Mahinda Rajapaksa
Encyclopedia
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa (Sinhala , maˈhində ˈraːɟəˌpakʂə); (Tamil
மகிந்த ராசபக்ச); born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka
and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka
in 1970, and served as prime minister
from April 6, 2004 until his victory in the 2005 Presidential election
. He was sworn in for a six-year term as president on November 19, 2005. He was re-elected
for a second term in office on January 27, 2010.
of Hambantota
. He hails from a well known political family in Sri Lanka. His father, D. A. Rajapaksa
, was a prominent politician, independence agitator, Member of Parliament
and Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land in Wijeyananda Dahanayake
's government. D.M. Rajapaksa, his uncle, was a State Councillor
for Hambantota in the 1930s who started wearing the earthy brown shawl to represent kurakkan (finger millet
) cultivated by the people of his area, whose cause he championed throughout his life. It is from his example that Rajapaksa wears his characteristic shawl.
Rajapaksa was educated at Richmond College, Galle
before moving to Nalanda College Colombo and later Thurstan College
, Colombo. He also had a few cameo roles as a movie actor in Sinhalese movies and worked as a library assistant at Vidyodaya University.
Following the death of his father in 1967, Rajapaksa took over as the SLFP
candidate for Beliatta
constituency and was elected to Parliament in 1970 as the youngest Member of Parliament at just 24. Later he studied law at the Sri Lanka Law College
and took oaths as an attorney-at-law in November 1977. Throughout his parliamentary career, except for the period from 1994-2001 when he was a minister, he continued his law practice in Tangalle
.
District
under Proportional Representation. He came into prominence as a leader, together with Manorani Saravanamuttu, of the Mothers Front, which organised the mothers of the "disappeared" in the white terror
of 1988-90
instigated by a rebel group that called themselves Deshapremi Jathika Vyaparaya or 'Patriotic National Movement'.
victory of the People's Alliance
a political front led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party
and headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga
, Rajapaksa was appointed Minister of Labour. He held this post until 1997 when, following a cabinet reshuffle, his portfolio was changed to Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
(UNP) defeated the People's Alliance in the 2001 elections, Rajapaksa lost his position in the Government. He was however appointed as Leader of the Opposition
in March 2002.
gained a slim majority in Parliament. Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 13th Prime Minister
on April 6, 2004. While Rajapaksa was the Prime Minister, he also held the Ministry of Highways.
to contest with former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader
, Ranil Wickremasinghe
, the leader of the United National Party
in this Presidential Election
held on 17 November 2005.
Despite the huge election campaign led by UNP, Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to gain a narrow victory by 190,000 votes. The Opposition claimed that LTTE calling for a boycott of the polls in the North and East from Tamil voters in areas within their control lead to their defeat. Most voters in these areas were forcibly restrained from voting, and it is said that they would have favored Ranil Wickremasignhe and his UNP party in the said election. Rajapaksa received 50.3% of the vote.
After becoming President of Sri Lanka
, Rajapaksa reshuffled the cabinet and took the portfolios of Defence and Finance in the new cabinet, which was sworn on November 23, 2005.
, less that 30 days before he was scheduled to retire. Over the next three and a half years Fonseka and Rajapaksa's brother and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
led the country's armed forces in their battle against Tamil Tiger rebels, ultimately defeating the Tigers and killing their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran
.
Following the end of the conflict, a rift emerged between Rajapaksa and Fonseka, over reasons which are still disputed. On November 15, 2009, Rajapaksa ordered Fonseka to leave his post as Chief of Defense Staff with immediate effect through a letter from his secretary. Fonseka then ran as the joint opposition candidate against Rajapaksa in the 2009 Presidential election, at which Rajapaksa emerged triumphant. Fonseka was subsequently sentenced to two years in jail for various offenses by a Military court martial, a sentence he is currently serving.
ranked Sri Lanka 165th among 173 countries in its annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index
. The next year, the country was ranked 162. By 2010, following the end of the war, the RSF ranking was 158th. However these ranking have been questioned by independent Sri Lanka newspapers.
made public of secret US cables from 2009, stating that American diplomats including Patricia Butenis believe that Mahinda Rajapaksa was responsible for the massacre towards the end of the end of the war with the LTTE. The cable also states the responsibility for many of the alleged crimes rests with the country's senior civilian and military leadership, including President Rajapaksa and his brothers and opposition candidate General Fonseka. For their part, both the government, and opposition have denied these claims.
and the Jathika Hela Urumaya
. The JVP had opposed the original 2002 peace process as treasonous.
