Chandra Ranaraja | |
Nationality: | Sri Lankan |
Order1: | Mayor of Kandy |
Term Start1: | 1990 |
Term End1: | 1991 |
Successor1: | Don Edmund Pathirane |
Predecessor1: | Tilak Ratnayake |
Birthname: | Chandra Mahadiulwewa |
Birth Date: | 1939 |
Birth Place: | Anuradhapura |
Death Date: | 2 March 2016 |
Death Place: | Kandy |
Alma Mater: | Hillwood College |
Otherparty: | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
Spouse: | Shelton Ranaraja |
Children: | Premila, Aruni, Siromi, Shamila, Anjali |
Parents: | S. H. Mahadiulwewa (father) |
Chandra Ranaraja (née Mahadiulwewa) (b. 1939 - d. 2 March 2016) was the first female mayor in Sri Lanka, when she was elected the Mayor of Kandy in 1990.[1] [2]
The eldest in a family of seven children, Chandra was born in Anuradhapura in 1939.[3] Her grandfather, D. P. B. Mahadiulwewa, was Chairman of the Village Tribunals, which functioned during British colonial times. Her father was S. H. Mahadiulwewa (1906 - 1988), Kachcheri Mudliyar of Anuradhapura and the member of parliament for Kalawewa between 1947 and 1952.[3]
Chandra was educated at Hillwood College, Kandy[4] and was one of the first women to attend the University of Peradeniya from the Northern Central Province, graduating with a teaching degree in 1961.[3] The first school she taught at was the Holy Family Convent in Anuradhapura.[3] After she married Shelton Ranaraja, (b. 1926 - d. 11 August 2011), the member of parliament for Senkadagala,[5] she moved to Kandy, and taught at the Girls’ High School.[3] [4] She gave up teaching to care for her five daughters: Premila, Aruni (b. 1967), twins Siromi and Shamila, and Anjali.[3]
In 1978 Ranaraja was appointed as a member of the first Council of the University of Peradeniya.[6] She entered local politics and was elected a member of the Kandy Municipal Council.[4] Ranaraja was subsequently elected the Deputy Mayor (1979 - 1989) and later in 1990, the first female Mayor of Kandy and the first female mayor in Sri Lanka.[7] [3] Ranaraja during and after her tenure on Council was a strong and vocal advocate for the protection and conservation of built heritage in Kandy.[8]
Her daughter Aruni is the Ambassador to the Philippines.[9] Ranaraja died on 2 March 2016 at 77 years old.