Wasantha Senanayake

Wasantha Senanayake (born 28 June 1973) is a Sri Lankan politician who is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He belongs to the United National Party.[1][2] He is the great grandson of D. S. Senanayake (Sri Lanka's "Father of the Nation") and cousin of Ruwan Wijewardene.[3]

Hon.

Wasantha Senanayake

MP
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Polonnaruwa District
In office
2015–2020
State Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
29 May 2019 – 10 October 2019
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Minister of Tourism and Wild Life
In office
29 October 2018 – 15 December 2018
State Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
31 May 2017 – 26 October 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
State Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management
In office
9 September 2015 – 31 May 2017
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports
In office
12 January 2015 – 17 August 2015
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Gampaha District
In office
2010–2015
Personal details
Born (1973-06-28) June 28, 1973

Senanayake was appointed State Minister of Foreign Affairs in the United National Party led national government on May 31, 2017. He was the State Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management from 2015 to 2017. He was the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports in the United National Party 100 days government. Senanayake served as acting Foreign Minister when the Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned on 10 August 2017.[4][5]

During the 2018 Sri Lanka constitutional crisis, Senanayake, a Member of Parliament elected on the United National Party's Polonnaruwa District ticket in 2015[6], switched his alliance on multiple occasions between the two political parties that were battling for power. Initially he pledged his support for Mahinda Rajapaksa[7] who appointed him as Minister of Tourism and Wildlife after controversially dismissing prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.[8] Senanayake then returned his alliance to the United National Party, announcing his resignation from his ministerial portfolio[9][10][11], but later supported Rajapaksa again.[12] He ultimately made another switch back to the United National Party on the 26th of November 2018.

References
  1. "VASANTHA SENANAYAKE". Directory of Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  2. "Parliamentary Elections -2010" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  3. "Family jewels on parade in new parliament". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 23 August 2015.
  4. "Tilak Marapana Reluctant To Swear-In As New Foreign Minister With Ravi's Personal Staff Handling Ministry Affairs".
  5. "New Foreign Minister to be appointed in two days". www.adaderana.lk.
  6. "General Election 2015: Full list of preferential votes". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst | Breaking News and Latest News provider | Political | Sports | International | Business. 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  7. "Vasantha Senanayake pledges support to MR". Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  8. "Sri Lankan president appoints more Cabinet ministers". economynext.com. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  9. "Wasantha Senanayake back in UNP camp - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  10. "Sri Lanka parliament adjourned after no confidence vote". economynext.com. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  11. "Parliament proves its prowess | FT Online". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  12. "Wasantha shuttles back to cabinet". Retrieved 2018-11-21.
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