Ranil Wickremasinghe

In 1994, Ranil Wickremesinghe married Maithree Wickremesinghe, a Professor of English in the University of Kelaniya. She is also the founder director of Center for Gender Studies in the same university and is an internationally known speaker and writer on women’s studies.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was born on March 24, 1949. His father, Esmond Wickremasinghe, was a successful lawyer, entrepreneur and press baron, while his mother, Nalini Wickremasinghe, was a patron of art and culture. The couple had five children; Shan, Ranil, Niraj, Channa and Kshanika. Ranil is the second eldest among the siblings.

Ranil Wickremesinghe received his primary and secondary education at Royal College Colombo, one of the leading public schools of Sri Lanka. After graduating from the school, he joined the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo and graduated from there with a degree in law.

Later he joined Sri Lanka Law College. After completing the course at the Law College Ranil enrolled as an advocate at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, in 1972.

Ranil Wickremesinghe joined United National Party, considered to be a right wing, pro-capitalist political party. at an early age. He was heavily involved with the youth wing of the UNP while he was still a university student. .

After passing out from Law College he began to devote more time to politics and quickly progressed through its ranks. By mid-1970s, Wickremesinghe became chief organizer of the Kelaniya Electorate. Later, he was shifted to Biyagama Electorate and won the 1977 parliamentary elections from there.

When the ministry was formed under the leadership of J. R. Jayewardene, young Wickremesinghe became the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. At that time, he was only 28 years old. His talent and enthusiasm for work impressed many top leaders.

On October 5, 1977, Wickremesinghe was made a full Cabinet Minister in charge of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Employment. He served in that capacity until the beginning of 1980 and initiated National Youth Services Council (NYSCO), which provides vocational training to school dropouts, during this period.

On February 14, 1980, Wickremesinghe became the Minister of Education and served in that capacity for nine years. During this period, he initiated radical reforms aimed at the qualitative improvement of school education, putting special emphasis on English, technology and computer skills. He also improved the Education Administrative Service.

During his stint as Education Minister, he brought in radical reforms in education and laid special emphasis on English, technology and computer skills.

As Prime Minister, his priority area is economic growth of the country and he has proposed major economic reforms