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List of prime ministers of Sri Lanka

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There have been fifteen prime ministers of Sri Lanka since the creation of the position in 1947, prior to the independence of the country (then known as Ceylon). The prime minister of Ceylon was the head of the government until 1972. In 1972, the country was renamed as the Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka, and the position was known as the prime minister of Sri Lanka from then onwards. The prime minister also held the unified Ministry of External Affairs and Defence until 1977, when the government of J. R. Jayewardene split the ministry into two ministries, forming the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 1978, after Jayewardene became the president, new constitutional changes were introduced. The position of the executive president was introduced, resulting in the powers of the prime minister being reduced. The president became the head of state and chief executive,[1] and the prime minister became a weak head of government.[2]

Under the current constitution of Sri Lanka, the prime minister is the leader of the Cabinet business and also functions as a deputy to the president. In the event a president dies in office, the prime minister becomes the acting president until the Parliament convenes to elect a successor or new elections can be held to elect a new president. Such was the case in 1993, when President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated and Prime Minister Dingiri Banda Wijetunga took office as president.[3]

On 28 April 2015, the Parliament approved the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka which gives the power of the government to the prime minister, while the president remains the head of state, head of the Cabinet, and commander-in-chief.[4]

Of the fifteen prime ministers who have held the office since the introduction of the position in 1947, one has held the office four times, two have held office thrice, and two have held office twice. Six prime ministers have gone on to become president of the country.[5]

Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as prime minister the most times in the country's history, on six occasions (May 1993, December 2001, January 2015, August 2015, December 2018 and May 2022),[6][7] whilst Dudley Shelton Senanayaka and Sirimavo Bandaranayake have each been appointed three times. Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only prime minister who was suspended from his duties by the Supreme Court,[8][9][10] becoming the first de facto prime minister of Sri Lanka in 2018.

Notable prime ministers
  • D. S. Senanayake became the first prime minister of Ceylon in 1947.
    D. S. Senanayake became the first prime minister of Ceylon in 1947.
  • Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the first female prime minister of Ceylon and also its longest-serving prime minister, holding the office for over 17 years on three separate occasions.
    Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the first female prime minister of Ceylon and also its longest-serving prime minister, holding the office for over 17 years on three separate occasions.
  • Ranasinghe Premadasa was the longest uninterrupted serving prime minister, holding office for over 10 years from 1978 to 1989.
    Ranasinghe Premadasa was the longest uninterrupted serving prime minister, holding office for over 10 years from 1978 to 1989.
  • Ranil Wickremesinghe has served as prime minister four separate times and has been sworn in on six occasions, the most of any Sri Lankan prime minister.
    Ranil Wickremesinghe has served as prime minister four separate times and has been sworn in on six occasions, the most of any Sri Lankan prime minister.