The agreement made with Rajapaksa included provisions which called for a revision of the ceasefire agreement to give the military broader powers against the LTTE, as well as ruling out of any devolution of power to the Tamil people. Furthermore, the cessation of aid to the Tsunami struck LTTE occupied areas, and the sidelining of the Norwegian facilitators due to their alleged bias were included.
Immediately following his election victory, a series of mine blasts blamed on the LTTE in the country claimed the lives of many off-duty servicemen and civilians, pushing the country back to the brink of war. Following the closure by the LTTE of a reservoir
supplying
water to 15,000 people named "Mavil Aru
" in government controlled areas on July 21, 2006, the Sri Lankan military launched an offensive against the LTTE, bringing the entire reservoir under government control. Further military engagements have led to the LTTE been driven out of the entire Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and loss of 95% of the territory they controlled.
He said in Tamil adding,
. The first one is a Doctor of Law
from the University of Colombo
on September 6, 2009. The second degree was awarded by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia on February 6, 2010 for his contribution for world peace and outstanding success in defeating terrorism.
He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University
of the Russian Federation in February, 2010 at its 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Visva Bharati University of Calcutta in India
conferred on him the title Professor Emeritus for his record on human rights.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Beijing University of Foreign Languages in China on August 2011.
, a child-psychologist and educator. Shiranthi Rajapaksa is the daughter of E. P. Wickramasinghe, a retired Commodore
of the Sri Lanka Navy. The Rajapaksas have three sons, Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha. In April 2010 Namal Rajapaksa
was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Hambantota District, obtaining the highest number of preferential votes in his father's former district. Yoshitha was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy in March 2009.
A number of members of Rajapaksa's family are currently active in politics. One brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
a former military officer who served in the Sri Lanka Army for 20 years is the current secretary of the Ministry of Defense
. Another brother Basil Rajapaksa, was elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka from the Gampaha District
obtaining the largest number of votes by any candidate in the April 2010 general election, and was appointed Minister of Economic Development. His eldest brother Chamal Rajapaksa
has been a Member of Parliament since 1989, and was elected Speaker
of the 14th (current) Parliament of Sri Lanka
.
Other family members involved in politics include his nephew, Shashindra Rajapaksa
, who is the Chief Minister of the Uva Province
. Shameendra Rajapaksa (second son of Chamal Rajapaksa), Director SriLankan Airlines
, his cousins Jaliya Wickramasuriya
, Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United States
, Udayanga Weeratunga
, Sri Lanka's ambassador to Russia
, Prasanna Wickramasuriya
,Chairman Airport & Aviation Services Limited Sri Lanka and Ajith Ranawaka, Adviser to President. Rajapaksa's brother-in-law Nishantha Wickramasinghe is the Chairman of SriLankan Airlines
.
News media
Other links
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Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
மகிந்த ராசபக்ச); born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka
Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
in 1970, and served as prime minister
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the functional head of the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. However, the President is both head of state and head of government in Sri Lanka...
from April 6, 2004 until his victory in the 2005 Presidential election
Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 2005 was the fifth presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 7 September 2005, and the election was held on 17 November 2005. Electoral participation was 73.73%...
. He was sworn in for a six-year term as president on November 19, 2005. He was re-elected
Sri Lankan presidential election, 2010
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 2010 was the sixth presidential election of Sri Lanka. The election was announced on 23 November 2009 when incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to seek a fresh mandate prior to the expiration of his term in 2011...
for a second term in office on January 27, 2010.
