| Hema Premadasa | |
| Office: | 3rd First Lady of Sri Lanka |
| Term Label: | In role |
| Term Start: | 2 January 1989 |
| Term End: | 1 May 1993 |
| Predecessor: | Elina Jayewardene |
| Successor: | Wimalawathi Kumarihami |
| Birth Date: | 27 October 1934 |
| Birth Place: | Bandarawela, British Ceylon |
| Birthname: | Hema Wickramatunge |
| Nationality: | Sri Lankan |
| Children: | Sajith, Dulanjali |
Hema Premadasa (née Wickramatunge; born 27 October 1934) is a Sri Lankan politician and widow of Ranasinghe Premadasa, 3rd President of Sri Lanka. She was the first lady of Sri Lanka from 2 January 1989 to 1 May 1993, when her husband was assassinated.[1]
As first lady, she visited accident sites and hospitals when Sri Lankans were injured.[2] Although Premadasa was married to a politician, she attempted to form a unique identity for herself in the Sri Lankan political landscape. She was a member and also president of the Seva Vanitha Movement (SVM).[3] [4] In 1991, even though the Sri Lankan government attempted to ban the Mothers' Front rally, Premadasa held her own rally on the same day.[5] Later, she made her own attempts to run for presidency in 1994.[6] She was forced to call off her campaign after opposition parties ran a "scurrilous poster campaign".[7]
Premadasa is the mother of Sajith Premadasa, current Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Premadasa is an avid fan of netball and was considered an "ardent player."[8]