Ratnasiri Wickremanayake new Prime Minister

[November 21, 2005 - 10.30 GMT]

Veteran Parliamentarian Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was today sworn-in as Prime Minister before President Mahinda Rajapakse.  

Mr. Wickremanayake entered politics in 1960 winning the Horana seat in the General Election. Having been returned to Parliament on the SLFP ticket in the 1970 General Elections he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice of the United Front Government. He has also held the portfolios of Plantation Industries and Buddhasasana.

In the 1994 General Election he was re-elected from the Kalutara District and held the Cabinet portfolio of Home Affairs & Public Administration in the People’s Alliance Government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He was also the Leader of the House.

He succeeded world’s first woman Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and was first appointed PM of the PA government in August 2001 when the former retired at the age of 84.

Before the recent Presidential Election Wickremanayake was the Minister of Public Security, Law & Order and Deputy Minister of Defence in the United People’s Freedom Alliance Government.     

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Last Updated Date: November 21, 2005 - 10.30 GMT