Early life and career
Rajapaksa was born in Weerakatiya in the southern rural districtDistricts of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government...
of Hambantota
Hambantota
Hambantota is a coastal city in the south of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Hambantota District...
. He hails from a well known political family in Sri Lanka. His father, D. A. Rajapaksa
D. A. Rajapaksa
Don Alwin Rajapaksa was a Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament, who represented the Beliatta electorate in Hambantota district from 1947 to 1965...
, was a prominent politician, independence agitator, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land in Wijeyananda Dahanayake
Wijeyananda Dahanayake
Wijeyananda Dahanayake was a Sri Lankan political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1959 to 1960.-Early Life:...
's government. D.M. Rajapaksa, his uncle, was a State Councillor
State Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...
for Hambantota in the 1930s who started wearing the earthy brown shawl to represent kurakkan (finger millet
Finger millet
Eleusine coracana, commonly Finger millet , also known as African millet or Ragi is an annual plant widely grown as a cereal in the arid areas of Africa and Asia. E...
) cultivated by the people of his area, whose cause he championed throughout his life. It is from his example that Rajapaksa wears his characteristic shawl.
Rajapaksa was educated at Richmond College, Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
before moving to Nalanda College Colombo and later Thurstan College
Thurstan College
Thurstan College is a public school in Colombo. It is a National School, i.e. it is controlled by the Central government as opposed to the Provincial Council and provides both primary and secondary education.-Overview:...
, Colombo. He also had a few cameo roles as a movie actor in Sinhalese movies and worked as a library assistant at Vidyodaya University.
Following the death of his father in 1967, Rajapaksa took over as the SLFP
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
candidate for Beliatta
Beliatta
Beliatta is a town located in Hambantota District, southern province Sri Lanka near but inland from the coast about 7 km away.it is the home town of the current president of the Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa in Hambantota District. the prominent nearest town is Tangalle...
constituency and was elected to Parliament in 1970 as the youngest Member of Parliament at just 24. Later he studied law at the Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College was established as the Ceylon Law College under the Council of Legal Education in 1874 in order to impart a formal legal education to those who wished to be lawyers in Ceylon...
and took oaths as an attorney-at-law in November 1977. Throughout his parliamentary career, except for the period from 1994-2001 when he was a minister, he continued his law practice in Tangalle
Tangalle
Tangalle is a town on the southern coast of Sri Lanka located in the Hambantota District. It has a mild climate, in comparison to the rest of the district, and sandy beaches....
.
In opposition
Losing his parliamentary seat in the landslide defeat of the SLFP in 1977, he was re-elected in 1989 to Parliament to represent HambantotaHambantota
Hambantota is a coastal city in the south of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Hambantota District...
District
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
under Proportional Representation. He came into prominence as a leader, together with Manorani Saravanamuttu, of the Mothers Front, which organised the mothers of the "disappeared" in the white terror
White Terror
White Terror is the violence carried out by reactionary groups as part of a counter-revolution. In particular, during the 20th century, in several countries the term White Terror was applied to acts of violence against real or suspected socialists and communists.-Historical origin: the French...
of 1988-90
Insurrection 1987-89
The 1987-89 insurrection in Sri Lanka, in which around 50,000 lives were lost, was carried out by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist Sinhalese political party in Sri Lanka.-Leadup to conflict in the 1980s:...
instigated by a rebel group that called themselves Deshapremi Jathika Vyaparaya or 'Patriotic National Movement'.
Appointment as Cabinet Minister
In 1994, following the electionElections in Sri Lanka
Elections in Sri Lanka gives information on election and election results in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a six year term by the people...
victory of the People's Alliance
People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)
The People's Alliance is a front of political parties in Sri Lanka, formed in 1994.It comprises the following parties:* Sri Lanka Freedom Party* Lanka Sama Samaja Party* Communist Party of Sri Lanka* Sri Lanka Mahajana Party...
a political front led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
and headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga born June 29, 1945) was the 4th Executive president of Sri Lanka, serving from November 12, 1994 to November 19, 2005. The daughter of two former Prime Ministers, she was also the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until end of 2005...
