The Honourable
Gamini Jayawickrama Perera
Minister of Buddha Sasana
In office
20 December 2018 – 21 November 2019
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byUdaya Gammanpila
Succeeded byMahinda Rajapaksa[N 1]
In office
25 August 2017 – 26 October 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byWijeyadasa Rajapakshe
Succeeded byUdaya Gammanpila [N 2]
Minister of Wayamba Development
In office
20 December 2018 – 21 November 2019
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byS. B. Nawinne[N 3]
Succeeded byVacant
Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife
In office
4 September 2015 – 25 February 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byGamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa[N 4]
Succeeded bySarath Fonseka[N 5]
Minister of Food Security
In office
12 January 2015 – 17 August 2015
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byP. Dayaratna[N 6]
Succeeded byChamal Rajapaksa[N 7][N 8]
Minister of Irrigation and Water Management
In office
12 December 2001 – 4 November 2003
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded bySarath Amunugama[N 9]
Succeeded byFerial Ashraff[N 10]
1st Chief Minister of the North Western Province
In office
4 May 1988 – 19 October 1993
GovernorDingiri Banda Wijetunga
Montague Jayawickrama
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byG. M. Premachandra
Member of Parliament
for Kurunegala District
In office
25 August 1994 – 3 March 2020
Member of Parliament
for Katugampola
In office
22 July 1977 – 8 March 1989
Preceded byTikiri Banda Subasinghe
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
Mallawa Arachchige Gamini Jayawickrama Perera

(1941-01-29)29 January 1941
Kurunegala, British Ceylon
Died17 February 2024(2024-02-17) (aged 83)
Kurunegala, Sri Lanka[1]
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partyUnited National Party
SpouseRohini Perera
RelationsLincoln Perera (brother)
Children2
Alma materNalanda College Colombo
OccupationPolitician

Mallawa Arachchige Gamini Jayawickrama Perera[2] (Sinhala: ගාමිණී ජයවික්‍රම පෙරේරා, Tamil: காமினி ஜெயவிக்கிரம பெரேரா; 29 January 1941 – 17 February 2024) was a Sri Lankan politician. He was a United National Party member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka for the Kurunegala District between 1994 and 2020, and had previously represented Katugampola in the National State Assembly from 1977 to 1989.[3] Perera served many cabinet positions in various Sri Lankan governments, including being the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Minister of Wayamba Development, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Minister of Food Security and the Minister of Irrigation and Water Management.[4][5] Perera also briefly left national politics to become the Chief Minister of the North Western Province and serve in the North Western Provincial Council.[6] Perera helped represent Sri Lanka's interests internationally as the chairman of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, a position he was elected to in April 2016.[7] Furthermore, he held the position of chairman of the United National Party during a significant period of his career.[8]

Early life

Perera was born on 29 January 1941 in Kurunegala in the North Western Province.[1][7] He came from a large family, with one of his brothers being Lincoln Perera, who later served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation Industries.[9] He received his primary and secondary education at Nalanda College in Colombo.[10]

An ardent cricket enthusiast, Perera actively participated in the sport during his school years. He was a member of the college's first XI team and eventually became its captain.[11][12] He led the team in the Battle of the Maroons big match against Ananda College in 1960, which ended in a draw.[13]

Political career

Perera's political career began in 1968 when as a member of the United National Party he began to participate in local government politics.[1][3] He quickly rose through the ranks of the party, attracting the attention of the party leadership, which enlisted him into national politics in 1973.[7]

In the 1977 elections, which saw a resounding victory for the UNP, he secured his initial parliamentary seat representing the Katugampola constituency.[14] Subsequently in 1982, then President J. R. Jayewardene appointed Perera to the position of District Minister of Kurunegala in his cabinet.[15]

With the advent of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and the establishment of Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka, Perera briefly left national politics to pursue a role in regional governance. In 1988, he contested and triumphed in the provincial council elections for the North Western Province, and as a result, he became the inaugural Chief Minister of the North Western Province.[3][7]

Returning to national politics in the 1994 elections, Perera emerged victorious from the Kurunegala District.[16] Throughout much of his tenure in parliament, he found himself situated on the opposition benches, apart from a brief interlude when he served as Minister of Irrigation and Water Management under the Chandrika Kumaratunga administration in 2001.[17] These dynamics of his political involvement experienced a shift with the election of Maithripala Sirisena in 2015 and the establishment of a UNP-led administration.[18] During this period, Perera assumed various ministerial portfolios, including the Minister of Food Security, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, and the Minister of Buddha Sasana.[7]

