Maithripala Sirisena
Encyclopedia
Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena (known as Maithripala Sirisena) is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
. He joined mainstream politics in 1989 and has held several ministries since 1994. He is also the Cabinet Minister for Agricultural Development & Agrarian Services Development and the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
. He escaped an assassination attempt carried out by a suicide cadre of the LTTE in 2008.
1979 as the secretary of its district organization. He became the president of the All Island Sri Lanka Freedom Party Youth Organization.
In 1989, Sirisena contested for the general elections from the Polonnaruwa District
and became a member of the parliament. In the general elections of 1994, he obtained the highest number of preferential votes. After this, he was made the Deputy Minister for Irrigation and Mahaweli Development.
Sirisena was elected to be the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. In 1994, he was appointed the Minister for River Basin Development and Rajarata Development, a newly created Ministry. He is serving as the Cabinet Minister for Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Development in the current government of Sri Lanka.
targeting Sirisena at Katuwawala, Piliyandala
. The attack was carried out when the convoy carrying the minister was passing by but missed his vehicle. Although Sirisena escaped unhurt 7 others were injured and 1 killed.
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...
. He joined mainstream politics in 1989 and has held several ministries since 1994. He is also the Cabinet Minister for Agricultural Development & Agrarian Services Development and the General Secretary 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...
. He escaped an assassination attempt carried out by a suicide cadre of the LTTE in 2008.
Early life
Sirisena was born on 3 September 1951. He has studied agriculture from the School of Agriculture in Kundasale. He has also worked as a Grama Sevaka. Sirisena was jailed after the 1971 JVP Insurrection, although he was not involved in it.Political career
Sirisena joined the Sri Lanka Freedom PartySri 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...
1979 as the secretary of its district organization. He became the president of the All Island Sri Lanka Freedom Party Youth Organization.
In 1989, Sirisena contested for the general elections from the Polonnaruwa District
Polonnaruwa District
Polonnaruwa is a district in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its area is 3,403 km²....
and became a member of the parliament. In the general elections of 1994, he obtained the highest number of preferential votes. After this, he was made the Deputy Minister for Irrigation and Mahaweli Development.
Sirisena was elected to be the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. In 1994, he was appointed the Minister for River Basin Development and Rajarata Development, a newly created Ministry. He is serving as the Cabinet Minister for Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Development in the current government of Sri Lanka.
Assassination attempt
On 9 October 2008 a suicide bomb attack was carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
targeting Sirisena at Katuwawala, Piliyandala
Piliyandala
Piliyanadala is a suburb of Sri Lankan capital Colombo, which is situated approximately 18 km south of Colombo.Piliyandala, Sri Lanka is one of the relatively more populated cities located in the Colombo District of the Western_Province,_Sri_Lanka and it is surrounded by Moratuwa, Kesbawa,...
. The attack was carried out when the convoy carrying the minister was passing by but missed his vehicle. Although Sirisena escaped unhurt 7 others were injured and 1 killed.