, Rajapaksa was appointed Minister of Labour. He held this post until 1997 when, following a cabinet reshuffle, his portfolio was changed to Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Leader of the Opposition
When the United National PartyUnited National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
(UNP) defeated the People's Alliance in the 2001 elections, Rajapaksa lost his position in the Government. He was however appointed as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)
The Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lanka is the politician who leads main opposition. This is the leader of the largest party not within the government, usually the leader of the second largest party in the Parliament...
in March 2002.
Prime Minister
After the Parliamentary Elections of 2004, in which the United People's Freedom AllianceUnited People's Freedom Alliance
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance is Mahinda Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha is the general secretary of UPFA.The alliance was formed by:...
gained a slim majority in Parliament. Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 13th Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
on April 6, 2004. While Rajapaksa was the Prime Minister, he also held the Ministry of Highways.
President
Mahinda Rajapaksa was chosen by Sri Lanka Freedom PartySri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
to contest with former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)
The Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lanka is the politician who leads main opposition. This is the leader of the largest party not within the government, usually the leader of the second largest party in the Parliament...
, Ranil Wickremasinghe
Ranil Wickremasinghe
Ranil Shriyan Wickremesinghe , MP, is a Sri Lankan politician and current Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan parliament. He was Prime Minister of Sri Lanka twice, from May 7, 1993 to August 19, 1994 and from December 9, 2001 to April 6, 2004...
, the leader of the United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
in this Presidential Election
Elections in Sri Lanka
Elections in Sri Lanka gives information on election and election results in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a six year term by the people...
held on 17 November 2005.
Despite the huge election campaign led by UNP, Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to gain a narrow victory by 190,000 votes. The Opposition claimed that LTTE calling for a boycott of the polls in the North and East from Tamil voters in areas within their control lead to their defeat. Most voters in these areas were forcibly restrained from voting, and it is said that they would have favored Ranil Wickremasignhe and his UNP party in the said election. Rajapaksa received 50.3% of the vote.
After becoming President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
, Rajapaksa reshuffled the cabinet and took the portfolios of Defence and Finance in the new cabinet, which was sworn on November 23, 2005.
Relations with Sarath Fonseka
Immediately following his election in 2005, Rajapaka extended the term of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Sarath FonsekaSarath Fonseka
Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, known as Sarath Fonseka is a former commander and General of the Sri Lanka Army and a former candidate for President of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Army, he played an instrumental role in ending the 26 year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the...
, less that 30 days before he was scheduled to retire. Over the next three and a half years Fonseka and Rajapaksa's brother and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR is a retired officer of the Sri Lanka Army and the current Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka. After serving through the early parts of the country's civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, he retired from the Army in 1992...
led the country's armed forces in their battle against Tamil Tiger rebels, ultimately defeating the Tigers and killing their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
.
Following the end of the conflict, a rift emerged between Rajapaksa and Fonseka, over reasons which are still disputed. On November 15, 2009, Rajapaksa ordered Fonseka to leave his post as Chief of Defense Staff with immediate effect through a letter from his secretary. Fonseka then ran as the joint opposition candidate against Rajapaksa in the 2009 Presidential election, at which Rajapaksa emerged triumphant. Fonseka was subsequently sentenced to two years in jail for various offenses by a Military court martial, a sentence he is currently serving.
Development of Hambantota
Mahinda is planning to develop his constituency of Hambantota into South Asia's hub port. He first went to India to get help with building a port, then went to USA and China. China offered him the best deal.Media freedom
Media groups have alleged that media freedom has been curtailed in Sri Lanka during Rajapaksa's term as President. In 2008 Reporters without bordersReporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
ranked Sri Lanka 165th among 173 countries in its annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index
Press Freedom Index
The Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders based upon the organization's assessment of their press freedom records. Small countries, such as Andorra, are excluded from this report...
