[71][72] Sirisena had been Minister of Health in Rajapaksa's government and general secretary of the SLFP before defecting to the opposition coalition. 
[4] Rajapaksa was defeated in his bid for a third term in the 2015 presidential election by Maithripala Sirisena, and he left office on 9 January 2015. The Rajapaksa family controlled over 70% of Sri Lanka's budget during their governance. A subaccount controlled by China Harbor, called "HPDP Phase 2", shorthand for Hambantota Port Development Project, was the source of most of the payments. On 19 May 2009, President Rajapaksa delivered a victory address to the Parliament and declared that Sri Lanka was liberated from terrorism. Other family members involved in politics include his nephew, Shashindra Rajapaksa, the Chief Minister of Uva Province. [121] Former army chief General Sarath Fonseka claimed that the Rajapaksa had moved about 2,000 troops into Colombo from the Northern Province three days before the election results were announced. The Rajapaksa loyalists then travelled to Galle Face where they assaulted protesters and burned down their tents. His oldest brother, Chamal Rajapaksa, was appointed the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2015. Rajapaksa's opponents claimed that he won only because the LTTE called for Tamil voters to boycott the polls. [156][157], With the uprising of violent clashes and unstable situations in the country, Prime Minister Rajapaksa resigned from his post on 9 May 2022. Television ads where songs were sung by school children in his rallies would hail him as "our father" and "father of the country". [145], On 13 December 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that President Sirisena's decision to dissolve the Parliament 20 months before the end of its term was unconstitutional. At the age of six, he was sent to his father's school Richmond College in Galle. [185], At the same time, he took no action against Sinhala Buddhist extremists,[186] and his brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, was accused of supporting the extremist Bodu Bala Sena but later distanced himself from the organization, accusing it of being a "Western conspiracy". President Percy Mahendra (aka "Mahinda") Rajapaksa. In October 2018 Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and attempted to appoint Rajapaksa in his place. Retired general Sarath Fonseka, who had commanded the Sri Lankan army in the final battle against the Tigers, emerged as his main opposition. Categories: BBC News BBC News - Home, UK news. Pararajasingham was born 26 November 1934 in Manipay in northern Ceylon. The San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability filed the complaint on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of Lasantha, who was allegedly killed by a military-linked hit squad while driving to work on Jan. 8, 2009. The law cannot interfere. Mahinda sought to capitalize on that image to increase the SLPPs number of parliamentary seats in the legislative elections scheduled for August 5twice delayed because of the pandemicwith the purpose of enabling the party and its allies to amend the constitution and expand the powers of the presidency. [9][10][11][12] As of 2023 he has been sanctioned by Canada for Human Rights violations. His absence from the public domain for years led to various theories about his possible whereabouts. The gesture, described by the Indian High Commission here as humanitarian, ended three weeks of uncertainty over their fate, after the Colombo High Court sentenced them to death on October 30. [14], During the insurrection, Rajapaksa frequently tried to encourage third-party intervention. A total of 17 journalists and media workers were killed during Rajapaksa's presidency.[183][184]. On 25 October 1990, he said, "If the government is going to deny human rights, we should go not only to Geneva, but to any place in the world, or hell if necessary, and act against the government. Pushpa Rajapaksa is Mahinda Rajapaksa's sister-in-law, wife of his brother, Basil Rajapaksa, who was also his economic development minister. [28] Following the closure by the LTTE of the Mavil Aru reservoir supplying water to 15,000 people in government-controlled areas on 21 July 2006,[29] the Sri Lankan military launched an offensive against the LTTE, bringing the entire reservoir under government control. 
Wickrematunge was allegedly abused in foul language in a telephone call [35][36] According to Wickrematunge the President had threatened to destroy him over a publication in his newspaper involving First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. [73][74] Sirisena immediately received the support of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and several UPFA MPs that had defected alongside him (Duminda Dissanayake, M. K. D. S. Gunawardena, Wasantha Senanayake, Rajitha Senaratne, and Rajiva Wijesinha). The oldest is 78-year-old, eldest brother Chamal Rajapaksa, who is the minister of irrigation. [20][17], In 1994, following the election victory of the People's Alliance, a political front led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party and headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga, Rajapaksa was appointed Minister of Labor. Rajapaksa served as labour minister (19942001) and minister of fisheries and aquatic resources (19972001) under Pres. Omissions? The amendment had consequences beyond just term limits, including provisions that increased the president's power to act without oversight, removing an independent advisory council that the president was previously required to consult before appointing people to important non-partisan posts, such as Supreme Court judges and members of the human rights and electoral commissions. Rajapaksa was born into a large upper-caste family and was brought up as a Buddhist. While Rajapaksa is not officially the leader of the party, the inaugural meeting was held in his political office which had a 15-foot cut-out of Rajapaksa smiling and surrounded by school children. Corrections? "[19] In 1994, Rajapaksa appeared in the Sinhalese film Nomiyena Minisun. 
