Maithree Wickremesinghe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maithree Wickremasinghe
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මෛත්රී වික්රමසිංහ
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Wickremesinghe in 2023
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| 8th First Lady of Sri Lanka | |
| Assumed role 21 July 2022 – 23 September 2024 |
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| President | Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Preceded by | Ioma Rajapaksa |
| Succeeded by | Mallika Dissanayaka |
| Second Lady of Sri Lanka | |
| In role 12 May 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Ayoma Rajapaksa |
| In office 15 December 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Shiranthi Rajapaksa |
| Succeeded by | Ayoma Rajapaksa |
| In office 9 January 2015 |
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| Succeeded by | Shiranthi Rajapaksa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 August 1964 Nawala, Dominion of Ceylon |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Musaeus College, Colombo |
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| Occupation | Professor |
| Work Institutions | University of Kelaniya |
| Field | Gender and women's studies |
Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe (born on August 11, 1964) is a well-known academic and writer from Sri Lanka. She is a professor of English at the University of Kelaniya. She is also an expert in gender and women's studies.
Professor Wickremesinghe was the First Lady of Sri Lanka. She held this important role as the wife of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. She served as First Lady from July 21, 2022, to September 23, 2024.
She helped start the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya. She also teaches about gender and women's studies at other universities. These include the University of Colombo and the University of Sussex. For over 25 years, she has worked to make sure everyone is treated fairly. She helps create plans for gender equality. She also trains people and checks programs that support women.
About Her Life and Education
Maithree Wickremesinghe is the only child of Senevi B. Wickremasinghe and Shiranee Wickremasinghe. She grew up in Nawala, Koswatte. She went to Musaeus College, a private school for girls in Colombo.
She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts in English, from King's College London. Later, she completed her Master of Arts degree in women's studies at the University of Colombo. She also earned her Ph.D. from the Institute of Education, University of London. Her Ph.D. focused on how to do feminist research in Sri Lanka.
In 1994, she married Ranil Wickremesinghe. When Ranil Wickremesinghe became the President of Sri Lanka in July 2022, she became the First Lady. She was the first presidential spouse in Sri Lanka to have a Ph.D.
Her Work in Academia
Professor Wickremesinghe has written many important books and papers. These works help people understand more about gender and women's issues.
Books and Publications
- From Theory to Action – Women, Gender and Development (2000).
- Gender Dimensions in Disaster Management (2003/2005), co-written with Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandhu.
- Beyond Glass Ceilings and Brick Walls – Gender at the Workplace (2006), co-written with Wijaya Jayatilake.
- Feminist Research Methodology – Making Meaning of Meaning Making (2010).
- Towards Gender Equity / Equality: A Scan of gender Sensitive Laws, Policies and Programmes in Sri Lanka (2012).
