Karunasena Kodituwakku
Encyclopedia
Karunasena Kodituwakku is a Sri Lanka
n politician and former academic and diplomat
. He is a former government Cabinet Minister for Human Resource Development, Education, and Cultural Affairs and a former Governor of the North Western Province. He also served as the Sri Lankan Ambassador
to Japan
and the Republic of Korea (South Korea
).
and received his higher education at University of Kelaniya
where he gained a BA
(Hons) degree in Economics. He received his MA degree from the University of New England
(Australia
) on a Colombo Plan
scholarship, and his Doctorate D.Litt from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
.
at the Vidyodaya University (now the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
). In 1978 he was seconded to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Employment as a planning director with the responsibility for the introduction of the graduate placement scheme to help ease high unemployment among graduates in 1970s. In 1983 he was appointed by the then-Sri Lankan president, J.R. Jayawardena, as the competent authority of the university when the incumbent Vice Chancellor resigned his post, and July that year he was appointed its Vice Chancellor which held till April 1988. Post-graduate Management Institute, post graduate studies on forestry department, medical faculty and the library complex were started during his time as the VC. In 1986 he became the president of the University Vice-Chancellors' Federation and was elected an executive member of the London -based Association of Commonwealth Universities
.
(1988–1989) and Seoul
(1989–1991). After his return to Sri Lanka, he was appointed as the Governor of the Northwestern Province
in 1993.
(UNP) and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Colombo
District.
He served as an opposition MP until 2001 and during this time was the Media Spokesperson for the UNP The UNP election victory of 2001 saw him appointed as the Cabinet Minister of Human Resource Development, Education, and Cultural Affairs. In 2004 electorals, Kodituwakku lost his parliamentary seat. Currently he serves as the Chief Organizer for the UNP in the Kolonnawa electorate in Colombo
district.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n politician and former academic and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He is a former government Cabinet Minister for Human Resource Development, Education, and Cultural Affairs and a former Governor of the North Western Province. He also served as the Sri Lankan Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the Republic of Korea (South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
).
Early life & education
Kodituwakku was born in Matara, Sri LankaMatara, Sri Lanka
Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
and received his higher education at University of Kelaniya
University of Kelaniya
The University of Kelaniya is a state university of Sri Lanka. Situated just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, the University has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions....
where he gained a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons) degree in Economics. He received his MA degree from the University of New England
University of New England, Australia
The University of New England is an Australian public university with approximately 18,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern New South Wales....
(Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) on a Colombo Plan
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
scholarship, and his Doctorate D.Litt from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It is located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka...
.
Academic career
Between 1968 and 1991, he served as a lecturer in EconomicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the Vidyodaya University (now the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It is located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka...
). In 1978 he was seconded to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Employment as a planning director with the responsibility for the introduction of the graduate placement scheme to help ease high unemployment among graduates in 1970s. In 1983 he was appointed by the then-Sri Lankan president, J.R. Jayawardena, as the competent authority of the university when the incumbent Vice Chancellor resigned his post, and July that year he was appointed its Vice Chancellor which held till April 1988. Post-graduate Management Institute, post graduate studies on forestry department, medical faculty and the library complex were started during his time as the VC. In 1986 he became the president of the University Vice-Chancellors' Federation and was elected an executive member of the London -based Association of Commonwealth Universities
Association of Commonwealth Universities
The Association of Commonwealth Universities represents over 480 universities from Commonwealth countries.- History :In 1912, the University of London took the initiative to assemble 53 representatives of universities in London to hold a Congress of Universities of the Empire...
.
Diplomatic career
In 1988 Kodituwakku left Sri Lanka to take up Ambassadorial appointments in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
(1988–1989) and Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
(1989–1991). After his return to Sri Lanka, he was appointed as the Governor of the Northwestern Province
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
in 1993.
Political career
Kodituwakku resigned from this position in 1994 to run for parliament from the United National PartyUnited 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) and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
District.
He served as an opposition MP until 2001 and during this time was the Media Spokesperson for the UNP The UNP election victory of 2001 saw him appointed as the Cabinet Minister of Human Resource Development, Education, and Cultural Affairs. In 2004 electorals, Kodituwakku lost his parliamentary seat. Currently he serves as the Chief Organizer for the UNP in the Kolonnawa electorate in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
district.