[18], Rajapaksa requested that foreign nations put human-rights-related conditions on Sri Lanka when giving aid. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kurunegala since 2015. The latest to go: Mahinda Rajapaksa, the patriarch and prime minister, who was evacuated from his home this week after setting off clashes that left eight people dead across the country. He came to prominence as a leader, together with Dr Manorani Saravanamuttu of the Mothers' Front. Wickremesinghe was re-appointed as Prime Minister, and Rajapaksa was appointed Leader of the Opposition. CICT did not say how the money was used. [30][31][32][33] The Sri Lankan government declared total victory on 18 May 2009. He served as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party from 2005 to 2015. The daughter of Upul Ariyasinghe (58) and Wasanthi Kumari (53), 19-year-old Vihangana was also the youngest in the family of five. 
Mahindasiri was among hundreds of thousands of soldiers who risked their lives to end a brutal 27-year civil war in 2009. Furthermore, the government stated that the deals would be suspended until the investigations were completed. Although the UPFA failed to secure the two-thirds majority necessary to amend the constitution, in September an amendment was approved by Parliament, with the support of some opposition members, that removed limits on the number of terms a president could serve, granted judicial immunity to the president, and gave the president broader powers in making governmental appointments. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mahinda-Rajapakse, GlobalSecurity.org - Biography of President Percy Mahendra. [68], In the run-up to the election, several people had been suggested for nomination as the common opposition candidate: former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, and leader of the National Movement for Social Justice Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero. The eldest son, who was about 20 years old in 2005, graduated from St. Thomas, a prestigious private Christian school in a Colombo suburb and was 
One person died and 84 others were injured during Wednesday's protests, which took place at key landmarks around the capital, Colombo, including the prime minister's office. The vote, held in early April, gave the UPFA a strong majority of seats in Parliament. His family moved to Batticaloa when he was three years old. After completing his schooling at Richmond School, Nalanda College, and Thurstan College, Mahinda enrolled at the Colombo Law College (now known as Sri Lanka Law College), where he earned a bachelors degree in law in 1974. Mahinda Rajapaksa belongs to a Sri Lankan Sinhalese family. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [75][76][77] Sirisena and the other UPFA MPs were stripped of their ministerial positions and expelled from the SLFP. [185], With the widening of democracy in our country, the bonds between the Sinhala and Tamil people of Sri Lanka will grow stronger and remain a major force for its future development. Rajapaksas second term oversaw sustained economic growth, and he continued to enjoy the strong support of the large Sinhalese majority in the country. Rajapaksa was sworn in for his first six-year term as president on 19 November 2005. In late 2009, when he was four years into his six-year term and hoping to capitalize on his popularity following victory over the Tamil Tigers, Rajapaksa called for a presidential election in early 2010. [2][8], During Rajapaksa's political career, he has been accused of multiple crimes including war crimes during the last years of the Sri Lankan civil war as well as other criminal accusations including human rights violations during his presidency, corruption and for instigating violence on anti-government protestors on 9 May 2022. ", "This Picture of Mahinda Says Thousand Words", "Sycophantic gibberish of saying Rajapaksas are descendants of Dutu Gemunu and relatives of Lord Buddha", "Palestine confers highest honor on Sri Lankan President", "Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka President and defence secretary conferred honorary doctorates", "Lumumba University honors President Rajapaksa with a Doctorate in Moscow, Russia", "Beijing Language and Culture University", Official Website of Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidential Election Campaign 2010, Sri Lankan Prime Minister's official website, Sri Lanka Freedom Party's official website, Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award for Prime Minister, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, Chairperson of the Commonwealth of Nations, 2015 alleged Sri Lankan coup d'tat