Illustrious life and career of Ranil Wickramasinghe
Ranil Wickremesinghe's career is distinguished by his enduring contributions to Sri Lankan politics and governance. Starting his political journey with the United National Party (UNP), Wickremesinghe has served multiple terms as Prime Minister, showcasing his resilience and leadership. His tenure saw key initiatives like the proposed "Western Region Megapolis" project and significant strides in foreign diplomacy, fostering closer ties with western nations. His commitment to peace was evident in the ceasefire agreement with the LTTE, aimed at resolving ethnic conflicts. Ascending to the presidency in July 2022, his election reflects his long-standing dedication to the nation's progress and stability.
- 1977: Elected to Parliament representing the Biyagama constituency.
- 1977-1980: Served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- 1980-1989: Held various cabinet positions, including Minister of Youth Affairs and Employment, and Minister of Education.
- 1993-1994: Appointed as the Leader of the House in Parliament.
- 1994: Following UNP's electoral defeat, Wickremesinghe became the leader of the UNP and the Leader of the Opposition.
- 1999: Contested in the presidential election but was defeated by Chandrika Kumaratunga.
- 2001-2004: Served as Prime Minister after leading the UNP to victory.
- 2005 & 2015: Ran for President but was unsuccessful.
- 2015: Appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after the UNP's electoral victory.
- 2018: Brief constitutional crisis after being removed as Prime Minister, but was reappointed later that year.
- 2019: Resigned as Prime Minister following the UNP's defeat in the presidential election.
- 2020: Failed to win a seat in the parliamentary election but re-entered Parliament in 2021 as a National List MP.
- 2022: Amidst a national crisis, appointed as Prime Minister in May.
- July 2022: Following the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Wickremesinghe became the acting president and was then elected as the President of Sri Lanka.
Early Life and Education:
- Born on March 24, 1949, in Colombo, to a prominent political family.
- Educated at Royal College, Colombo, where he befriended future political figures.
- Graduated from the University of Ceylon and Ceylon Law College, qualifying as an advocate in 1972.
- Received an honorary doctorate from Deakin University in Australia on February 14, 2017.
Political Career:
- Joined the United National Party (UNP) and became a Member of Parliament in 1977.
- Served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and later as Minister of Youth Affairs and Employment, initiating the Sri Lanka National Guard and the National Youth Services Council.
- Became the youngest cabinet minister as the Minister of Education in 1980.
- Appointed Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, and Leader of the House under President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
- Assumed the role of Prime Minister for the first time in 1993 and became the Leader of the Opposition in 1994.
- Led the UNP and was the party's presidential candidate in 1999 and 2005, albeit unsuccessfully.
- Reappointed as Prime Minister in 2015 after his coalition won the parliamentary election.
- Faced a constitutional crisis in 2018 but was reappointed as Prime Minister later that year.
- Re-entered Parliament as a National List MP in 2021 and was re-appointed as Prime Minister in May 2022 amidst a national crisis.
- Became the acting president on July 14, 2022, after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country, and was elected the 9th President of Sri Lanka on July 20, 2022.
This timeline encapsulates Wickremesinghe's rise from a legal advocate to the presidency, illustrating his longstanding commitment and varied roles in shaping Sri Lanka's political landscape.