Ranil Wickremesinghe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ranil Wickremesinghe
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| රනිල් වික්රමසිංහ ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க |
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Wickremesinghe in 2024
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| 9th President of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 21 July 2022 – 23 September 2024 Acting: 14–21 July 2022 |
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| Prime Minister | Dinesh Gunawardena |
| Preceded by | Gotabaya Rajapaksa |
| Succeeded by | Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
| 10th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 12 May 2022 – 21 July 2022 |
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| President |
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| Preceded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Succeeded by | Dinesh Gunawardena |
| In office 15 December 2018 – 21 November 2019 |
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| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Succeeded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| In office 9 January 2015 – 26 October 2018 |
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| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | D. M. Jayaratne |
| Succeeded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| In office 9 December 2001 – 6 April 2004 |
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| President | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
| Preceded by | Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
| Succeeded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| In office 7 May 1993 – 18 August 1994 |
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| President | Dingiri Banda Wijetunga |
| Preceded by | Dingiri Banda Wijetunga |
| Succeeded by | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
| 10th Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 22 April 2004 – 9 January 2015 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Succeeded by | Nimal Siripala de Silva |
| In office 28 October 1994 – 10 October 2001 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | Gamini Dissanayake |
| Succeeded by | Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
| Ministerial roles | |
| 2022–2024 | Minister of Defence Minister of Technology Minister of Finance Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment |
| 2015–2019 | Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs |
| 1989–1993 | Minister of Industry Leader of the House |
| 1980–1989 | Minister of Education |
| 1977–1980 | Minister of Youth Affairs & Employment |
| 1977 | Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| Member of Parliament for National List |
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| In office 23 June 2021 – 21 July 2022 |
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| Member of Parliament for Colombo District |
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| In office 16 August 1994 – 3 March 2020 |
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| Member of Parliament for Gampaha District |
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| In office 15 February 1989 – 16 August 1994 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 March 1949 Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Other political affiliations |
New Democratic Front (since 2024) |
| Spouse | |
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| Relatives |
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| Residence | 115 Fifth Lane |
| Alma mater | Royal College, Colombo University of Ceylon |
| Occupation | |
Ranil Wickremesinghe (Sinhala: රනිල් වික්රමසිංහ; Tamil: ரணில் විக்கிரමසිங்க; born 24 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the ninth president of Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2024. Before becoming president, he was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka six times. He also held important roles like Minister of Finance and Minister of Defence. Wickremesinghe has been the leader of the United National Party (UNP) since 1994.
Ranil Wickremesinghe comes from a family involved in politics. He studied at the University of Ceylon and became a lawyer in 1972. He started his political career with the UNP in the mid-1970s. He was first elected to Parliament in 1977. Over the years, he held many ministerial jobs. He became prime minister for the first time in 1993. This happened after President Ranasinghe Premadasa passed away.
He ran for president in 1999 and 2005 but did not win. In 2015, he became prime minister again. He led a government with different parties until 2019. In 2020, he lost his seat in Parliament. However, he returned to Parliament in 2021 as a special National List MP. In May 2022, he was appointed prime minister once more. This was during a big economic crisis in Sri Lanka. In July 2022, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned, Wickremesinghe became acting president. He was then elected as the 9th President of Sri Lanka by the Parliament. He tried to win another term as president in 2024 but finished third.
Contents
- Early Life and Education
- Political Journey
- As President (2022–2024)
- After the Presidency
- Family and Personal Life
- Awards and Honors
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and Education
Ranil Wickremesinghe was born in Colombo on 24 March 1949. He was the second son of Esmond and Nalini Wickremesinghe. His father was a lawyer who later managed a large newspaper group. His grandfathers were also well-known figures in Sri Lanka.
He went to Royal Preparatory School and Royal College, Colombo. There, he was friends with other future political leaders. He then studied law at the University of Ceylon in Colombo. In 1972, he became a lawyer after passing his exams. In 2017, he received an honorary doctorate from Deakin University in Australia. This was for his work in improving the economy, education, and human rights.
Political Journey
Wickremesinghe joined the United National Party (UNP) and moved up in its ranks. He was elected to Parliament in the 1977 parliamentary elections. He became the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Soon after, he was made Minister of Youth Affairs & Employment in 1977. This made him the youngest cabinet minister in Sri Lanka. In this role, he started programs like the National Youth Services Council. This council helps young people get job training. Later, in 1980, he became the Minister of Education.