attempt, Ahangama Polwatte Galappatthige Chandradasa, Herath Mudiyanselage Ariyawardanage Lokubanda, Sethapenage Appuhamy Ralalage Madduma Bandara, Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka (2004, Kurunegala Electoral District (19471989), Hambantota Electoral District (19471960), Sri Lanka Nidahas Indigenous physicians Organization, Sri Lanka Nidahas Fishermen and Domestic Industrialists organization, Sri Lanka Nidahas Provincial Council members Association, Sri Lanka Nidahas Association of members of local authority, Sri Lanka Nidahas Management Assistant Union, Sri Lanka Freedom development Officer Association, Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance (SLPFA), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mahinda_Rajapaksa&oldid=1143319092, Candidates in the 2005 Sri Lankan presidential election, Candidates in the 2010 Sri Lankan presidential election, Candidates in the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election, Members of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 11th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 12th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Articles with dead external links from December 2021, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Articles containing Sinhala-language text, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 March 2023, at 01:21. The complaint says law enforcement agencies either failed to conduct a credible investigation or actively interfered with attempts to conduct one. Despite the huge election campaign led by the UNP, Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to gain a narrow victory, by 190,000 votes. [207] By 2022 the popularity of the Rajapaksas had declined and during the 2022 Sri Lankan Protests protesters named him "Myna" as an insulting nickname and demanded his resignation alongside the entire Rajapaksa family. Rajapaksa had agreed to Chinese terms and was seen as an important ally in China's efforts to tilt influence away from India in South Asia. He really had one. [122], However, the cabinet spokesperson of the new government stated, during a press conference held on 24 March 2015, that there was no evidence to prove that such a coup was attempted on the night of the election. The loyalists then attacked protestors at Temple Trees before assaulting protestors at Galle Face as attacks were carried out simultaneously against protests in other areas; however this intensified protests and retaliatory violence against Rajapaksa loyalists erupted islandwide and Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted his letter of resignation the same day. [193], Rajapaksa was born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa,[15] in Weeraketiya, in the rural southern district of Hambantota to an established political family. [191] He continued to stand against the Tamil version of the anthem and slammed his successors for removing the ban and singing it again on Independence Day, claiming that the "national anthem should be sung in one language and not two or three languages"; the Pro-Rajapaksa Joint Opposition also boycotted the event. After losing the seat in 1977, he focused on his law career until reentering Parliament in 1989, this time representing the Hambantota district (19892005). 10 November 2018 Reuters Mahinda Rajapaksa, who dominated Sri Lankan politics as president for a decade, is now vying for power again - this time as prime minister. [114], According to Sri Lankan MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Rajapaksa attempted a coup d'tat hours after the announcement of the election results, in order to remain in power, but the Army Chief, Jagath Jayasuriya, disobeyed the orders. Sri Lanka has been thrown into political disarray since late October, when President Maithripala Sirisena ousted his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with Mr. Rajapaksa, a decision that was deemed unconstitutional. [108], In June 2018, The New York Times reported that President Rajapaksa, during the 2015 presidential campaign and elections, received large payments from a Chinese port construction fund that flowed directly to campaign aides and activities. [49], His presidency after ending the civil war in 2009 is known for initiating large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Colombo Lotus Tower, Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port, the Colombo Harbour South Container Terminal, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the ColomboKatunayake Expressway, and the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. The following day, Rajapaksa filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the interim order. During the opening ceremony, protesters led by joint opposition MPs ignored a court order banning protests in the area and pelted stones at the event's participants, during which the Chinese envoy claimed that China will ignore "negative forces". He was president for a decade, and before that, prime minister in 2004. $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting the Rajapaksa campaign, while two checks totalling $1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees. WebBasil Rajapaksa, brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa His younger sister, Gandini Rajapaksa, died on 8 May 2017. [180] In 2008, Reporters Without Borders ranked Sri Lanka 165th among 173 countries in its annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The move came just a day after the Supreme Court ruled that a referendum was not required to make the change. He replaced R. Sampanthan, who was the leader of the Tamil National Alliance. [141][142], On the evening of 26 October 2018, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Rajapaksa as Prime Minister after the United People's Freedom Alliance withdrew from the unity government and informed Ranil Wickremesinghe that he was being removed from office. Shameendra Rajapaksa, another nephew, is the director of SriLankan Airlines. