He was sworn in as the fifth Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the 19, November 2005 at the Presidential Election held on November 17, 2005. The election results were officially announced on his birthday in 2005.

He was only 24 years, when he was first elected to Parliament as an SLFP member, from the Beliatta electorate in 1970. He was then the youngest Member of Parliament and represented the same electorate of his father.

In the Parliamentary election in 1989 he was re-elected to Parliament from the Hambantota District and held this position until he bade farewell to Parliament as Executive President in November 2005.

President Rajapaksa held office as Minister for Labour & Vocational Training and of Fisheries in President Kumaratunga's Cabinet from 1994 to 2001. He put his experience in trade union activities to good use as Minister of Labour and helped settle many a labour dispute both in the public and private sectors. His close understanding of issues involving the working people helped in the preparation of the Workers’ Charter, presented to the Government of President Kumaratunga. He brought a new lease of life to the field of Vocational Training by establishing the Vocational Training Authority with over 300 training centres at the village level.

As the Minister of Fisheries he started a University for Oceanography and established a Coastal Guard Unit. He also took the initiative in launching housing schemes for the fishing communities in the country, which has seen the building of the largest number of housing units so far for any single economic sector in the country, other than the traditional housing arrangements in the plantation sector.

He also held the portfolio of the Ports and Shipping, for three months, and in this period initiated work for the construction of a new harbour at Hambantota, which is one of the most important measures in economic and infrastructure development in the country. The work on this was stalled for some time, but has now resumed after his election as Executive President.

From the time he was chosen as Prime Minister in April 2004 till his election as President 19 months later he held the portfolio of Highways, which saw him take a keen interest in the development of the country’s roads. This experience made him initiate the concept of Maga Neguma, focusing on the development of roads and highways, in his manifesto for the Presidential Election. As President he pursues road and highways development as an important aspect of government policy.

He has been the President of the Sri Lankan Committee for Solidarity with Palestine for 25 years, until his election as Executive President, and has always maintained a close interest in finding a peaceful solution to the Middle East.