Profiles of elected women to the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka

1. Pavithra Wanniarachchi

Pavithra Wanniarachchi is Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine. She represents the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).  A lawyer by profession, she has been a member of the Parliament from the Ratnapura District since 1994 representing the United Peoples Freedom Alliance and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and was also a Member of the Samabaragamuwa Provincial Council from 1993-1994. As a member of Parliament she has held the portfolios of Power & Energy: 2013 – 2015, Technology &Research 2010 – 2013, Cultural Affairs & National Heritage – 2010, Youth Affairs: 2007 – 2010, Samurdhi & Poverty Alleviation: 2004 – 2007, Plan & Implementation: 2000 – 2001. She also served as the Deputy Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine: 1998 – 2000, Deputy Minister of Health, Highways, Social Services & Welfare: 1994 – 1998. In Parliament, she was also on the Sectoral Oversight Committees of Women and Gender and Sustainable Development, Environment and Natural resources. In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 200,977 votes, from the Ratnapura District.

2. Sudarshini Fernandopulle

Sudarshani Fernandopulle is State Minister of Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation. She is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). She is a specialist Medical Officer by profession. She was appointed the Deputy Minister of Higher Education in 2015, under the 08^th Sri Lanka Parliament representing the United Peoples Freedom Alliance. In Parliament, she was on the Sectoral Oversight Committees of Women and Gender. In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 89,329 votes, from the Gampaha District.

3. Seetha Kumari Arambepola

Seetha Kumari Arambepola is the State Minister of Skills Development, Research and Invention. She is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). She is a medical doctor by profession. She was the first female governor of the Western Province, appointed in November 21^st, 2019. She resigned from the post of Governor in March 2020 to enter parliament from the national list.

4. Rajika Wickramasinghe

Rajika Wickramasinghe is the Kegalle District Committee Chairman for the Sri Lanka Government of 2020. She is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 68,802 votes, from the Kegalle District.

5. Thalatha Athukorale

Thalatha Atukorale is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). She is a lawyer by profession. She also won seats in parliament in 2004, 2010 and in the 2015 elections under the United National Party.  Atukorale was appointed as the cabinet minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare by President Maithripala Sirisena on 12 January 2015-2018. She was given the additional duties of Minister of Justice in August 2017 and Minister of Prison Reforms in 2018. In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 45,105 votes, from the Ratnapura District.

6. Rohini Kumari Kavirathne Wijerathne

Rohini Kumari Wijerathne is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). She also won a seat in parliament in the 2015 elections under the United National Party. In parliament, she was on the Sectoral Oversight Committees of Women and Gender and Education and Human Resource Development. In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 27,587 votes, from the Matale District.

7. Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasingha  

Geetha Samanmalee Kurmarasingha is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). In 2014 she contested in the provincial council elections and took oath as the counselor of the Southern Provincial Council. She was elected in 2015, to the 08^th Sri Lanka parliament representing the United Peoples Freedom Alliance. Geetha is primarily a film actress. She made her debut in veteran director K. A. W. Perera’s 1975 film, Wasana. In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 63,357 votes, from the Galle District.

8. Kokila Gunawardena

Kokila Gunawardena is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). She is a former Provincial Councilor of the Western Province. She entered politics in 2004, under the United Peoples Freedom Alliance. In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 77,922 votes, from the Gampaha District.

9. Muditha Prishanthi Soysa

Muditha Prishanthi Soysa is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). In the most recent Parliamentary Elections of 2020 she obtained 65,933 votes, from the Ratnapura District.

10. Manjula Wijekoon Dissanayake

Manjula Wijekoon Dissanayake Gunawardena is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). She is a retired teacher instructor. She holds a seat in the 09^th parliament of Sri Lanka from the national list.

11. Harini Amarasuriya 

Harini Amarasuriya is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB). She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. A former Senior Lecturer at the Open University, she resigned from her post to enter parliament from the national list.

12. Diana Gamage 

Diana Gamage is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). She is a lawyer, an actress and a former Provincial Council candidate representing the United National Party. She contested in the 2018 Local Government elections from the Kotte Municipal Council. As an actress she has been in Sriyani Amarasena’s ‘Hemanthaye Wasanthayak’ and has also starred in also starred in Dandana Hewawitharana’s ‘Sihina Pauru’ and Sirasa TV’s popular comedy drama ‘Yes Boss’. Currently she is the Deputy Secretary of the SJB and holds a seat in the 09^th parliament from the national list.