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Rajapaksa clan strongman, faced public wrath on Sunday in the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Their support was instrumental in the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, but the concentration of one family in the countrys most powerful posts elicited charges of nepotism from the presidents detractors. [144] The president's proclamation was challenged in the Supreme Court by multiple petitions, the court stayed the proclamation on 12 November, and Parliament met soon after. Carrying the vote of the Sinhalese majority, Gotabaya won the presidential election. [207][208][209] Rajapaksa thought having his name in the sky would bring him good fortune. WebHe denies accusations that he was behind death squads that abducted and "disappeared" dozens of opponents in feared white vans. Rajapaksa's policies on ethnic relations were mixed. The Rajapaksas held the offices of the ministries of finance and planning, defence, ports and aviation, and highways and road development. At the time Sri Lankan forces were fighting the final months of the decades-long civil war with ethnic Tamil rebels. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the 5th President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, assumed his second term of office on November 19, 2010. [24] Immediately following his election in 2005, Rajapaksa extended the term of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Sarath Fonseka, less than 30 days before he was scheduled to retire. [152][153] Mahinda was called Myna by the protesters who established MynaGoGama protest site outside his official residence at temple trees. [112][113], In July 2018, a joint Chinese-Sri Lankan company, Colombo International Container Terminals Limited (CICT), confirmed paying nearly 20 million Sri Lankan rupees as a donation to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation, a private fund meant to build houses for the poor. [181] The next year, the country was ranked 162. Print Edition. On 3 December 2018, a court suspended Rajapaksa's powers as Prime Minister, ruling that his cabinet could not function until establishing its legitimacy. Affiliates of Rajapaksa's campaign received at least $7.6 million that was dispensed from China Harbor's account at Standard Chartered Bank. [196] He served as minister of finance of Sri Lanka from 2021 to 2022 until his resignation amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan anti-government protests Mahinda Rajapaksa's eldest brother, Chamal Rajapaksa, has been an MP since 1989. RSF's 2010 Press Freedom Index has Sri Lanka at number 158, nearly tied with Saudi Arabia. Instead he faces a tricky election, "Sri Lanka's political crisis: everything you need to know", "Cult of personality grows around Sri Lanka's leader", "Reappearance of Rajapaksa Cult at Nugegoda", "Is Mahinda Rajapaksa Suffering From The Complex Of "Excessive Self-Love "? Yoshitha Rajapaksa was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy in March 2009. Share to Twitter Share to Facebook. His father who had lost his parliamentary seat in the 1965 general elections, died in November 1967. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Though I was devastated by her death, I recalled her wish to donate organs and decided to act according to her wishes, he said. [14][15], In November 1977, Rajapaksa was called to the bar as an attorney at law. At the time, the Sri Lankan government was in the midst of ongoing peace talks and a precarious cease-fire agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), better known as the Tamil Tigers, the guerrilla organization that sought to establish an independent Tamil state in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Rajapaksas demise the people of Giruwapattuwa wanted D.A. ", "UNP to extend their support to Maithirpala Sirisena", "Maithiripala Sirisena of SLFP emerges as common opposition candidate contesting Rajapaksa", "Maithripala promises to scrap presidency within 100 days", "I am the common candidate: Maithripala Sirisena", "Chandrika, Rajitha, Arjuna, Rajeeva, M K D S and Dumindha Dissanayaka join Maithripala", "SLFP rebels stripped of posts and party membership", "Sri Lanka Presidential Election Set for January 8 Next Year", "Tamil party to support Rajapaksa in polls", "Communist Party pledges its support for President Rajapaksa", "NUW pledges support for President Rajapaksa at upcoming elections", "Upcountry Tamil party to support President at elections", "Tissa and Ketagoda to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa", "Tissa Attanayake sworn in as Minister of Health", "Buddhist party quits Sri Lanka government", "Key Rajapaksa ally quits Lanka's ruling coalition", "Huge crowd at campaign against Ex. 