List of prime ministers

[edit]
Parties

  United National Party (7)   Sri Lanka Freedom Party (6)   Sinhala Bhasha Peramuna (1)   Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (1)   Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (1)   National People's Power (1)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency 		Term of office
Electoral mandates
Time in office 		Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Political party
of PM
(Alliance) 		Government Refs
1 D. S. Senanayake
දොන් ස්ටීවන් සේනානායක
டான் ஸ்டீபன் சேனாநாயக்க
(1883–1952)
Mirigama 		24 September
1947 		22 March
1952† 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence United National Party D. S. Senanayake 1st [11]
1947
4 years, 5 months and 27 days
The first Prime Minister of Ceylon. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom during his term of office. Died in office.[12]
2 Dudley Senanayake
ඩඩ්ලි ෂෙල්ටන් සෙනානායක
டட்லி சேனநாயக்கா
(1911–1973)
Dedigama 		26 March
1952 		12 October
1953 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence
Minister of Agriculture & Lands
& Minister of Health & Local Government 		United National Party Dudley Senanayake I 1st
2nd 		[11]
1952
1 year, 6 months and 16 days
Appointed as Prime Minister following the death of his father, D. S. Senanayake. His party won at the general elections held in 1952, and he continued to hold office without re-appointment. Resigned amidst the 1953 Ceylonese Hartal.[13]
3 Sir John Kotelawala
ශ්‍රිමත් ජෝන් කොතලාවල
சேர் ஜோன் கொத்தலாவலை
CH, KBE, KStJ, CLI
(1897–1980)
Dodangaslanda 		12 October
1953 		12 April
1956 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence
& Minister of Transport & Works 		United National Party Kotelawala 2nd [11]
 —
2 years and 6 months
Sri Lanka joined the United Nations during Kotelawala's term of office.[14]
4 S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிட்ஜ்வே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கா
(1899–1959)
Attanagalla 		12 April
1956 		26 September
1959† 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(MEP) 		S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 3rd [11]
1956
3 years, 5 months and 14 days
Bandaranaike changed the official language of the country from English to Sinhalese. He was assassinated during his term of office.[15]
5 Wijeyananda Dahanayake
විජයානන්ද දහනායක
விஜயானந்த தகநாயக்கா
(1902–1997)
Galle 		26 September
1959 		20 March
1960 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence Sinhala Bhasha Peramuna
(MEP) 		Dahanayake 3rd [11]
 —
5 months and 23 days
Appointed following the assassination of Bandaranaike. Following disagreements with the members of his government and party, he was forced to dissolve the parliament.[16]
(2) Dudley Senanayake
ඩඩ්ලි සේනානායක
டட்லி சேனநாயக்கா
(1911–1973)
Dedigama 		21 March
1960 		21 July
1960 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence United National Party Dudley Senanayake II 4th [11]
March 1960
4 months
Senanayake's government was defeated within a month. Senanayake continued to serve as prime minister until 21 July 1960.
6 Sirimavo Bandaranaike
සිරිමාවො රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே
(1916–2000) 		21 July
1960 		25 March
1965 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence Sri Lanka Freedom Party Sirimavo Bandaranaike I 5th [11]
July 1960
4 years, 8 months and 4 days
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world's first female prime minister.[17] She was not a member of Parliament at the time of her appointment, and was appointed to the Senate on 2 August 1960.
(2) Dudley Senanayake
ඩඩ්ලි සේනානායක
டட்லி சேனநாயக்கா
(1911–1973)
Dedigama 		25 March
1965 		29 May
1970 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence United National Party Dudley Senanayake III 6th [11]
1965
5 years, 2 months and 4 days
Senanayake was elected prime minister for the third time, when his party formed a coalition government with the help of six other parties, after an election which did not give a clear majority to any party. The agriculture sector was given high priority during his term of office.[18]
(6) Sirimavo Bandaranaike
සිරිමාවො රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே
(1916–2000)
Attanagalla 		29 May
1970 		23 July
1977 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence
& Minister of Planning & Employment 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party Sirimavo Bandaranaike II 7th [11]
1970
7 years, 1 month and 24 days
Sirimavo Bandaranaike declared the country a republic, and changed the name of the country from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.[17] Nationalized many companies in the plantation sector and imposed restrictions on several imports. This led to the downfall of the country's economy and her defeat in the 1977 general elections.[17]
7 Junius Richard Jayewardene
ජුනියස් රිචඩ් ජයවර්ධන
ஜூனியஸ் ரிச்சட் ஜயவர்தனா
(1906–1996)
Colombo West 		23 July
1977 		4 February
1978 		Minister of Defence
Minister of Planning & Economic Affairs
& Minister of Plan Implementation 		United National Party Jayewardene 8th [11]
1977
6 months and 12 days
Introduced the executive presidency in 1978 and became president.[19]
8 Ranasinghe Premadasa
රණසිංහ ප්‍රේමදාස
ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசா
(1924–1993)
Colombo Central 		6 February
1978 		2 January
1989 		Minister of Local Government, Housing & Construction United National Party Jayewardene 8th [11]
 —
10 years, 10 months and 27 days
The first prime minister to be appointed after the constitutional changes of 1978, with the powers of the position reduced significantly.[20]
9 Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
ඩිංගිරි බණ්ඩා විජේතුංග
டிங்கிரி பண்ட விஜேதுங்க
(1916–2008)
Yatinuwara 		6 March
1989 		7 May
1993 		Minister of Finance
& Minister of Labour & Vocational Training 		United National Party Premadasa 9th [11]
1989
4 years, 2 months and 1 day
Appointed in a surprise move by President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Wijetunga himself reacted in surprise at the appointment.[3] He resigned from the post on 28 March 1990 but was reappointed two days later on 30 March 1990. Ascended to the presidency following Premadasa's assassination.
10 Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Biyagama 		7 May
1993 		19 August
1994 		United National Party Wijetunga 9th [11]
 —
1 year, 3 months and 12 days
Appointed as prime minister following the assassination of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa and Wijetunga's ascension to the presidency.[21]
11 Chandrika Kumaratunga
චන්ද්‍රිකා බණ්ඩාරනායක කුමාරතුංග
