Chamal Rajapaksa

Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa (Sinhala: චමල් රාජපක්ෂ; Tamil: சமல் ராஜபக்ஷ; born 30 October 1942) is a Sri Lankan politician[1] who was Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2015.[2] Previously he served as Minister of Ports and Aviation and the Minister for Irrigation and Water Management. 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 Minister of Agriculture and Land in Wijeyananda Dahanayake's government. He is the elder brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015 and Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was President from 2019 to 2022. Nine members of the Rajapaksa family have been members of parliament in Sri Lanka.[3]

Chamal Rajapaksa
MP
චමල් රාජපක්ෂ
சமல் ராஜபக்ஷ
Rajapaksa in March 2015
19th Speaker of the Parliament
In office
22 April 2010 – 26 June 2015
Preceded byW. J. M. Lokubandara
Succeeded byKaru Jayasuriya
Minister of Irrigation
In office
12 August 2020 – 3 April 2022
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
In office
28 January 2007 – 23 April 2010
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterRatnasiri Wickremanayake
Minister of Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare, Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development
In office
22 November 2019 – 12 August 2020
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Member of Parliament
for Hambantota District
Assumed office
1989
Personal details
Born (1942-10-30) 30 October 1942
Palatuwa, British Ceylon
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partySri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Spouse(s)Chandra Malini Rajapaksa
(nee Wijewardene)
ChildrenShasheendra, Shameendra
Alma materRichmond College, Galle
ProfessionPolice officer, Politician

Shashindra Rajapaksa (eldest son of Rajapaksa) is the former chief Minister of Uva Provincial Council and former Basnayaka Nilame (Lay Custodian) of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya.

Early life and education
Main article: Rajapaksa family

Rajapaksa was born on 30 October 1942 in Palatuwa in the Southern District of Matara and raised in Medamulana in the District of Hambantota.[4] He was the eldest son, of nine siblings which included, an older sister, three younger brothers: Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa and two younger sisters, to D. A. Rajapaksa and Dona Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake. He received his primary and secondary education at Richmond College, Galle. As a student, he was an athlete and played soccer for the school, in addition to being an academic high achiever.[5]

Early career

Following his schooling, he joined the Ceylon Police Force as a Sub-inspector and served for eight years.[5] He thereafter served the State Trading General Corporation as the Assistant General Manager before getting into active politics in 1985.

Political career

Contested the by-election held in 1985 for Mulkirigala Electorate.

Entered Parliament in 1989 as a member of parliament of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party representing Hambantota District. Has been a member of parliament continuously since 1989, retaining his seat in all elections held to date.

Prior to his present appointment as Speaker of the Parliament, he held the following portfolios.

  • Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Lands
  • Deputy Minister of Ports and Southern Development
  • Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries
  • Minister of Agricultural Development
  • Minister of Irrigation and Water Management
  • Minister of Ports and Aviation

Honorary titles
  • "Sri Lanka Janaseva Vibhushana"

Other positions held
  • President, Sri Lanka – Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association
  • President, Sri Lanka – Hungary Parliamentary Friendship Association
  • Chairman, District Development Committee, Hambantota (District Secretariat)
  • Chairman, Hambantota Development Foundation

See also

References
  1. "Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, M.P." Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  2. Chamal shines in politics Archived 6 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Sunday Observer, Retrieved on 1 August 2010.
  3. Speaker of the Seventh Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Parliament website, Retrieved on 25 November 2013.
  4. President's Fund of Sri Lanka, President's Profile Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Fascinating features of Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa's early life". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
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