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[4] Rajapaksa was defeated in his bid for a third term in the 2015 presidential election by Maithripala Sirisena, and he left office on 9 January 2015. The Rajapaksa family controlled over 70% of Sri Lanka's budget during their governance. A subaccount controlled by China Harbor, called "HPDP Phase 2", shorthand for Hambantota Port Development Project, was the source of most of the payments. On 19 May 2009, President Rajapaksa delivered a victory address to the Parliament and declared that Sri Lanka was liberated from terrorism. Other family members involved in politics include his nephew, Shashindra Rajapaksa, the Chief Minister of Uva Province. [121] Former army chief General Sarath Fonseka claimed that the Rajapaksa had moved about 2,000 troops into Colombo from the Northern Province three days before the election results were announced. The Rajapaksa loyalists then travelled to Galle Face where they assaulted protesters and burned down their tents. His oldest brother, Chamal Rajapaksa, was appointed the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2015. Rajapaksa's opponents claimed that he won only because the LTTE called for Tamil voters to boycott the polls. [156][157], With the uprising of violent clashes and unstable situations in the country, Prime Minister Rajapaksa resigned from his post on 9 May 2022. Television ads where songs were sung by school children in his rallies would hail him as "our father" and "father of the country". [145], On 13 December 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that President Sirisena's decision to dissolve the Parliament 20 months before the end of its term was unconstitutional. At the age of six, he was sent to his father's school Richmond College in Galle. [185], At the same time, he took no action against Sinhala Buddhist extremists,[186] and his brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, was accused of supporting the extremist Bodu Bala Sena but later distanced himself from the organization, accusing it of being a "Western conspiracy". President Percy Mahendra (aka "Mahinda") Rajapaksa. In October 2018 Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and attempted to appoint Rajapaksa in his place. Retired general Sarath Fonseka, who had commanded the Sri Lankan army in the final battle against the Tigers, emerged as his main opposition. Categories: BBC News BBC News - Home, UK news. Pararajasingham was born 26 November 1934 in Manipay in northern Ceylon. The San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability filed the complaint on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of Lasantha, who was allegedly killed by a military-linked hit squad while driving to work on Jan. 8, 2009. The law cannot interfere. Mahinda sought to capitalize on that image to increase the SLPPs number of parliamentary seats in the legislative elections scheduled for August 5twice delayed because of the pandemicwith the purpose of enabling the party and its allies to amend the constitution and expand the powers of the presidency. [9][10][11][12] As of 2023 he has been sanctioned by Canada for Human Rights violations. His absence from the public domain for years led to various theories about his possible whereabouts. The gesture, described by the Indian High Commission here as humanitarian, ended three weeks of uncertainty over their fate, after the Colombo High Court sentenced them to death on October 30. [14], During the insurrection, Rajapaksa frequently tried to encourage third-party intervention. A total of 17 journalists and media workers were killed during Rajapaksa's presidency.[183][184]. On 25 October 1990, he said, "If the government is going to deny human rights, we should go not only to Geneva, but to any place in the world, or hell if necessary, and act against the government. Pushpa Rajapaksa is Mahinda Rajapaksa's sister-in-law, wife of his brother, Basil Rajapaksa, who was also his economic development minister. [28] Following the closure by the LTTE of the Mavil Aru reservoir supplying water to 15,000 people in government-controlled areas on 21 July 2006,[29] the Sri Lankan military launched an offensive against the LTTE, bringing the entire reservoir under government control. Wickrematunge was allegedly abused in foul language in a telephone call [35][36] According to Wickrematunge the President had threatened to destroy him over a publication in his newspaper involving First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. [73][74] Sirisena immediately received the support of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and several UPFA MPs that had defected alongside him (Duminda Dissanayake, M. K. D. S. Gunawardena, Wasantha Senanayake, Rajitha Senaratne, and Rajiva Wijesinha). The oldest is 78-year-old, eldest brother Chamal Rajapaksa, who is the minister of irrigation. [20][17], In 1994, following the election victory of the People's Alliance, a political front led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party and headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga, Rajapaksa was appointed Minister of Labor. Rajapaksa served as labour minister (19942001) and minister of fisheries and aquatic resources (19972001) under Pres. Omissions? The amendment had consequences beyond just term limits, including provisions that increased the president's power to act without oversight, removing an independent advisory council that the president was previously required to consult before appointing people to important non-partisan posts, such as Supreme Court judges and members of the human rights and electoral commissions. Rajapaksa was born into a large upper-caste family and was brought up as a Buddhist. While Rajapaksa is not officially the leader of the party, the inaugural meeting was held in his political office which had a 15-foot cut-out of Rajapaksa smiling and surrounded by school children. Corrections? "[19] In 1994, Rajapaksa appeared in the Sinhalese film Nomiyena Minisun. [18], Rajapaksa requested that foreign nations put human-rights-related conditions on Sri Lanka when giving aid. