Srima Dissanayake

Srima Dissanayake
MPC
United National Party candidate for
President of Sri Lanka
Election date
9 November 1994
Opponent(s) Chandrika Kumaratunga
and others
Incumbent D. B. Wijetunga
Personal details
Political party United National Party
Spouse(s) Gamini Dissanayake
Children Navin, Mayantha, Varuni
Occupation Lawyer

Vajira Srimathi Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and former presidential candidate.

Family

Dissanayake was married to former minister Gamini Dissanayake.[1] They had two sons, Navin and Mayantha, both of whom are Members of Parliament, and a daughter, Varuni.[2]

Career

Dissanayake is a lawyer by profession and was a member of the Central Provincial Council.[3][4] Her husband Gamini Dissanayake, who was Leader of the Opposition, was chosen by the United National Party to be its candidate at the 1994 presidential election.[5] However, he was killed in a suicide bombing on 24 October 1994, sixteen days before the election.[6] The UNP, hoping to capitalise on the sympathy vote, chose Srima Dissanayake over former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former first lady Hema Premadasa to be Gamini Dissanayake’s replacement.[7] However, many UNP officials refused to campaign for Srima Dissanayake who, for security reasons, campaigned through the media only.[6][8] Dissanayake was heavily defeated by Prime Minister Chandrika Kumaratunga who swept the polls, winning all but one of the 160 polling divisions.[9] Dissanayake received 2,715,283 votes (35.91%), the lowest share for a major party candidate in any Sri Lankan presidential election.[10][11]


See also

References

  1. ↑ Jayasekera, Talia (21 March 2003). "Remembering a trail-blazing servant of the people". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  2. ↑ Epasinghe, Premasara (23 October 2003). "Gamini Dissanayake - Man who was born to be great". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  3. ↑ Jayaram, P. (15 November 1994). "Another shattering blow". India Today.
  4. ↑ Epasinghe, Premasara (7 July 2011). "Navin Dissanayake - Crickting personality with leadership ingredients". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  5. ↑ "Six Vie for Presidency" (PDF). Tamil Times. XIII (10): 7. 15 October 1994. ISSN 0266-4488.
  6. 1 2 "Sri Lankan Claims Victory in Presidential Vote". The New York Times. 10 November 1994.
  7. ↑ Dahlburg, John-Thor (26 October 1994). "Sri Lankan's Widow Gets Party Nod : Asia: The wife of the slain opposition figure will run for president in his place, sources say". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ↑ Dahlburg, John-Thor (10 November 1994). "Sri Lankan Premier Wins Presidency, Partial Results Show". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ↑ Sebastian, Rita (15 November 1994). "Shortest Race to Presidency" (PDF). Tamil Times. XIII (11): 4. ISSN 0266-4488.
  10. ↑ Weerapperuma, E. (14 November 2005). "A historical sketch of Presidential Elections". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  11. ↑ Ranatunga, D. C. (7 January 2015). "Long journey to presidency: Part V". Daily FT.
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