Lakshman Kiriella

Lakshman Bandara Kiriella, MP (born 2 February 1948) is a Sri Lankan politician and lawyer. He is a Member of Parliament from the Kandy District, former Leader of the House of the parliament. Also he held office as Minister of Public Enterprises and Kandy Development and as Minister of Higher Education and Highways from 2015 to 2019.

Hon.
Lakshman Kiriella
MP
ලක්ෂ්මන් කිරිඇල්ල
லக்ஸ்மன் கிரிஎல்ல
Kiriella in March 2015
Chief Opposition Whip
Assumed office
3 January 2020
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Ranil Wickramasinghe
Preceded byMahinda Amaraweera
Leader of the House of Sri Lanka
In office
20 January 2015 – December 2019
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byNimal Siripala De Silva
Succeeded byDinesh Gunawardena
Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage & Kandy Development
In office
25 February 2018 – 22 November 2019
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byKabir Hashim
Minister of Higher Education and Highways
In office
14 October 2015 – 25 February 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Succeeded byKabir Hashim
Minister of Plantation Industries
In office
12 January 2015 – 17 August 2015
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byMahinda Samarasinghe
In office
12 December 2001 – 2 April 2004
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Member of Parliament
for Kandy District
Assumed office
1989
Personal details
Born (1948-02-02) 2 February 1948
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partySamagi Jana Balawegaya United National Party (2001–present)
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (1989–2001)
SpouseCharmaine née Jayawardena
ChildrenKishanee, Chami, Dinuk L. B.
ResidencePelawatta
Alma materRoyal College, Colombo
ProfessionLawyer

Educated at Royal College, Colombo and Sri Lanka Law College, he became a practicing lawyer before entering politics. He has elected to Parliament in 1989, he has been a Member ever since. He has served as the Minister of Tourism and Sports and the Deputy minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2015 he was appointed as the Leader of the House of the United National Party Government under Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe.[1]

He is married to Charmaine Jayawardena and they have two daughters, Kishanee and Chami, and one son, Dinuk L. B.

In October 2018 the Asgiriya Chapter of Siam Nikaya conferred the title of Shasanamamaka Jana Prasadini on Kiriella, in recognition of his service to Buddhism and society.[2]

Controversies

Central Expressway Construction

Central expressway of Sri Lanka (E04 expressway) planned to construct in four phases to link Kadawatha to Kandy. However, the construction of phase one and phase three were delayed as Chinese and Japanese loans weren't receiving on time. Phase two of the project (Mirigama to Katugastota) funded by the Sri Lankan government and construction carrying out by local constructors. There are some allegations that phase two construction carrying out by companies attached to Kiriella.[3][4] COPE decided to investigate tender procedure of central expressway project due to allegations of misappropriation of public funds.[5][6] And MP. Anura Kumara Dissanayake mentioned in parliament recalling a statement by former president Maithripala Sirisena that tender procedures has been violated while offering contracts.[7] Responding to media, minister of parliament Wimal Weerawansa blamed that former minister Kiriella and his daughter converted central expressway project into their money making venture.[8][9]

Recruiting Political Supporters to RDA

Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing corruption in good governance (Yahapalana ) government conducted inquiry on backdoor appointments given by former minister to UNP supporters. He was accused for recruiting UMP members as public liaison officers and consultants to the Road Development Authority (RDA) without conducting interviews, checking qualifications and assigning duties.[10][11] Former minister denied allegations that those recruitments cost Rs. 62.87 million to government.[10]

References
  1. Wickrematunge, Raisa. "Kiriella Speaks | The Sunday Leader". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  2. "Shasanamamaka Jana Prasadini title for Minister Kiriella". The Daily News. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  3. Lanka, Visit Sri. "The tale of Lakshman Kiriella the sinners trying to destroy the expressway project - VisitSriLanka.com". Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  4. Administrator (2017-10-16). "Cabinet Colleagues In Heated Argument With Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella Over Potuhera to Galagedara Construction in Central Expressway Project". dbsjeyaraj.com. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  5. "COPE investigates Central Expressway tender". Hiru News. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  6. "AG's Dept to investigate central expressway tender process - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  7. "Central Expressway's construction work will go ahead: PM". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  8. Central Expressway Project : The new money-maker for MPs and Ministers?, archived from the original on 2021-12-20, retrieved 2019-12-06
  9. "Central Expressway Project : The new money-maker for MPs and Ministers? - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  10. Kuruwita, Rathindra (24 September 2019). "Minister Kiriella justifies backdoor appointments for party supporters". www.island.lk. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  11. "Minister Kiriella's Deception Exposed | Sri Lanka Brief". Sri Lanka Brief. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 2019-12-07.


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