Milinda Moragoda
Encyclopedia
Asoka Milinda Moragoda (Sinhala:අශෝක මිලින්ද මොරගොඩ) (born 4 June 1964) is a Sri Lanka
n politician and businessman. He is Opposition Leader of the Colombo Municipal Council
and was, until recently, a Senior Adviser to President Mahinda Rajapakse. He was a former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament
representing the Colombo District
. He had served as Minister of Justice and Law Reform, Minister of Tourism from 2007–2009, Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology and Deputy Minister for Plan Implementation and Development from 2002-2004. Moragoda was first entered to Parliament as a National List
Member in 2000 and was reelected in 2001 and in 2004 before losing his seat in the 2010 general election. He was the leader of the newly re-established Sri Lanka National Congress (SLNC) but disbanded his party in August 2011 in order to join the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
, the main party of UPFA. He was the UPFA mayoral candidate in the October 2011 municipal election in Colombo and is now Opposition Leader of the CMC.
, he went on to study in Europe and in the US graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the International Institute for Management Development
in Switzerland
. Moragoda was a Fellow
of the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs
(then known as the Centre for International Affairs) at Harvard University
from 1994 to 1995.
, and served as an alternate director on its first board. During his tenure in business, Moragoda also served on a large number of corporate boards.
During his political career of almost 10 years, Moragoda has worked in a number of key areas. He was one of the principal Government negotiators, in the peace talks of 2002-2004. He also functioned as the principal interlocutor with the international donor community. As the Minister of Economic Reform, Moragoda spearheaded the government’s economic reform programme.
He also gave leadership to the development and implementation of Sri Lanka’s ambitious ICT policy, E-Sri Lanka.
Moragoda was reelected to Parliament in 2004. In 2007 he along with Karu Jayasuriya
Deputy Leader of the main opposition party, the United National Party
(UNP), and 17 other senior UNP MPs lent their support to the Government. He was appointed as the Minister of Tourism by President Mahinda Rajapaksa
. During his tenure, he was able to successfully implement the Tourism Act of 2001. He also restructured the Tourist Board and created a transparent mechanism for appointments with the necessary balances to include important industry stakeholders.
In July 2009 he was appointed as Minister of Justice and Law Reform. As Minister of Justice, he was assigned the responsibility of the rehabilitation of former LTTE children cadres. Working together with members of civil society, government, the Sri Lanka Army and international aid agencies, such as UNICEF and the International Organisation for Migration, a successful programme was set up at The Hindu College, Ratmalana which has brought in over 200 of these children as boarders for rehabilitation and education. This programme which is an example of a successful public - private sector partnership has been commended by various sections of the community.
Moragoda has founded a number of non-profit organizations. Among them is the Milinda Moragoda Institute for People’s Empowerment, under whose aegis operates a humanitarian de-mining programme in the North and East which has been in operation since 2002 and Apeksha, a free English Education Programme for children of low income families. Apart from his business and political career he has been involved in diplomacy, media and academia.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n politician and businessman. He is Opposition Leader of the Colombo Municipal Council
Colombo Municipal Council
The Colombo Municipal Council is the local council for Colombo, the largest city and financial centre in Sri Lanka. The council was formed in 1865 and first met in 1866. The municipal council is the oldest and the largest local government authority in Sri Lanka and, as of 2001, covers a resident...
and was, until recently, a Senior Adviser to President Mahinda Rajapakse. He was a former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
representing the Colombo District
Colombo District
Colombo District is the smallest district in Sri Lanka with an area of 642 km². It is located in the Western Province, on the western coast of the island. Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo and the political capital, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte are located in this district...
. He had served as Minister of Justice and Law Reform, Minister of Tourism from 2007–2009, Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology and Deputy Minister for Plan Implementation and Development from 2002-2004. Moragoda was first entered to Parliament as a National List
National List Member of Parliament
A National List Member of Parliament is an unelected Member of Parliament who is appointed by a political party or an independent group to the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The number of national list MPs allocated to a contending party or an independent group depends on the proportion to their share...
