D. M. Jayaratne
Encyclopedia
Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne MP
(known as D. M. "Di Mu" Jayaratne; ; born June 7, 1931) is the 20th and current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
, and a veteran Sri Lankan politician. A founding member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
, Jayaratne was first elected to parliament
in 1970. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on April 21, 2010.
, a town just outside Kandy
. He was a student at the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya
during the mid-1950s. Following the founding of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
in Kandy in 1951 by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Jayaratne worked as a teacher at Doluwa Maha Vidyalaya. He later worked as Postmaster at Doluwa from 1960 to 1962.
, obtaining 14,463 votes as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(SLFP) candidate in the Gampala electorate, and defeating W.P.B. Dissanayake of the United National Party
(UNP). He was subsequently defeated by Dissanayake in the 1977 election
in which just 8 members of the SLFP were returned to parliament. He was again re-elected to parliament in 1989
from the Kandy District
under the new preferential voting system. He obtained 54,290 preferential votes, topping the SLFP list in the Kandy District.
Re-elected to parliament under the People's Alliance
in 1994, Jayaratne was appointed Minister of Land, Agriculture and Forestry by President Chandrika Kumaratunga
, entering the cabinet for the first time.
at the 2010 general election
, Jayaratne, the most senior member of the SLFP, was sworn in as Prime Minister on April 21, 2010. Under the current constitution of Sri Lanka, the Prime Ministership is largely a ceremonial post. Along with it, he will also hold the ministry Buddha Sasana (Buddhism) and Religious Affairs.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(known as D. M. "Di Mu" Jayaratne; ; born June 7, 1931) is the 20th and current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the functional head of the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. However, the President is both head of state and head of government in Sri Lanka...
, and a veteran Sri Lankan politician. A founding member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
, Jayaratne was first elected to parliament
Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
in 1970. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on April 21, 2010.
Early life
D. M. Jayaratne was born on June 7, 1931. He was educated at Doluwa Maha Vidyalaya in GampolaGampola
Gampola is a town located near Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Gampola was made the capital city of the island by King Buwanekabahu IV, who ruled for four years in the mid fourteenth century. The last king of Gampola was King Buwanekabahu V. He ruled the island for 29 years. A separate...
, a town just outside Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
. He was a student at the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
during the mid-1950s. Following the founding of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
in Kandy in 1951 by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Jayaratne worked as a teacher at Doluwa Maha Vidyalaya. He later worked as Postmaster at Doluwa from 1960 to 1962.
Politics
Jayaratne first entered parliament following the 1970 general electionSri Lankan parliamentary election, 1970
-Background:SLFP leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike had come to the conclusion that her party's best hope of power was forming a permanent alliance with Ceylon's Marxist parties. She assembled the SLFP, the Trotskyist LSSP, and the Communists into the United Front coalition...
, obtaining 14,463 votes as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
(SLFP) candidate in the Gampala electorate, and defeating W.P.B. Dissanayake of the United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
(UNP). He was subsequently defeated by Dissanayake in the 1977 election
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 1977
The 1977 Sri Lankan election heralded the beginning of a new period of Sri Lanka's history - a period of unprecedented violence.-Background:Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike had become extraordinarily unpopular. Her economic policies had led to industrial growth and self-reliance, but was...
in which just 8 members of the SLFP were returned to parliament. He was again re-elected to parliament in 1989
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 1989
Sri Lanka had not had a parliamentary election since 1977. The elections that should normally have been held by 1983 had been cancelled by the 1982 referendum.President Ranasinghe Premadasa called the election for February 15.-Electoral District:...
from the Kandy District
Kandy District
Kandy District is a district of the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Its area is 1906.3 km². The capital of the district is Kandy.- Demographics :...
under the new preferential voting system. He obtained 54,290 preferential votes, topping the SLFP list in the Kandy District.
Re-elected to parliament under the People's Alliance
People's Alliance
People's Alliance may refer to:*The People's Alliance , Belgian political party which split in 2001 into the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie and Spirit...
in 1994, Jayaratne was appointed Minister of Land, Agriculture and Forestry by President Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga born June 29, 1945) was the 4th Executive president of Sri Lanka, serving from November 12, 1994 to November 19, 2005. The daughter of two former Prime Ministers, she was also the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until end of 2005...
, entering the cabinet for the first time.
Cabinet Ministries held
- Land, Agriculture and Forestry - 1994-2000
- Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives - 2000-2001
- Post and Telecommunication; Upcountry Development - 2004-2005
- Post and Telecommunication; Rural Economic Development - 2005-2007
- Plantation Industries 2007-2010
Prime minister
Following the election victory of the United People's Freedom AllianceUnited People's Freedom Alliance
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance is Mahinda Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha is the general secretary of UPFA.The alliance was formed by:...
at the 2010 general election
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2010
The 2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election was held on April 8 and April 20, 2010, to elect 225 members to Sri Lanka's 14th Parliament. 14,088,500 Sri Lankans were eligible to vote in the election at 11,102 polling stations...
, Jayaratne, the most senior member of the SLFP, was sworn in as Prime Minister on April 21, 2010. Under the current constitution of Sri Lanka, the Prime Ministership is largely a ceremonial post. Along with it, he will also hold the ministry Buddha Sasana (Buddhism) and Religious Affairs.