Harini Amarasuriya could be the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

Colombo | Desk: Harini Amarasuriya could be the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has selected her name for the position.

This will be the third time in Sri Lanka’s history that a woman will hold the post of Prime Minister.

Previously, Sirimavo Bandaranaike was Sri Lanka’s first, and the world’s first, elected female Prime Minister. She served three different terms: from 1960 to 1965, then from 1970 to 1977, and finally from 1994 to 1996.

After Sirimavo Bandaranaike, her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga was elected Prime Minister. She served as Sri Lanka’s President from 1994 to 2000 and as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2005. She made several efforts to end the ongoing civil war in the country and worked towards establishing peace.

Harini Amarasuriya will be Sri Lanka’s third female Prime Minister. She is also an academic.

On Tuesday, Dissanayake nominated Harini Amarasuriya, who transitioned from being a lecturer to a Member of Parliament, for the Prime Minister’s role. She has also been given the responsibility of the Ministries of Justice, Education, and Labor.

Both Dissanayake and Amarasuriya are members of the left-leaning ‘National People’s Power’ alliance. This alliance holds only three seats in Sri Lanka’s 225-seat Parliament.

The remaining responsibilities in the interim cabinet have been divided between the other two Members of Parliament from the party, as there are speculations of parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka in the coming days.