Harini Amarasuriya has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and she is the third woman leader to reach this position. She came into politics 5 years ago and has been the Prime Minister in the interim government 2 months ago. She has studied from Hindu College, Delhi University. Recently, a new government has been formed in Sri Lanka after the parliamentary elections, in which she took this important post.
Key Points
- Harini Amarasuriya became the third woman Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
- She has studied from Hindu College, Delhi University.
- Became Prime Minister 5 years after coming into politics.
- NPP alliance won the parliamentary elections held on 14 November.
- The new cabinet has 22 members, including 2 women and 2 Tamil MPs.
- The President kept the cabinet small, with the aim of reducing the cost of the government.
Harini Amarasuriya became the third woman Prime Minister
- Harini Amarasuriya became the third woman Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
- Earlier, Sirimavo Bandaranaike (3 times) and Chandrika Kumaratunga (1 time) have held the post of female Prime Minister.
- Harini Amarasuriya entered politics as an MP for the first time in 2020.
- Before joining politics, she was a professor at the Sri Lanka Open University.
Harini Nireeka Amarasuriya
- Born: 6 March 1970
- She is a sociologist, academician, activist and politician.
- Amarasuriya was born in a middle class family.
- His father was a tea plantation owner.
- After the land reform law was implemented in Sri Lanka in 1972, his family moved from Galle to Colombo, as the government acquired his father’s tea plantation.
- Serving as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka since 2024.
Sri Lanka – An Introduction
- Sri Lanka (official name Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) is an island country located in the northern part of the Indian Ocean in South Asia. It is located south of India and is only 31 kilometers away from India. The largest city in Sri Lanka is Colombo, which is an important port from the point of view of sea transport. The old name of Sri Lanka was Sheylon, which was changed to Sri Lanka in 1974.
Important Facts
- Prime Minister: Harini Amarasuriya
- President: Anura Kumara Disanayake
- Official Language: Sinhalese, Tamil
- Largest City: Colombo
- History: The written history of Sri Lanka is 5000 years old. There is evidence of human settlements here 125,000 years ago. Buddhism entered Sri Lanka in the third century BC with the arrival of Mahendra, son of Maurya Emperor Ashoka.
- European Invasion: In the 16th century, European powers came to Sri Lanka to establish trade. First the Portuguese built their fort near Colombo, then the Dutch and the British also fought for their dominance. By 1800 AD, the British captured the coastal areas and in 1818 the King of Kandy surrendered, after which the British gained control over the entire Sri Lanka.
- Independence: After the Second World War, Sri Lanka gained independence from the United Kingdom on 4 February 1948.
Cultural importance of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka is a historically and culturally rich country, where Buddhism and other cultural traditions have deep roots. The Vedda tribe here is famous for its unique culture.