சந்திரிகா பண்டாரநாயக்கே குமாரதுங்கா
(born 1945)
Attanagalla 		19 August
1994 		12 November
1994 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(PA) 		Wijetunga 10th [11]
1994
2 months and 24 days
Served as the prime minister for a short period, before contesting in the 1994 presidential elections and being elected as president.[22]
(6) Sirimavo Bandaranaike
සිරිමාවො රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே
(1916–2000)
National List 		14 November
1994 		9 August
2000 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(PA) 		Kumaratunga 10th [11]
 —
5 years, 8 months and 26 days
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was appointed as the prime minister for a third and final term when her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga was appointed as the president of Sri Lanka. Resigned in 2000.[17]
12 Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
රත්නසිරි වික්‍රමනායක
ரத்னசிறி விக்கிரமநாயக்க
(1933–2016)
Horana 		10 August
2000 		7 December
2001 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(PA) 		Kumaratunga 10th
11th 		[11]
2000
1 year, 3 months and 27 days
Wickremanayake assumed the office of prime minister following the resignation of Sirimavo Bandaranaike.[2]
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Colombo 		9 December
2001 		6 April
2004 		United National Party
(UNF) 		Kumaratunga 12th [11]
2001
2 years, 3 months and 28 days
Wickremesinghe's term of office ended early when President Chandrika Kumaratunga dismissed his government and called for a general election in 2004.[23]
13 Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ
(born 1945)
Hambantota 		6 April
2004 		19 November
2005 		Ministry of Highways Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(UPFA) 		Kumaratunga 13th [11]
2004
1 year, 7 months and 13 days
Appointed as prime minister of the cabinet that was formed after the elections following the dismissal of Wickremesinghe's government by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He won the presidential elections in 2005 and was appointed President of Sri Lanka.[24]
(12) Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
රත්නසිරි වික්‍රමනායක
ரத்னசிறி விக்கிரமநாயக்க
(1933–2016)
National List 		19 November
2005 		21 April
2010 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(UPFA) 		Mahinda Rajapaksa 13th [11]
 —
4 years, 5 months and 2 days
Appointed as prime minister when Rajapaksa assumed the presidency.[2]
14 D. M. Jayaratne
දිසානායක මුදියන්සේලාගේ ජයරත්න
திசாநாயக்க முதியன்சேலாகே ஜயரத்ன
(1931–2019)
National List 		21 April
2010 		9 January
2015 		Minister of Buddhasasana & Religious Affairs Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(UPFA) 		Mahinda Rajapaksa 14th [11]
2010
4 years, 8 months and 19 days
Appointed as prime minister after the incumbent Sri Lanka Freedom Party won the parliamentary elections held in April 2010.
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Colombo 		9 January
2015 		26 October
2018 		Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs United National Party
(UNFGG) 		Sirisena I 14th [11]
2015 Sirisena II 15th
3 years, 9 months and 17 days
Appointed as prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after his victory in the 2015 presidential elections and was re-elected in the 2015 parliamentary elections.
(13) Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ
(born 1945)
Kurunegala (de facto) 		26 October
2018 		15 December
2018 		Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Sirisena III 15th [11]
—
1 month and 19 days
2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis: Appointed by Sirisena after the incumbent Wickremesinghe was suddenly dismissed by Sirisena. Rajapaksa's term was disputed by Wickremesinghe and Sri Lanka had two concurrent prime ministerial claimants. After failing to conduct a majority support vote in the house, Rajapaksa's duties were suspended by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.[25] Subsequently resigned from office to pave way for Wickremesinghe.[26]
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Colombo 		16 December
2018 		21 November
2019 		Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs United National Party
(UNFGG) 		Sirisena IV 15th [11]
 —
11 months and 5 days
Restored as prime minister after the 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis. Resigned in 2019.
(13) Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ
(born 1945)
Kurunegala 		21 November
2019 		9 May
2022 		Minister of Finance
Minister of Urban Development & Housing
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs 		Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(SLFPA) 		Gotabaya Rajapaksa I 15th [11]
2020 Gotabaya Rajapaksa II 16th
2 years, 5 months and 18 days Gotabaya Rajapaksa III
Appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following the resignation of Ranil Wickremesinghe after the 2019 presidential election and was re-elected in the 2020 parliamentary elections. Much of his tenure was plagued with major economic and political crises. Resigned amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan protests.
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
National List 		12 May
2022 		21 July
2022 		Minister of Finance United National Party Gotabaya Rajapaksa IV 16th [11]
 —
2 months and 9 days
Appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis. On 13 July 2022, he became the acting president of the republic as Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned amidst the protests and was outright elected as president a week later.
15 Dinesh Gunawardena
දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන
தினேஷ் குணவர்தன
(born 1949)
Colombo 		22 July
2022 		23 September
2024 		Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
(SLFPA) 		Wickremesinghe 16th [11]
 —
2 years, 2 months and 1 day
Appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe following his ascension to the presidency. Temporarily succeeded Mahinda Rajapaksa as the de facto leader of the SLPP during the 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis.[27][28]
16 Harini Amarasuriya
හරිනි අමරසූරිය
ஹரிணி அமரசூரிய
(born 1970)
National List 		24 September
2024 		Incumbent Minister of Justice
Minister of Education
Minister of Labour
Minister of Investments
Minister of Health
Minister of Science and Technology
Minister of Industries 		Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
(NPP) 		Dissanayake I 16th [11]
 — Dissanayake II 17th
1 month and 12 days
Appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake following the resignation of Dinesh Gunawardena after the 2024 presidential election.

