Anuruddha Ratwatte Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids General Anuruddha Ratwatte
Ratwatte in Full General's insignia during military operations in the late 1990's.

Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Acting
In office 1964–1965
Basnayake Nilame of Natha Devale, Kandy
Minister of Power and Energy and Deputy Defence Minister
In office 1994–2001

Personal details
Born	14 July 1938 Kandy, Sri Lanka
Died	24 November 2011(2011-11-24) (aged 73) Kandy, Sri Lanka
Political party	Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Other political affiliations	United National Party
Spouses	Carman Ratwatte (née Rangala)
Children	Lohan, Mahendra & Chanuka
Alma mater	Trinity College, Kandy
Occupation	Politics
Profession	Politician
Military service
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Branch/service	Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
Years of service	1960-1977
Rank	General
Unit	Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment

General Anuruddha Leuke Ratwatte (born July 14, 1938 – died November 24, 2011) was an important Sri Lankan soldier and politician. He served as a Cabinet Minister and also as the Deputy Minister of Defence.

Early Life and Education
- Early Military and Religious Roles
Political Journey
Serving in Parliament and as Minister
- Cabinet Minister and Deputy Defence Minister
Later Life and Legacy
Family
Decorations
See also

Early Life and Education

Anuruddha Ratwatte was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He came from a well-known family called the Ratwatte family. He was one of nine children. His father, Harris Ratwatte Dissawa, was also a politician. He served in the State Council and as a Member of Parliament.

Anuruddha Ratwatte went to Trinity College, Kandy. While there, he enjoyed playing rugby for his school team. After finishing school, he volunteered at the Central Ceylon Youth Council in Kandy. He helped manage the office and library there.

Early Military and Religious Roles

In 1960, he joined the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force as an officer. He was a second lieutenant in the Ceylon Sinha Regiment. He received military training in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand in 1961.

Besides his military service, Ratwatte also had important religious roles. He was the Acting Diyawadana Nilame (Chief Lay Custodian) of the famous Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. He also served as a Basnayake Nilame (Lay Custodian) of the Natha Devale, Kandy.

Political Journey

Anuruddha Ratwatte began his political career in local government. In 1966, he was elected as a Municipal Councillor in the Kandy Municipal Council. At that time, he was part of the United National Party.

Joining the Sri Lanka Freedom Party

Later, in the late 1960s, he joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. This party was led by his cousin, Sirimavo Bandaranaike. He became a key organizer for the party in the Sengkadagala area. He ran in the 1970 general election but did not win.

Role in Field Security

In 1971, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Army Volunteer Force. He was put in charge of the Field Security Detachment. This group was responsible for keeping the country safe from internal threats.

During this time, a group called the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was planning an uprising. On April 5, 1971, they attacked several police stations. Lieutenant Colonel Ratwatte helped brief the Prime Minister, Sirima Bandaranaike, about the situation. He also helped escort her to Temple Trees, which became the main center for managing the government's response. His unit was responsible for the Prime Minister's security. He retired from the Army in the late 1970s.

Return to Local Politics

After his military service, Ratwatte continued his political efforts. He ran for parliament again in 1977 but was not successful. However, he was elected to the Kandy Municipal Council in 1979. He served there until 1986 and became the leader of the opposition in the council.

Serving in Parliament and as Minister

In 1989, Anuruddha Ratwatte entered the national parliament. He was appointed through the National List by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. In the 1994 general election, he was elected to parliament from the Kandy District.

Cabinet Minister and Deputy Defence Minister

After being elected, his niece, Chandrika Kumaratunga, appointed him as the Cabinet Minister for Power and Energy. He also became the Deputy Defence Minister. President Kumaratunga held the main Minister of Defence role.

As Deputy Defence Minister, he became a key advisor to President Kumaratunga on defense matters. He played a significant role when the Sri Lankan Civil War intensified in 1995. He strongly believed in taking back the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE.

In late 1995, a major military operation called Operation Riviresa was launched. This operation successfully recaptured the Jaffna peninsula. For his leadership and role in this success, President Chandrika Kumaratunga promoted him to the rank of general in 1995. He also received the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal.

Later, there were some challenges in the conflict. General Ratwatte initiated Operation Jayasikurui in 1997 to secure a land route to Jaffna. This operation was eventually called off in 1999. He continued to serve as a Cabinet Minister until his party lost the general elections in 2001.

Later Life and Legacy

Anuruddha Ratwatte was re-elected to Parliament in 2000 and 2001. He retired from politics in 2004.

He passed away on November 24, 2011, in Kandy. In 2013, a statue was built in his honor in the Kandy City Center.

Family

In 1967, he married Carman Rangala. They had three children. Their eldest son, Lohan, is also a Minister and a Member of Parliament for the Kandy District. Their second son, Mahendra, served as the former Mayor of Kandy.