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kurunegala since 2015. The latest to go: Mahinda Rajapaksa, the patriarch and prime minister, who was evacuated from his home this week after setting off clashes that left eight people dead across the country. He came to prominence as a leader, together with Dr Manorani Saravanamuttu of the Mothers' Front. Wickremesinghe was re-appointed as Prime Minister, and Rajapaksa was appointed Leader of the Opposition. CICT did not say how the money was used. [30][31][32][33] The Sri Lankan government declared total victory on 18 May 2009. He served as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party from 2005 to 2015. The daughter of Upul Ariyasinghe (58) and Wasanthi Kumari (53), 19-year-old Vihangana was also the youngest in the family of five. Mahindasiri was among hundreds of thousands of soldiers who risked their lives to end a brutal 27-year civil war in 2009. Furthermore, the government stated that the deals would be suspended until the investigations were completed. Although the UPFA failed to secure the two-thirds majority necessary to amend the constitution, in September an amendment was approved by Parliament, with the support of some opposition members, that removed limits on the number of terms a president could serve, granted judicial immunity to the president, and gave the president broader powers in making governmental appointments. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mahinda-Rajapakse, GlobalSecurity.org - Biography of President Percy Mahendra. [68], In the run-up to the election, several people had been suggested for nomination as the common opposition candidate: former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, and leader of the National Movement for Social Justice Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero. The eldest son, who was about 20 years old in 2005, graduated from St. Thomas, a prestigious private Christian school in a Colombo suburb and was One person died and 84 others were injured during Wednesday's protests, which took place at key landmarks around the capital, Colombo, including the prime minister's office. The vote, held in early April, gave the UPFA a strong majority of seats in Parliament. His family moved to Batticaloa when he was three years old. After completing his schooling at Richmond School, Nalanda College, and Thurstan College, Mahinda enrolled at the Colombo Law College (now known as Sri Lanka Law College), where he earned a bachelors degree in law in 1974. Mahinda Rajapaksa belongs to a Sri Lankan Sinhalese family. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [75][76][77] Sirisena and the other UPFA MPs were stripped of their ministerial positions and expelled from the SLFP. [185], With the widening of democracy in our country, the bonds between the Sinhala and Tamil people of Sri Lanka will grow stronger and remain a major force for its future development. Rajapaksas second term oversaw sustained economic growth, and he continued to enjoy the strong support of the large Sinhalese majority in the country. Rajapaksa was sworn in for his first six-year term as president on 19 November 2005. In late 2009, when he was four years into his six-year term and hoping to capitalize on his popularity following victory over the Tamil Tigers, Rajapaksa called for a presidential election in early 2010. [2][8], During Rajapaksa's political career, he has been accused of multiple crimes including war crimes during the last years of the Sri Lankan civil war as well as other criminal accusations including human rights violations during his presidency, corruption and for instigating violence on anti-government protestors on 9 May 2022. ", "This Picture of Mahinda Says Thousand Words", "Sycophantic gibberish of saying Rajapaksas are descendants of Dutu Gemunu and relatives of Lord Buddha", "Palestine confers highest honor on Sri Lankan President", "Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka President and defence secretary conferred honorary doctorates", "Lumumba University honors President Rajapaksa with a Doctorate in Moscow, Russia", "Beijing Language and Culture University", Official Website of Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidential Election Campaign 2010, Sri Lankan Prime Minister's official website, Sri Lanka Freedom Party's official website, Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award for Prime Minister, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, Chairperson of the Commonwealth of Nations, 2015 alleged Sri Lankan coup d'tat attempt, Ahangama Polwatte Galappatthige Chandradasa, Herath Mudiyanselage Ariyawardanage Lokubanda, Sethapenage