Wikipedia

Pavithra Wanniarachchi

Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi (Sinhala: පවිත්‍රා දේවි වන්නිආරච්චි) is a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and former cabinet minister. She is a Member of Parliament from the Ratnapura District.

Hon.
Pavithra Wanniarachchi
MP
පවිත්‍රා වන්නිආරච්චි
பவித்ரா வன்னியாராச்சி
Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation
In office
19 January 2023 – 24 September 2024
PresidentRanil Wickremesinghe
Prime MinisterDinesh Gunawardena
Preceded byMahinda Amaraweera
Minister of Transport
In office
16 August 2021 – 3 April 2022
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byGamini Lokuge
Succeeded byDilum Amunugama
Minister of Health[a]
In office
22 November 2019 – 16 August 2021
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byRajitha Senaratne
Succeeded byKeheliya Rambukwella
Minister of Women and Child Affairs and Social Security
In office
22 November 2019 – 12 August 2020
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byRajitha Senaratne
Succeeded byKeheliya Rambukwella
Minister of Power and Energy
In office
28 January 2013 – 12 January 2015
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterD. M. Jayaratne
Preceded byChampika Ranawaka
Succeeded byChampika Ranawaka
Minister of Technology and Research
In office
22 November 2010 – 28 January 2013
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterD. M. Jayaratne
Preceded byTissa Vitharana
Succeeded byChampika Ranawaka
Minister of National Heritage and Cultural Affairs
In office
23 April 2010 – 22 November 2010
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byAnura Bandaranaike (2007)[b]
Succeeded byJagath Balasuriya
Minister of Youth Affairs
In office
28 January 2007 – 23 April 2010
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byJeewan Kumaranatunga [c]
Succeeded byDullas Alahapperuma
Minister of Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation
In office
10 April 2004 – 28 January 2007
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
Preceded byChandrika Kumaratunga
Succeeded bySajith Premadasa (2015)[d][e]
Minister of Plan Implementation
In office
19 October 2000 – 12 December 2001
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Prime MinisterRatnasiri Wickramanayake
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byPetikirige Dayaratna (2007)[f]
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Development
In office
7 November 2018 – 15 December 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
MinisterGamini Lokuge
Preceded byArjuna Ranatunga[g]
Succeeded byKabir Hashim[h]
Deputy Minister of Highways
In office
14 September 2001 – 10 April 2004
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Prime MinisterRatnasiri Wickramanayake
Mahinda Rajapakse
MinisterGamini Atukorale
Preceded byMunidasa Premachandra
Succeeded byT. B. Ekanayake
Member of Parliament
for Ratnapura District
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 August 1994
Personal details
Born
Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi

(1964-11-10) November 10, 1964 (age 59)
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partySri Lanka Freedom Party
Other political
affiliations		United People's Freedom Alliance
SpouseKanchana Jayaratne
OccupationLawyer

Early life and education

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Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi was born on 10 November 1964, as the eldest daughter of Dharmadasa Wanniarachchi and Podi Menike Weerasekera Wanniarachchi. Her father was a senior politician who served as the 7th Governor of the North Western Province from 2004 until his death in 2007 and a member of Parliament from 1967 to 1977 and from 2000 to 2001. She has one sister, Prasanna Devi Wanniarachchi, who is a lawyer.

Wanniarachchi attended the Pelmadulla Mahinda Vidyalaya for her primary education. She then entered Gankanda Central College and Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda for her secondary education. She was the Head Prefect, leader of the debating team, president of the Buddhist Association, Member of the Western band and the Captain of the 1st Volleyball Team of Anula Vidyalaya. She then entered Sri Lanka Law College in 1985 and took oaths as an attorney of law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka five years later.

Political career

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In 1990 she entered politics on the invitation of the former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. In 1991 she was appointed as the chief organizer for Kalawana. She then became a member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council in 1993 and in 1994 she entered Parliament as an MP representing the Ratnapura District.

After entering politics, she has held many posts both in the local and central governments. In 1994 she held the post of Deputy Minister of Health, Highways, Social Services and Welfare and in 1998 the post of Deputy Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine. In the year 2000 she was elected as the Deputy Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Leader of the Women's wing of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Minister of Plan and Implementation.

In 2002, while she was serving as the organiser of the Eheliyagoda seat for SLFP in 2008, she was appointed as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Convention and also served as the Minister for Youth Affairs.

Between 2004 and 2015 she held many posts while the SLFP lead coalition was in power. In 2004 she was appointed Minister of Samurdhi & Poverty Alleviation, in 2007 Minister of Youth Affairs, 2010 she was appointed as the Minister of Cultural and National Heritage and later that year as the Minister of Technology and Atomic Research.

In the periods between 2001–2004 and 2015–2019 she was an active member of the opposition of the Parliament.

From 2019 she was appointed as the Minister of Women & Child Affairs, Social Security, Health & Indigenous Medicine in government headed by the new President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Post Held

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  • Minister of Women & Child Affairs, Social Security, Health & Indigenous Medicine: 2019–Present
  • Minister of Power & Energy: 2013 - 2015
  • Minister of Technology & Research 2010 - 2013
  • Minister of Cultural Affairs & National Heritage: 2010
  • Chairman of Commonwealth Youth Ministers Convention: 2008
  • Minister of Youth Affairs: 2007 - 2010
  • Minister of Samurdhi & Poverty Alleviation: 2004 - 2007
  • Minister of Plan & Implementation: 2000 - 2001
  • Deputy Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine: 1998 - 2000
  • Deputy Minister of Health, Highways, Social Services & Welfare: 1994 - 1998
  • Member of the Parliament for Ratnapura District: 1994–Present
  • Member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council: 1993 - 1994

Other Responsibilities

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  • Deputy Secretary of the SLFP: 2000 onwards
  • Leader of the SLFP Women's Wing: 2000 onwards
  • Chief Organizer of the Eheliyagoda Seat for the SLFP: 2002 onwards
  • Chief Organizer of the Kalawana Seat of the SLFP: 1991 to 2002

Family

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Pavithra Wanniarachchi's husband is Kanchana Jayaratne, who is the Chairman of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and also serves as her Private Secretary. She has two daughters.

Notes

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  1. ^ Minister of Healthcare and Indigenous Medical Services from 22 November 2019 to 12 August 2020.
  2. ^ This position was vacant from December 14, 2007, until April 23, 2010.
  3. ^ As Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs
  4. ^ This position was vacant from January 28, 2007, until January 12, 2015.
  5. ^ As Minister of Housing & Samurdhi
  6. ^ This position was vacant from December 12, 2001, until January 28, 2007.
  7. ^ As Minister of Petroleum Resources Development
  8. ^ As Minister of Highways, Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development

See also

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References

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  • "PAVITHRADEVI WANNIARACHCHI". Directory of Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka.
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