List of prime ministers by length of term

[edit]
No. Name Party No. of terms Length of term
Longest continuous term Total years of premiership
1 Sirimavo Bandaranaike SLFP 3 7 years, 55 days 17 years and 204 days
2 Ranasinghe Premadasa UNP 1 10 years, 331 days 10 years, 331 days
3 Ranil Wickremesinghe UNP 5 3 years, 290 days 8 years and 191 days
4 Dudley Senanayake UNP 3 5 years, 65 days 7 years, 20 days
5 Ratnasiri Wickremanayake SLFP 2 4 years, 153 days 5 years, 270 days
6 D. M. Jayaratne SLFP 1 4 years, 263 days 4 years, 263 days
7 D. S. Senanayake UNP 1 4 years, 180 days 4 years, 180 days
8 Mahinda Rajapaksa SLFP, SLPP 3 2 years, 169 days 4 years and 80 days
9 Dingiri Banda Wijetunga UNP 1 4 years, 62 days 4 years, 62 days
10 S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike SLFP 1 3 years, 167 days 3 years, 167 days
11 Dinesh Gunawardena MEP 1 2 years, 63 days 2 years, 63 days
12 John Kotelawala UNP 1 1 year, 200 days 1 year, 200 days
13 J. R. Jayewardene UNP 1 196 days 196 days
14 Wijeyananda Dahanayake SBP 1 176 days 176 days
15 Chandrika Kumaratunga SLFP 1 85 days 85 days
16 Harini Amarasuriya NPP 1 42 days* 42 days*
Timeline
Harini AmarasuriyaDinesh GunawardenaMahinda RajapaksaD. M. JayaratneRatnasiri WickremanayakeChandrika KumaratungaRanil WickremesingheDingiri Banda WijetungaRanasinghe PremadasaJunius Richard JayewardeneSirimavo BandaranaikeWijeyananda DahanayakeS. W. R. D. BandaranaikeJohn KotelawalaDudley SenanayakeDon Stephen Senanayake

Relations between prime ministers

[edit]

Out of the 16 distinct people to have held the office of Prime minister, 8 have come from three political families.