. The next year, the country was ranked 162. By 2010, following the end of the war, the RSF ranking was 158th. However these ranking have been questioned by independent Sri Lanka newspapers.
Allegations of war crimes
WikiLeaksWikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
made public of secret US cables from 2009, stating that American diplomats including Patricia Butenis believe that Mahinda Rajapaksa was responsible for the massacre towards the end of the end of the war with the LTTE. The cable also states the responsibility for many of the alleged crimes rests with the country's senior civilian and military leadership, including President Rajapaksa and his brothers and opposition candidate General Fonseka. For their part, both the government, and opposition have denied these claims.
Sri Lankan Civil War
Although styling himself as a man of peace and a willing negotiator, Rajapaksa signaled his intention to end the peace process once in power by forging an alliance with the Sinhalese nationalist Janatha Vimukthi PeramunaJanatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
and the Jathika Hela Urumaya
Jathika Hela Urumaya
The Jathika Hela Urumaya is a political party in Sri Lanka which is led by Buddhist monks. The JHU was launched in February, 2004 by the lay-based, secular Sinhala nationalist political party Sihala Urumaya. Founding members include Kolonnawe Sumangala Thero, Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero, Ellawela...
. The JVP had opposed the original 2002 peace process as treasonous.
Immediately following his election victory, a series of mine blasts blamed on the LTTE in the country claimed the lives of many off-duty servicemen and civilians, pushing the country back to the brink of war. Following the closure by the LTTE of a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
supplying
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
water to 15,000 people named "Mavil Aru
Mavil Aru
Mavil Aru is a waterway in Sri Lanka that supplies water to some regions of eastern Sri Lanka.The closure by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization, of the sluice-gates of Mavil Aru on July 26, 2006, was a crucial turning point in the Sri Lankan Civil War...
" in government controlled areas on July 21, 2006, the Sri Lankan military launched an offensive against the LTTE, bringing the entire reservoir under government control. Further military engagements have led to the LTTE been driven out of the entire Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and loss of 95% of the territory they controlled.
Ethnic relations
The content of the President's historic speech in Tamil at the UN was an effort to establish that he is a people's leader representing all the peoples of Sri Lanka, including the Tamil minority.He said in Tamil adding,
Decorations
He was conferred with two Honorary DoctoratesHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
. The first one is a Doctor of Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
from the University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
on September 6, 2009. The second degree was awarded by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia on February 6, 2010 for his contribution for world peace and outstanding success in defeating terrorism.
He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
The Peoples' Friendship University of Russia is an educational and research institution located in the South of Moscow and is ranked by the Ministry of Education of Russia as the country's third-best university after Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University...
of the Russian Federation in February, 2010 at its 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Visva Bharati University of Calcutta in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
conferred on him the title Professor Emeritus for his record on human rights.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the Beijing University of Foreign Languages in China on August 2011.
Family and personal life
In 1983 Rajapaksa married Shiranthi WickremasingheShiranthi Rajapaksa
Shiranthi Rajapaksa is the wife of the sixth President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa and the First Lady of Sri Lanka. She a professional in child psychology and pre-school education.-Early life:...
, a child-psychologist and educator. Shiranthi Rajapaksa is the daughter of E. P. Wickramasinghe, a retired Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
of the Sri Lanka Navy. The Rajapaksas have three sons, Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha. In April 2010 Namal Rajapaksa
Namal Rajapaksa
Lakshman Namal Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan politician. He is a current Member of Parliament for Hambantota District and he hails from a well known political family. His father Mahinda Rajapaksa is the current President of Sri Lanka and his grandfather D. A...
was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Hambantota District, obtaining the highest number of preferential votes in his father's former district. Yoshitha was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy in March 2009.
A number of members of Rajapaksa's family are currently active in politics. One brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR is a retired officer of the Sri Lanka Army and the current Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka. After serving through the early parts of the country's civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, he retired from the Army in 1992...
a former military officer who served in the Sri Lanka Army for 20 years is the current secretary of the Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)
The Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order is the Sri Lankan government ministry responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces....