Appuhamy Ralalage Madduma Bandara, Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka (2004, Kurunegala Electoral District (19471989), Hambantota Electoral District (19471960), Sri Lanka Nidahas Indigenous physicians Organization, Sri Lanka Nidahas Fishermen and Domestic Industrialists organization, Sri Lanka Nidahas Provincial Council members Association, Sri Lanka Nidahas Association of members of local authority, Sri Lanka Nidahas Management Assistant Union, Sri Lanka Freedom development Officer Association, Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance (SLPFA), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mahinda_Rajapaksa&oldid=1143319092, Candidates in the 2005 Sri Lankan presidential election, Candidates in the 2010 Sri Lankan presidential election, Candidates in the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election, Members of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 11th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 12th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Members of the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka, Articles with dead external links from December 2021, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Articles containing Sinhala-language text, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 March 2023, at 01:21. The complaint says law enforcement agencies either failed to conduct a credible investigation or actively interfered with attempts to conduct one. Despite the huge election campaign led by the UNP, Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to gain a narrow victory, by 190,000 votes. [207] By 2022 the popularity of the Rajapaksas had declined and during the 2022 Sri Lankan Protests protesters named him "Myna" as an insulting nickname and demanded his resignation alongside the entire Rajapaksa family. Rajapaksa had agreed to Chinese terms and was seen as an important ally in China's efforts to tilt influence away from India in South Asia. He really had one. [122], However, the cabinet spokesperson of the new government stated, during a press conference held on 24 March 2015, that there was no evidence to prove that such a coup was attempted on the night of the election. The loyalists then attacked protestors at Temple Trees before assaulting protestors at Galle Face as attacks were carried out simultaneously against protests in other areas; however this intensified protests and retaliatory violence against Rajapaksa loyalists erupted islandwide and Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted his letter of resignation the same day. [193], Rajapaksa was born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa,[15] in Weeraketiya, in the rural southern district of Hambantota to an established political family. [191] He continued to stand against the Tamil version of the anthem and slammed his successors for removing the ban and singing it again on Independence Day, claiming that the "national anthem should be sung in one language and not two or three languages"; the Pro-Rajapaksa Joint Opposition also boycotted the event. After losing the seat in 1977, he focused on his law career until reentering Parliament in 1989, this time representing the Hambantota district (19892005). 10 November 2018 Reuters Mahinda Rajapaksa, who dominated Sri Lankan politics as president for a decade, is now vying for power again - this time as prime minister. [114], According to Sri Lankan MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Rajapaksa attempted a coup d'tat hours after the announcement of the election results, in order to remain in power, but the Army Chief, Jagath Jayasuriya, disobeyed the orders. Sri Lanka has been thrown into political disarray since late October, when President Maithripala Sirisena ousted his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with Mr. Rajapaksa, a decision that was deemed unconstitutional. [108], In June 2018, The New York Times reported that President Rajapaksa, during the 2015 presidential campaign and elections, received large payments from a Chinese port construction fund that flowed directly to campaign aides and activities. [49], His presidency after ending the civil war in 2009 is known for initiating large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Colombo Lotus Tower, Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port, the Colombo Harbour South Container Terminal, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the ColomboKatunayake Expressway, and the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. The following day, Rajapaksa filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the interim order. During the opening ceremony, protesters led by joint opposition MPs ignored a court order banning protests in the area and pelted stones at the event's participants, during which the Chinese envoy claimed that China will ignore "negative forces". He was president for a decade, and before that, prime minister in 2004. $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting the Rajapaksa campaign, while two checks totalling $1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees. WebBasil Rajapaksa, brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa His younger sister, Gandini Rajapaksa, died on 8 May 2017. [180] In 2008, Reporters Without Borders ranked Sri Lanka 165th among 173 countries in its annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The move came just a day after the Supreme Court ruled that a referendum was not required to make the change. He replaced R. Sampanthan, who was the leader of the Tamil National Alliance. [141][142], On the evening of 26 October 2018, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Rajapaksa as Prime Minister after the United People's Freedom Alliance withdrew from the unity government and informed Ranil Wickremesinghe that he was being removed from office. Shameendra Rajapaksa, another nephew, is the director of SriLankan Airlines. