Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fourth time on 21st August 2015. He is the Leader of the United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka’s largest political party, which is a constituent member of the National Unity Government led by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena.
Ranil Wickremesinghe was first appointed as the Prime Minister from 1993 – 1994 after the assassination of President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He was again elected as the Prime Minister from 2001 – 2004 when the United National Front Government won the general elections in 2001.
A lawyer by profession, Prime Minister Ranil was elected to Parliament in 1977 at the age of 28, having worked in the Youth League of the UNP from his university days. As the youngest Minister in Sri Lanka at the time, he held the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Jayewardene. Soon after, in recognition of his exceptional talents and unique capacity for work, he was appointed to the Cabinet as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Employment. Later on, he was given the portfolio of Education. Then in 1989, as a seasoned legislator, he was made the Leader of the House under President Premadasa. He also served as the Minister of Industries, Science and Technology.
From 1977 to 1994, during the seventeen years that the UNP was in power yet again, Prime Minister Ranil,made a crucial impact on the development of the country. He is still considered to be the best Education Minister of the country due to the radical educational reforms he initiated in the 1980s, aimed at the qualitative improvement of school education (with a special focus on English, Technology and Computer skills) and the Education Administrative Service. He energised the young people in Sri Lanka with creative, motivational as well as skill development programs through youth clubs (Yovun Samajas) and youth camps (Yovunpuras).
Later on, as the Minister of Industries, Science and Technology, he was responsible for Sri Lanka’s second round of economic liberalisation that commenced in 1989 with focus on financial de-regularisation and industrial promotion in rural areas through infrastructure development and the institution of industrial estates. As the MP for Biyagama, he dramatically developed his electorate to become a modern model suburb with brand new carpeted roads, electrification schemes, water and sanitation projects, schools, community centres and other infrastructure inputs. He also established the Biyagama Free Trade Zone to provide employment for thousands of young men and women in a range of industries.
In 1993 after the untimely demise of President Premadasa, Prime Minister Ranil was appointed Prime Minister during the presidency of D. B. Wijetunge. Eveready for a challenge, the young Prime Minister rose to the responsibility of high office and he has been credited for establishing law, order and stability in the country at the crucial juncture. During the short period, the country recorded the highest level of economic growth for the decade.
After the UNP was voted out in 1994, Prime Minister Ranil became the Leader of the United National Party and the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Under his leadership, the UNP undertook extensive restructuring at institutional and grassroots levels and further democratised the Party to represent a more equitable balance in terms of ethnicity, gender and youth.
In 2001, he led his party back to power and was sworn in as Prime Minister once again. In spite of the fact that the President was from the opposing party who could exercise full executive powers and was a strong opposition in Parliament, Prime Minister Ranil’s most significant achievements were to restore full-time electricity, rejuvenate the ailing economy, break down the many ethnic barriers in the country, bring the warring LTTE to the negotiating table for peace talks, and galvanise the goodwill and financial support of the international community for Sri Lanka.
Outside of politics, Prime Minister Ranil is the Chair of the Dhayakasabha of one of Sri Lanka’s historic temples, the Kelaniya Vihara and a dhayakaya of Gangaramaya, Walukaramaya and the Weragodalla (Sedawatte) temples. He has written and spoken widely on Sri Lankan history, Buddhism and world politics.