First Lady of Sri Lanka explained

Post:First Lady
Body:Sri Lanka
Native Name:Sinhala; Sinhalese: ශ්‍රී ලංකා ජනාධිපති ආර්යා
Tamil: இலங்கை முதல் பெண்மணி
Appointer:Ranil Wickramasinghe
as President of Sri Lanka
Incumbent:Maithree Wickremesinghe
Incumbentsince:20 July 2022
Preceded By:Ioma Rajapaksa
Residence:President's House
Inaugural:Seelawathie Gopallawa

First Lady of Sri Lanka (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා ජනාධිපති ආර්යා Śrī Laṃkā Janādhipathi Aryā; Tamil: இலங்கை முதல் பெண்மணி Ilankai Mutal Peṇmaṇi) refers to the wife of the President of Sri Lanka. To date, there have been eight women who have served in the role. The current First Lady of Sri Lanka is Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, wife of President Ranil Wickremasinghe, who has held the position since 20 July 2022.[1] [2] There have been no first gentlemen of Sri Lanka to date, since former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the country's only female head of state, was a widow while in office.

In recent years the holders of the title have been formally or informally referred to by the title First Lady or First Lady of Sri Lanka, though there are no provisions for such in the constitution.[3]

Origins

The office of the president of Sri Lanka was created in 1972 when Sri Lanka became a republic. William Gopallawa, who was the governor-general of Ceylon at the time, became the country's inaugural president. His wife, Seelawathie Gopallawa, became the first wife of a president of Sri Lanka. When J. R. Jayewardene became the next president, his wife was known as Lady Elina Jayewardene during and after his presidency.[4] During the presidency of Ranasinghe Premadasa, his wife Hema Premadasa took on a very viable role and became a public figure unlike before.[5]

Chandrika Kumaratunga who was president from 1994 to 2005 was a widow as her husband, film star Vijaya Kumaratunga, was assassinated in 1987. When Mahinda Rajapaksa became president, his wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa took a higher profile role, using the title of first lady and becoming a public figure during her husband's presidency, with her own naval aide and staff funded by the Presidential Secretariat.

List


Image
First Lady
BirthMarriage
President
(Husband, unless noted)
Tenure began
Age at tenure startTenure endedLength of retirement
DeathLifespan
Notes
1Seelawathie Gopallawa
(née Rambukwella)
8 March 1928William Gopallawa19721977†
Position vacantPosition fell vacant upon the death of Seelawathie Gopallawa.
2Elina Jayewardene
(née Rupasinghe)
15 December 191328 February 1935J. R. Jayewardene19781989
3Hema Premadasa
(née Wickrematunge)
27 October 193423 June 1964Ranasinghe Premadasa19891993Living
4Wimalawathi KumarihamiDingiri Banda Wijetunga19931994
Position vacantChandrika KumaratungaKumaratunga's husband, Vijaya Kumaratunga, was assassinated in 1988 before she became president.
5Shiranthi Rajapaksa
(née Wickramasinghe)
23 January 19531983Mahinda Rajapaksa20052015Living
6Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari1970sMaithripala Sirisena20152019Living
7Ioma RajapaksaGotabaya Rajapaksa20192022 daysLiving
8Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe
(née Wickremasinghe)
11 August 19641994Ranil Wickremasinghe2022Incumbent <-- -->Living

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: How did Ranil Wickremesinghe become Sri Lanka's president after six terms as PM? . . 2022-07-20 . 2022-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220803181302/https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2022/07/20/how-did-ranil-wickremesinghe-become-sri-lankas-president-after-six-terms-as-pm/ . 2022-08-03 . live.
  2. News: First Lady travels alone in London . The Morning (Sri Lanka) . 2022-09-25 . 2022-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220927023833/https://www.themorning.lk/first-lady-travels-alone-in-london/ . 2022-09-27 . live.
  3. News: Shiranthi Wickremesinghe Rajapaksa - First Lady of Sri Lanka . Office of the First Lady of Sri Lanka . 2022-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140613141709/http://www.firstlady.lk/ . 2014-06-13 . dead.
  4. News: Memoirs of a just, caring and endearing personality . 2 December 2007 . Welilaka . Clarence . The Sunday Leader.
  5. News: President Premadasa's death anniversary commemorated with military honours on President's directive - Azwer . Daily News. 18 May 2006.