Following a constitutional crisis in 2018, Perera and his colleagues in the sitting administration faced temporary dismissal from their governmental posts under the short-lived Sirisena-Rajapaksa-led government.[19] However, subsequent no confidence motions and Supreme Court rulings led to their reinstatement.[20] Perera resumed his duties as Minister of Buddha Sasana and was additionally entrusted with the portfolio of Minister of Wayamba Development.[7] However, following the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019 and the formation of a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led government, he opted to depart from governmental responsibilities and chose not to seek re-election in 2020.[21]


In 2021, he deviated from the party line by openly criticizing UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Perera alleged that Wickremesinghe was attempting to broker a deal with the then-incumbent SLPP-led government. Furthermore, he lamented the significant losses suffered by the UNP in the 2020 parliamentary elections.[22][23]

Personal life

Perera married Rohini Perera and they had two children, with one of his children being a former Provincial Council member, Asanga Jayawickrama Perera. He was a devout Buddhist.[24][25]

Death

Perera died on 17 February 2024, at the age of 83 in his residence situated in Kurunegala.[1] He had been seriously ill for some time at the time of his death.[26]

Perera's funeral took place on 20 February 2024, at the Pannala Stadium grounds in Pannala, Kurunegala District.[27]

Notes

  1. ^ As Minister of Buddha Sasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs
  2. ^ As Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs
  3. ^ As Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs
  4. ^ As Minister of Wildlife Conservation
  5. ^ As Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development
  6. ^ As Senior Minister of Food and Nutrition
  7. ^ As Minister of Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare
  8. ^ Position vacant from 17 August 2015 to 22 November 2019.
  9. ^ As Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management.
  10. ^ As Minister of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Gamini Jayawickrama Perera passes away". Ada Derana (in Sinhala). 17 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. ^ Abayasinghe, Shiromi; Vimalaweera, Nirushi (13 January 2015). "Cabinet of the New Government". Dinamina (in Sinhala). Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "GAMINI JAYAWICKRAMA PERERA". Directory of Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Former Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera passed away". Colombo Gazette. 17 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Former minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera passes away". Dinamina (in Sinhala). 17 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  6. ^ Ben Cahoon. "Sri Lanka Provinces from 1988". World Statesmen.org. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Chamikara Weerasinghe (17 February 2024). "Nation bids adieu to Gamini Jayawickrama Perera". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Gamini Jayawickrama resigns as UNP Chairman". Ada Derana. 7 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  9. ^ Premasara Epasinghe (11 August 2010). "Former Nalanda skipper Lincoln Perera dies". Daily News. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Old Nalandians elected MPs to be felicitated". Daily News. 27 March 2002. Archived from the original on 2 April 2002. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  11. ^ Manjula Fernando (2020). "28th Battle of the Maroons". 28th Battle of the Maroons. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  12. ^ Premasara Epasinghe (5 September 2005). "Leslie Narangoda top sportsman". Daily News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  13. ^ Manjula Fernando (2020). "31st Battle of the Maroons". Battle of the Maroons. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Sri Lanka Year Book 1982" (PDF). Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka. 1982. pp. 12–14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1994" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  17. ^ "New Ministers". Daily News. 13 December 2001. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  18. ^ "New cabinet ministers take oath". Ada Derana. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Sri Lanka crisis: Fears of a 'bloodbath' in power struggle". BBC News. 29 October 2018. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  20. ^ Abi-Habib, Maria; Bastians, Dharisha (16 December 2018). "Sri Lanka's Disputed Prime Minister Will Step Down". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  21. ^ Anusha Ondaatjie (20 November 2019). "Sri Lanka Prime Minister to Resign After Presidential Loss". BNN Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  22. ^ "There's no point of Ranil making a 'deal' with a failed government… Like the government, the opposition has failed". Divaina (in Sinhala). 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  23. ^ Editorial Board (7 August 2020). "More than 70 former MPs were defeated". Lankadeepa (in Sinhala). Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  24. ^ Premasara Epasinghe (15 October 2013). "Gamini Jayawickrema Perera – cricketer turned politician". Daily News. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  25. ^ "The President goes to visit his friend, with whom he entered parliament together in 1977". Divaina (in Sinhala). 12 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Former Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera passes away at 83". Hiru News. 17 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  27. ^ Abayasinghe, Shiromi (19 February 2024). "Gamini Jayawickrama's funeral will be held tomorrow at Pannala". Dinamina (in Sinhala). Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
Categories