Under President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Wickremesinghe became the Minister of Industry in 1989. He worked on industrial reforms and set up a special economic zone. He also became the Leader of the House in Parliament.
First Time as Prime Minister (1993–1994)
On 7 May 1993, Wickremesinghe became prime minister. This happened after President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated. The previous prime minister, Dingiri Banda Wijetunga, became president. During his time, Wickremesinghe helped the country's economy grow. He was supported by many businesses.
As Opposition Leader (1994–2001)
In the 1994 elections, Wickremesinghe's party lost. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga became prime minister. After some changes, Wickremesinghe became the leader of the opposition. He also became the leader of the UNP.
He ran for president in 1999 but lost to Chandrika Kumaratunga. His party also lost the 2000 parliamentary elections.
Second Time as Prime Minister (2001–2004)
In the 2001 parliamentary election, Ranil Wickremesinghe's party won more seats. He became the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 9 December 2001. However, Chandrika Kumaratunga was still the president. This meant the president and prime minister were from different parties. Even so, Wickremesinghe was able to lead the government and appoint his own cabinet.
During this time, he suggested a big project called "Western Region Megapolis." This plan aimed to build a large new city in the Western Province. He also worked to get international help for development. Sri Lanka received over 4.5 billion dollars in aid.
Wickremesinghe wanted to have closer ties with Western countries. He hoped their economic support would help Sri Lanka's economy. He also sought help, especially from Norway, to solve the ethnic conflict. He met with leaders like George W. Bush (US President), Tony Blair (UK Prime Minister), and Narendra Modi (Indian Prime Minister).
He believed that a political solution was the best way to end the conflict. He thought this could be achieved through peaceful talks with the LTTE. In February 2002, his government signed a ceasefire agreement (CFA) with the LTTE. This agreement aimed to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. An international group, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), was formed to check for violations. After the CFA, Sri Lanka became safer. Tourism increased, and a major highway was reopened.
However, President Kumaratunga later removed three ministers from his cabinet. She said this was for national security. She then dissolved Parliament in February 2004. This ended Wickremesinghe's time as prime minister.
Peace Talks
After signing the ceasefire, Ranil Wickremesinghe held several rounds of peace talks with the LTTE. These talks took place in different countries. The Norwegian government helped to organize these discussions. In December 2003, after talks in Oslo, a statement was made. It said both sides would explore a political solution based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka. This was a very important step in trying to solve the conflict.
However, the LTTE later pulled out of the peace talks. The opposition and some groups in Sri Lanka were against the ceasefire. They worried it would lead to a separate state for the LTTE. The LTTE was also accused of breaking the ceasefire many times.
As Opposition Leader Again (2004–2015)
In the 2004 elections, Wickremesinghe's party lost again. He remained the Leader of the Opposition until 2015. In 2005, he ran for president but was narrowly defeated by Mahinda Rajapaksa. Many Tamil people in the North and East, who were expected to vote for Wickremesinghe, were prevented from voting by the LTTE.
His party lost many provincial elections between 2008 and 2009. In 2009, he formed an alliance with other opposition parties. They chose former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka as their candidate for the 2010 presidential election.
In 2015, the UNP and other groups supported Maithripala Sirisena as a common candidate for president. They agreed that if Sirisena won, Wickremesinghe would become prime minister. Sirisena won the election on 8 January 2015. The next day, he appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister.
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Times as Prime Minister (2015–2019)
After the 2015 presidential election, Wickremesinghe became prime minister for the third time. His party then won the parliamentary elections in August 2015. This made him prime minister for his fourth term. He received the most votes of any candidate in Sri Lankan election history.
Wickremesinghe promised to create one million jobs for young people. He also focused on improving education and health. He visited former war-affected areas to help communities there. He restarted the Megapolis plan, which aimed to turn the Western Province into a major city by 2030. He also worked on a similar plan for Trincomalee.
He proposed major economic changes. He wanted to build a "knowledge-based social market economy." This would focus on global education opportunities and a strong health system. He also planned to reduce income differences and increase exports. He worked to get back GSP+ trade benefits from the European Union. He also launched a loan program called "Swa Shakthi" to help small businesses.