Relations Prime ministers Political family
Husband and wife S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Bandaranaike
Father and son D. S. Senanayake and Dudley Senanayake Senanayake
Father and daughter S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike
Mother and daughter Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike
Uncle and nephew D. S. Senanayake and John Kotelawala Senanayake
Cousins Dudley Senanayake and John Kotelawala Senanayake
First cousins once removed Junius Richard Jayewardene and Ranil Wickremesinghe Wijewardene

Living prime ministers

[edit]
Living as of November 2024
Prime Minister Date of birth Premiership
Ranil Wickremesinghe (1949-03-24) 24 March 1949 (age 75) 1993–1994, 2001–2004, 2015–2018, 2018–2019, 2022
Chandrika Kumaratunga (1945-06-29) 29 June 1945 (age 79) 1994–1994
Mahinda Rajapaksa (1945-11-18) 18 November 1945 (age 78) 2004–2005, 2018, 2019–2022,
Dinesh Gunawardena (1949-03-02) 2 March 1949 (age 75) 2022–2024
Harini Amarasuriya (1970-03-06) 6 March 1970 (age 54) 2024–present

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. The Parliament was known as the "House of Representatives" during the period of 1947–1972
  2. In 1972, the country was named "Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka", and the Parliament was named as the National State Assembly.
  3. Under the constitutional changes of 1978, the country was renamed as the "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka", and the Parliament was referred to as "Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka".

References

[edit]
General
Specific
  1. ^ V. Jayanth (2003-11-15). "Sri Lanka's executive presidency"[usurped]. The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
  2. ^ a b c V.S. Sambandan (2005-11-22). "Ratnasiri Wickremanayake appointed Sri Lankan Premier" Archived 10 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  3. ^ a b M.B. Dassanayake (2008-09-22). "Dingiri Banda Wijetunga - the journey to greatness" Archived 27 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Daily News. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  4. ^ "Sri Lanka: 19A to the Constitution passed in parliament".
  5. ^ Wanniarachchi, Lakruwan. "Sri Lanka's new president gets down to mending ties". 10 January 2015. Business Insider AFP. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  6. ^ "International News, Breaking World News, Latest International News". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  7. ^ Jayasinghe, Uditha; Pal, Alasdair (12 May 2022). "He's back: Wickremesinghe named Sri Lankan PM for 6th time amid crisis". Reuters.
  8. ^ "Sri Lankan court bars Rajapakse from working as PM". 4 December 2018. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Sri Lanka temporarily bars Rajapaksa from acting as PM". Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Sri Lanka court denies Rajapakse authority to act as PM". Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Prime Ministers". Parliament.lk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Senanayake, Don Stephen (1884–1952)" Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. The History Channel. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  13. ^ Buddhika Kurukularatne (2007-06-19). "Dudley – the reluctant Prince" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  14. ^ K. T. Rajasingham (2001-11-17). "Sri Lanka: The Untold Story" Archived 26 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  15. ^ "Bandaranaike, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias". history.com. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  16. ^ "Short Term" Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Time. 1959-12-14. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  17. ^ a b c d "Sirimavo Bandaranaike: First woman premier" Archived 6 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. BBC News. 2000-10-10. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  18. ^ Neville de Silva. "A Prime Minister who knew his onions" Archived 29 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine . UK Lanka Times. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  19. ^ "Former Sri Lanka president dies, leaves mixed legacy" [dead link]. CNN. 1996-11-01. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  20. ^ Barbara Crossette (1988-12-21). "MAN IN THE NEWS: Ranasinghe Premadasa; Sri Lankan At the Top". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
  21. ^ "Profile: Ranil Wickramasinghe" Archived 2 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. BBC News. 2005-11-22. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  22. ^ "Hon Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (1994–2005)" Archived 3 June 2004 at the Wayback Machine . The official website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  23. ^ "Sri Lanka" Archived 22 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine . The History Channel. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  24. ^ "President's Profile" Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine . The President's Fund of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  25. ^ "SC grants leave to proceed with Mahinda's appeal". Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  26. ^ "Sri Lanka parliament passes no-confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa". 14 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  27. ^ Pathirana, Saroj. "Sri Lanka presidency a close contest after frontrunner pulls out". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  28. ^ Dinesh Gunawardena, Parliament of Sri Lanka

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