. Another brother Basil Rajapaksa, was elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka from the Gampaha District
Gampaha District
- Local Authorities in Gampaha district:Gampaha is the District Capital of Gampaha District and is a principal town around Colombo. It is about 4 km from Miriswatte on the Colombo - Kandy Road.- Urban Councils :* Katunayake-Seeduwa * Ja-ela* Wattala...
obtaining the largest number of votes by any candidate in the April 2010 general election, and was appointed Minister of Economic Development. His eldest brother Chamal Rajapaksa
Chamal Rajapaksa
Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa is the current Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and former Cabinet Minister of Ports, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management. He hails from a well known political family in Sri Lanka. His father, D. A...
has been a Member of Parliament since 1989, and was elected Speaker
Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka the Speaker of the Parliament is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The Speaker fulfills a number of important functions in relation to the operation the House, which is based upon the British Westminster Parliamentary system.The...
of the 14th (current) Parliament of Sri Lanka
14th Sri Lankan Parliament
The 14th Sri Lankan Parliament is the current Parliament of Sri Lanka, with the membership determined by the results of the 2010 parliamentary election held on 8 April and 20 April 2010. The parliament met for the first time on 22 April 2010...
.
Other family members involved in politics include his nephew, Shashindra Rajapaksa
Shashindra Rajapaksa
Shashindra Rajapaksa is the Chief Minister of Uva Province in Sri Lanka and current Basnayaka Nilame of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya. He is the eldest son of Chamal Rajapaksa and nephew of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.-External links:...
, who is the Chief Minister of the Uva Province
Uva Province
Uva is Sri Lanka's second least populated province, with 1,187,335 people, created in 1896. It consists of two districts: Badulla බදුල්ල பதுளை and Moneragala මොනරාගල மொனராகல. The provincial capital is Badulla. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern and Central provinces...
. Shameendra Rajapaksa (second son of Chamal Rajapaksa), Director SriLankan Airlines
SriLankan Airlines
SriLankan Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Sri Lanka. It operates to destinations in Asia and Europe from its base and hub at Bandaranaike International Airport . The airline's trademark phrase is 'You're Our World', and the company's logo features a stylized peacock...
, his cousins Jaliya Wickramasuriya
Jaliya Wickramasuriya
Jaliya Wickramasuriya is a Sri Lankan businessman who currently serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the United States and Mexico. He has served as Ambassador since July 28, 2008...
, Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Udayanga Weeratunga
Udayanga Weeratunga
Udayanga Weeratunga is a Sri Lankan businessman who is the current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation...
, Sri Lanka's ambassador to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Prasanna Wickramasuriya
Prasanna Wickramasuriya
Colonel Prasanna Wickramasuriya RWP, WWV, RSP is one of the most decorated soldiers in the Sri Lankan military.Currently he hold the position of Chairman Airport and Aviation Services Limited Sri Lanka....
,Chairman Airport & Aviation Services Limited Sri Lanka and Ajith Ranawaka, Adviser to President. Rajapaksa's brother-in-law Nishantha Wickramasinghe is the Chairman of SriLankan Airlines
SriLankan Airlines
SriLankan Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Sri Lanka. It operates to destinations in Asia and Europe from its base and hub at Bandaranaike International Airport . The airline's trademark phrase is 'You're Our World', and the company's logo features a stylized peacock...
.
External links
Official sites- Official Website of Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidential Election Campaign - 2010
- Sri Lankan President's Official Website
- Mahinda Rajapaksa's Web Site
- Sri Lanka Freedom Party's official Website
News media
- Mahinda Rajapaksa's PICTURE GALLERY
- Interview with The Hindu
- Last Editorial By Lasantha Wickramatunga
- Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award for Prime Minister
Other links
- The Rajapaksa Ancestry
- "Mahinda 4 Sri Lanka" A website with Mahinda Rajapaksa Biography, Photos, News and Critics
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