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Rajapaksa clan strongman, faced public wrath on Sunday in the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Their support was instrumental in the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, but the concentration of one family in the countrys most powerful posts elicited charges of nepotism from the presidents detractors. [144] The president's proclamation was challenged in the Supreme Court by multiple petitions, the court stayed the proclamation on 12 November, and Parliament met soon after. Carrying the vote of the Sinhalese majority, Gotabaya won the presidential election. [207][208][209] Rajapaksa thought having his name in the sky would bring him good fortune. WebHe denies accusations that he was behind death squads that abducted and "disappeared" dozens of opponents in feared white vans. Rajapaksa's policies on ethnic relations were mixed. The Rajapaksas held the offices of the ministries of finance and planning, defence, ports and aviation, and highways and road development. At the time Sri Lankan forces were fighting the final months of the decades-long civil war with ethnic Tamil rebels. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the 5th President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, assumed his second term of office on November 19, 2010. [24] Immediately following his election in 2005, Rajapaksa extended the term of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Sarath Fonseka, less than 30 days before he was scheduled to retire. [152][153] Mahinda was called Myna by the protesters who established MynaGoGama protest site outside his official residence at temple trees. [112][113], In July 2018, a joint Chinese-Sri Lankan company, Colombo International Container Terminals Limited (CICT), confirmed paying nearly 20 million Sri Lankan rupees as a donation to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation, a private fund meant to build houses for the poor. [181] The next year, the country was ranked 162. Print Edition. On 3 December 2018, a court suspended Rajapaksa's powers as Prime Minister, ruling that his cabinet could not function until establishing its legitimacy. Affiliates of Rajapaksa's campaign received at least $7.6 million that was dispensed from China Harbor's account at Standard Chartered Bank. [196] He served as minister of finance of Sri Lanka from 2021 to 2022 until his resignation amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan anti-government protests Mahinda Rajapaksa's eldest brother, Chamal Rajapaksa, has been an MP since 1989. RSF's 2010 Press Freedom Index has Sri Lanka at number 158, nearly tied with Saudi Arabia. Instead he faces a tricky election, "Sri Lanka's political crisis: everything you need to know", "Cult of personality grows around Sri Lanka's leader", "Reappearance of Rajapaksa Cult at Nugegoda", "Is Mahinda Rajapaksa Suffering From The Complex Of "Excessive Self-Love "? Yoshitha Rajapaksa was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy in March 2009. Share to Twitter Share to Facebook. His father who had lost his parliamentary seat in the 1965 general elections, died in November 1967. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Though I was devastated by her death, I recalled her wish to donate organs and decided to act according to her wishes, he said. [14][15], In November 1977, Rajapaksa was called to the bar as an attorney at law. At the time, the Sri Lankan government was in the midst of ongoing peace talks and a precarious cease-fire agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), better known as the Tamil Tigers, the guerrilla organization that sought to establish an independent Tamil state in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Rajapaksas demise the people of Giruwapattuwa wanted D.A. ", "UNP to extend their support to Maithirpala Sirisena", "Maithiripala Sirisena of SLFP emerges as common opposition candidate contesting Rajapaksa", "Maithripala promises to scrap presidency within 100 days", "I am the common candidate: Maithripala Sirisena", "Chandrika, Rajitha, Arjuna, Rajeeva, M K D S and Dumindha Dissanayaka join Maithripala", "SLFP rebels stripped of posts and party membership", "Sri Lanka Presidential Election Set for January 8 Next Year", "Tamil party to support Rajapaksa in polls", "Communist Party pledges its support for President Rajapaksa", "NUW pledges support for President Rajapaksa at upcoming elections", "Upcountry Tamil party to support President at elections", "Tissa and Ketagoda to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa", "Tissa Attanayake sworn in as Minister of Health", "Buddhist party quits Sri Lanka government", "Key Rajapaksa ally quits Lanka's ruling coalition", "Huge crowd at campaign against Ex. 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