His government also set up the Financial Crimes Investigation Division. This led to investigations into corruption from the previous government.
In October 2018, President Sirisena removed Wickremesinghe from office. He appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister. Wickremesinghe said this was against the constitution. This led to a political crisis. After court rulings, Wickremesinghe was re-instated as prime minister in December 2018.
For the 2019 presidential election, Wickremesinghe supported Sajith Premadasa as the party's candidate. Premadasa lost to Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Foreign Relations
During his time as prime minister, Wickremesinghe worked to improve relations with India and Western countries. He also maintained good relations with China. He discussed solving fishing disputes with India. He also defended the Sri Lankan navy's right to stop Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.
His foreign policy aimed to attract investments and financial aid. His government also allowed a Chinese company to lease a port for 99 years. He also worked to strengthen ties with Japan and Singapore. He visited Japan and Singapore early in his term.
As Opposition Leader Again (2019–2022)
After the 2019 presidential election defeat, Sajith Premadasa formed his own party. Wickremesinghe led the remaining UNP members in the 2020 parliamentary election. The UNP had its worst defeat ever, winning only one special "national list" seat. Wickremesinghe was sworn in as this national list member of Parliament in June 2021.
Fifth Time as Prime Minister (2022)
By May 2022, Sri Lanka was facing a severe economic crisis. There was a shortage of fuel, food, and medicine. This led to widespread protests. After Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister on 12 May 2022. He said he wanted to form a national government with all political parties. He also became Minister of Finance.
On 9 July, protesters stormed and burned his private residence. His office announced he was ready to resign to allow an all-party government.
As President (2022–2024)
On 13 July, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the country. Wickremesinghe then became acting president. He declared a state of emergency. After Rajapaksa officially resigned, Wickremesinghe was sworn in as acting president on 15 July. He also held the roles of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Technology, and Finance. As acting president, he stopped the use of "His Excellency" as a title for the president. He also ended the use of a special presidential flag.
On 20 July, he was elected as the 9th President of Sri Lanka by Parliament. He would serve the rest of Rajapaksa's term. He won against Dullas Alahapperuma. He was sworn in on 21 July. The next day, he appointed Dinesh Gunawardena as prime minister.
In September 2022, Wickremesinghe visited the UK to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Handling the Economy
President Wickremesinghe continued policies to help the economy recover. His government rationed power and fuel. They also increased taxes to raise money. This was to get a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These tax increases were not popular and led to protests. Sri Lanka's economy shrank in 2022, and prices increased a lot.
In March 2023, the IMF approved the first part of its bailout package for Sri Lanka. This was a big step. This IMF help was expected to bring in more support from other international lenders. This would help Sri Lanka manage its large public debt.
2024 Presidential Election
In August 2024, Wickremesinghe announced he would run for president again. He ran as an independent candidate. He was supported by his party, the United National Party, and other groups. This was his third time running for president.
Wickremesinghe finished third in the election. Since no candidate won a majority, the election went to a second round of counting. In this round, votes from eliminated candidates were used to decide between the top two. Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected as the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka.
After the Presidency
After losing the election, it was stated that Wickremesinghe would not run in the next parliamentary election. However, he actively supported the parties that backed him during the presidential election. These parties ran under the New Democratic Front.
Family and Personal Life
Ranil Wickremesinghe married Maithree Wickremesinghe in 1994. She is a professor of English. Wickremesinghe usually keeps his private life out of politics. His wife also avoided the political spotlight until he became prime minister again in 2015.
His family has a long history in public service and media. Several of his close relatives have also been active in government.
Awards and Honors
- Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2014)
- Doctor of Laws (honorary) – Deakin University (2017)
Images for kids
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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe meets with Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz in The Pentagon on 3 November 2003.
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Prime Minister Wickremasinghe with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, 2015
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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 2015
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Opposition Leader Wickremasinghe meeting British Foreign Secretary William Hague, 2010
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See also
In Spanish: Ranil Wickremesinghe para niños
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
- List of international prime ministerial trips made by Ranil Wickremesinghe
- List of international presidential trips made by Ranil Wickremesinghe
