W. J. M. Lokubandara
Encyclopedia
Wijesinghe Jayaweera Mudiyanselage Lokubandara (Sinhala:විජෙසිංහ ජයවීර මුදියන්සේලාගේ ලොකුබණඩාර), commonly known as W. J. M. Lokubandara, is the current Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province
and former Speaker
of the Parliament
of Sri Lanka
. He is a lawyer by profession, and is also an author of several books and a song writer. Lokubandara has held several ministries in the government of Sri Lanka before his appointment as the Speaker of the House. He is third in line to the succession of President of Sri Lanka.
. He was educated at Yahala-Bedda School, and later at Bandarawela Central College. He is an Arts Graduate of the University of Peradeniya
, and has also obtained an external Bachelor's Degree in Arts from the University of London
. Lokubandara was a lawyer by profession and worked as an assistant legal draftsman.
Lokubandara was born to a family with seven children. His parents were Loku Manike and Gunesekara Bandara. He married Malathi, a music teacher, on 1 February 1979. They have three sons; Rashmin, Udith and Damith. Udith Lokubandara was offered the post of District Organizer for Badulla District
by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
, while the post of Organizer for Haputale
electorate was offered by the United National Party
.
(UNP), defeating former Cabinet Minister of Health W. P. G. Ariyadasa. He was initially appinted to the non cabinet Ministership of Indigenous Medicine. In 1989, Lokubandara was appointed a Cabinet Minister when he was given the Ministries of Cultural Affairs, Education and Media by the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa
.
With the defeat of the UNP in the general elections of 1994, Lokubandara became the Chief Opposition Whip of the parliament. He held this position until 2001. A UNP government was formed in 2001, and Lokubandara was appointed the Cabinet Minister of Justice, Law Reforms, National Integration and Buddha Sasana.
. He is also a poet and a song writer. His works include:
Sabaragamuwa Province
Sabaragamuwa, is a province of Sri Lanka, and contains two main cities: Ratnapura and Kegalle. Sabaragamuwa University is in Belihuloya. It is named after its former indigenous inhabitants, namely the Sabara, an indic term for hunter gatherer tribes, a term seldom used in ancient Sri...
and former Speaker
Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka the Speaker of the Parliament is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The Speaker fulfills a number of important functions in relation to the operation the House, which is based upon the British Westminster Parliamentary system.The...
of the 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...
of Sri Lanka
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...
. He is a lawyer by profession, and is also an author of several books and a song writer. Lokubandara has held several ministries in the government of Sri Lanka before his appointment as the Speaker of the House. He is third in line to the succession of President of Sri Lanka.
Early life and family
Lokubandara was born on 5 August 1941 in HaputaleHaputale
Haputale is a town in Badulla District, Sri Lanka. The elevation is 1431 m above the sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. The town has a cooler climate than its surroundings, due to its elevation. The Haputale pass allows views across the...
. He was educated at Yahala-Bedda School, and later at Bandarawela Central College. He is an Arts Graduate of the 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...
, and has also obtained an external Bachelor's Degree in Arts from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. Lokubandara was a lawyer by profession and worked as an assistant legal draftsman.
Lokubandara was born to a family with seven children. His parents were Loku Manike and Gunesekara Bandara. He married Malathi, a music teacher, on 1 February 1979. They have three sons; Rashmin, Udith and Damith. Udith Lokubandara was offered the post of District Organizer for Badulla District
Badulla District
Badulla is a district in Uva Province, Sri Lanka. The entire land area of the Badulla district is 2,861 km² and total population is 837,000. The district is bounded by the districts of Monaragala and Rathnapura on the East & South, by Ampara and Kandy districts on the North and by Nuwara...
by 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...
, while the post of Organizer for Haputale
Haputale
Haputale is a town in Badulla District, Sri Lanka. The elevation is 1431 m above the sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. The town has a cooler climate than its surroundings, due to its elevation. The Haputale pass allows views across the...
electorate was offered by 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...
.
Political career
Lokubandara first entered parliament in 1977 representing 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), defeating former Cabinet Minister of Health W. P. G. Ariyadasa. He was initially appinted to the non cabinet Ministership of Indigenous Medicine. In 1989, Lokubandara was appointed a Cabinet Minister when he was given the Ministries of Cultural Affairs, Education and Media by the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
.
With the defeat of the UNP in the general elections of 1994, Lokubandara became the Chief Opposition Whip of the parliament. He held this position until 2001. A UNP government was formed in 2001, and Lokubandara was appointed the Cabinet Minister of Justice, Law Reforms, National Integration and Buddha Sasana.
Speakership
Lokubandara was elected as the Speaker of the 6th Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 22 April 2004, after a controversial secret ballot lasting nine hours. Lokubandara was the candidate of the main opposition group and received 110 votes, while the candidate from the governing party received 109 votes. His election as 16th Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka was announced at 7.15 pm. After assuming office, he urged the members of the parliament to safeguard democracy and "move away from confrontational politics marching beyond petty party politics".Literary work
Several books have been authored by Lokubandara, including some on SigiriyaSigiriya
Sigiriya is a large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures...
. He is also a poet and a song writer. His works include:
- The Mystique of Sigiriya
- Sigiri Gee Siri
- Rasadipani
- Sastriya Vadalipi
- Garu Kathanayakanumani: Mati Sabaye Kala Kata