Namal Rajapaksa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Namal Rajapaksa
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| ලක්ශ්මන් නාමල් රාජපක්ෂ நாமல் ராஜபக்ஷ |
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Namal in 2010
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| Minister of Youth and Sports | |
| In office 12 August 2020 – 3 April 2022 |
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| President | Gotabaya Rajapaksa |
| Prime Minister | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Preceded by | Dullas Alahapperuma |
| Succeeded by | Thenuka Vidanagamage |
| Member of Parliament for National List |
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| Assumed office 21 November 2024 |
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| Member of Parliament for Hambantota District |
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| In office 22 April 2010 – 24 September 2024 |
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| Majority | 166,660 Preferential Votes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lakshman Namal Rajapaksa
10 April 1986 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna |
| Spouse |
Limini Weerasinghe
(m. 2019) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | Mahinda Rajapaksa (father) Shiranthi Rajapaksa (mother) |
| Residences | Colombo and Hambantota |
| Alma mater | S. Thomas' College City University London Sri Lanka Law College |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Politician |
Lakshman Namal Rajapaksa (Sinhala: ලක්ශ්මන් නාමල් රාජපක්ෂ, Tamil: நாமல் ராஜபக்ஷ; born 10 April 1986), known as Namal Rajapaksa, is a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. He is the oldest son of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was a former President and Prime Minister. Namal Rajapaksa is currently a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the Minister of Youth and Sports.
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Early Life and Family Background
Namal Rajapaksa was born on 10 April 1986. His parents are Mahinda Rajapaksa and Shiranthi (whose maiden name was Wickremesinghe). He has two younger brothers, Yoshitha and Rohitha. His grandfather, Don Alwin Rajapaksa, was also a member of parliament. He served as the Minister of Agriculture and Land.
Education and Becoming a Lawyer
Namal Rajapaksa went to S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia for his schooling. While there, he was the captain of the school's main rugby team. After school, he studied law at Cardiff University and then at City University London, where he earned his law degree in 2006.
Later, he joined Sri Lanka Law College to become an attorney at law. He passed his exams and was officially sworn in as an attorney on 15 December 2011. This happened in front of judges from the Supreme Court.
Sporting Achievements
Namal Rajapaksa was a talented rugby player from a young age. He played for S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia at all age levels, starting from under 9s. In 2000, he led the Sri Lankan national team for players under 16. He joined his school's senior team in 2002 and became its captain in 2005. He also captained the Sri Lanka under 19 team in 2004.
When he went to university, he continued playing rugby for Cardiff University and City University London. In 2009, he joined the Navy SC and was their captain in 2010–2011. He was invited to play for the Sri Lanka national rugby union team in 2010. In 2013, he became the captain of the national team and played until he retired from competitive rugby in July 2014.
Political Journey
Namal Rajapaksa began his political career by running in the 2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. He was a candidate for the United People's Freedom Alliance in the Hambantota Electoral District and was elected to Parliament. His father had been an MP for the same district for 16 years before becoming president in 2005.
Many people believed that Namal Rajapaksa was being prepared to follow in his father's footsteps as president. He often attended important government events. He was also a special guest at ceremonies opening new roads, bridges, and schools. Even though he didn't hold a government position at the time, he traveled to many foreign countries for official visits. Sometimes, he went with his father.
For example, in 2011, he led a group of members of parliament to Libya and met with Muammar Gaddafi. He also made official trips to the United Nations Headquarters in 2010 and visited countries like Nepal, Palestine, Japan, South Korea, the United States, China, and Australia. He also led Hambantota's attempt to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, though the bid was not successful.
Ministerial Role and Recent Elections
Namal Rajapaksa was re-elected to Parliament in both the 2015 and 2020 elections. In 2020, his uncle, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, appointed him as the Minister of Youth and Sports. However, he resigned from this position in 2022 during a political crisis in Sri Lanka.
In March 2024, he was appointed as the National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna political party. On 7 August 2024, his party announced him as their candidate for the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election. He was the youngest candidate in that election. He placed fourth in the election, receiving 2.57% of the votes.
For the 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, Namal Rajapaksa did not run for re-election from the Hambantota Electoral District. This was the first time in 88 years that a member of his family did not contest from their family's traditional electoral district.
Business Ventures
Namal Rajapaksa and his brother Yoshitha owned a television channel called Carlton Sports Network. This channel focused on sports, lifestyle, and business. Namal Rajapaksa was also a shareholder in a company called Ascot Holdings PLC.
Tharunyata Hetak Youth Organization
In 2005, Namal Rajapaksa and his brother Yoshitha started a youth organization called Tharunyata Hetak. This name means "A Tomorrow for Youth." Namal Rajapaksa is the chairman of this organization, and Yoshitha is the vice-chairman.
Personal Life
Namal Rajapaksa married Limini Weerasinghe on 12 September 2019. Their wedding took place at the Gangaramaya Temple. Their first son was born in 2020, and they welcomed their second child in August 2023.
See also
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
