by controversies, including allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, and restrictions on the media. In 2015, he was defeated in the presidential election by Maithripala Sirisena.
In 2019, Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is his younger brother. He resigned from the post in 2020, following the parliamentary elections in which the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), his party, won a majority.
Political Achievements
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political career is marked by several notable achievements. During his tenure as President of Sri Lanka, he played a pivotal role in ending the country’s long-standing civil war. In May 2009, the Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tigers, which had been fighting for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka for over three decades.
Mahinda Rajapaksa also implemented several development projects during his tenure as President. He initiated the construction of highways, ports, and airports, which transformed Sri Lanka’s infrastructure and boosted the country’s economy. He also launched several programs to improve the lives of Sri Lankan citizens, including the Divi Neguma program, which aimed to reduce poverty and promote economic development.
In 2013, Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka, which was attended by leaders from 53 Commonwealth countries. The event was seen as a significant achievement for Sri Lanka, as it helped to promote the country’s international profile and showcase its potential as a tourist destination.
Mahinda Rajapaksa has held several high-profile positions in the government of Sri Lanka.
- Member of Parliament – Mahinda Rajapaksa was first elected to the Sri Lankan Parliament in 1970 as a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He has been a member of parliament for over four decades.
- Cabinet Minister – Mahinda Rajapaksa has held several cabinet ministerial positions, including Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Minister of Ports and Shipping, Minister of Highways and Road Development, and Minister of Finance and Planning.
- Prime Minister – Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka twice, first from April 2004 to November 2005, and then from November 2010 to January 2015.
- President – Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the President of Sri Lanka from November 2005 to January 2015. During his tenure, he oversaw the end of the country’s long-standing civil war.
- Leader of the Opposition – Following his defeat in the 2015 presidential election, Mahinda Rajapaksa became the Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan Parliament.
- Prime Minister (second time) – In October 2018, Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for a second time. However, his appointment was controversial and was eventually overturned by the country’s Supreme Court.
- Member of Parliament (current) – Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently a member of the Sri Lankan parliament, representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party.
Mahinda Rajapaksa has three sons with his wife, Shiranthi Rajapaksa. Their names are:
- Namal Rajapaksa – born in 1986, is the eldest son and a lawyer by profession. He is also a former member of parliament and a political activist.
- Yoshitha Rajapaksa – born in 1987, is the second son and a former naval officer. He is also involved in politics and has been a member of parliament.
- Rohitha Rajapaksa – born in 1990, is the third son and a businessman. He is also involved in politics and has been a member of parliament.
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, is a former First Lady of Sri Lanka. She is also involved in politics and has been a member of parliament.
FAQ’s
Q: Who is Mahinda Rajapaksa? A: Mahinda Rajapaksa is a prominent political leader in Sri Lanka who has held several high-profile positions in the government, including President and Prime Minister.
Q: When was Mahinda Rajapaksa born? A: Mahinda Rajapaksa was born on November 18th, 1945.
Q: What is Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political party? A: Mahinda Rajapaksa is a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party.
Q: What are some of the development projects initiated by Mahinda Rajapaksa? A: Mahinda Rajapaksa initiated several development projects during his tenure as President of Sri Lanka, including the construction of highways, ports, and airports.
Q: What was Mahinda Rajapaksa’s role in ending the civil war in Sri Lanka? A: Mahinda Rajapaksa played a pivotal role in ending Sri Lanka’s long-standing civil war by defeating the Tamil Tigers, a militant organization that had been fighting for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
Q: What are some of the controversies associated with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as President of Sri Lanka? A: Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as President of Sri Lanka was marked by several controversies, including allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, and restrictions on the media.
Q: What is Mahinda Rajapaksa doing now? A: Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his position as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 2020, following the parliamentary elections in which his party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), won a majority. He is still an active member of the Sri Lankan parliament.
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