Member in 2000 and was reelected in 2001 and in 2004 before losing his seat in the 2010 general election. He was the leader of the newly re-established Sri Lanka National Congress (SLNC) but disbanded his party in August 2011 in order to join the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
, the main party of UPFA. He was the UPFA mayoral candidate in the October 2011 municipal election in Colombo and is now Opposition Leader of the CMC.
Early life and education
He was born to Moragodage Christopher Walter Pinto and Yasodha Neiliya Jayawardena, daughter of N. U. Jayawardena who was the former Governor of the Central Bank of Ceylon. Educated in Sri Lanka at the prestigious Royal College ColomboRoyal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
, he went on to study in Europe and in the US graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the International Institute for Management Development
International Institute for Management Development
IMD - International Institute for Management Development is a non profit business school located in Lausanne, Switzerland.- History & Mission :...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Moragoda was a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs
Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs
The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs was founded as the Center for International Affairs in 1958 and assumed its current name in 1998 following an endowment by Albert and Celia Weatherhead and the Weatherhead Foundation. The aim of the Center was to confront the worlds problems as...
(then known as the Centre for International Affairs) at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1994 to 1995.
Political career
Before he entered politics, Moragoda was the Founder Chairman of Mercantile Merchant Bank Ltd (MMBL), an investment bank and private equity company in Sri Lanka with interests in a wide range of business sectors. He was also involved with the creation of the Colombo Stock ExchangeColombo Stock Exchange
The Colombo Stock Exchange is the main stock exchange in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most modern exchanges in South Asia, providing a fully automated trading platform...
, and served as an alternate director on its first board. During his tenure in business, Moragoda also served on a large number of corporate boards.
During his political career of almost 10 years, Moragoda has worked in a number of key areas. He was one of the principal Government negotiators, in the peace talks of 2002-2004. He also functioned as the principal interlocutor with the international donor community. As the Minister of Economic Reform, Moragoda spearheaded the government’s economic reform programme.
He also gave leadership to the development and implementation of Sri Lanka’s ambitious ICT policy, E-Sri Lanka.
Moragoda was reelected to Parliament in 2004. In 2007 he along with Karu Jayasuriya
Karu Jayasuriya
Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya is the current deputy Leader of the United National Party , the main Opposition party of Sri Lanka and Ex Cabinet Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs. He is also a Member of Parliament representing the Gampaha District...
Deputy Leader of the main opposition party, the United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
(UNP), and 17 other senior UNP MPs lent their support to the Government. He was appointed as the Minister of Tourism by President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
. During his tenure, he was able to successfully implement the Tourism Act of 2001. He also restructured the Tourist Board and created a transparent mechanism for appointments with the necessary balances to include important industry stakeholders.
In July 2009 he was appointed as Minister of Justice and Law Reform. As Minister of Justice, he was assigned the responsibility of the rehabilitation of former LTTE children cadres. Working together with members of civil society, government, the Sri Lanka Army and international aid agencies, such as UNICEF and the International Organisation for Migration, a successful programme was set up at The Hindu College, Ratmalana which has brought in over 200 of these children as boarders for rehabilitation and education. This programme which is an example of a successful public - private sector partnership has been commended by various sections of the community.
Moragoda has founded a number of non-profit organizations. Among them is the Milinda Moragoda Institute for People’s Empowerment, under whose aegis operates a humanitarian de-mining programme in the North and East which has been in operation since 2002 and Apeksha, a free English Education Programme for children of low income families. Apart from his business and political career he has been involved in diplomacy, media and academia.
Honors
- Order of Rio Branco conferred by the Government of Brazil for services he rendered to Brazil as Honorary Consul for BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(1990–2004) - Global Leader of Tomorrow (2000–2005) World Economic ForumWorld Economic ForumThe World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
- Young Global Leader (2005–2009) World Economic ForumWorld Economic ForumThe World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
.
See also
- Ministry of Justice and Law ReformsMinistry of Justice and Law Reforms (Sri Lanka)The Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms is a ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka that directs implementation of Policies, plans and Programmes in respect of Justice and Law Reforms, as well as handles the administration of courts and prisons....
External links
- Milinda Moragoda's Website
- Statement contributed by Milinda Moragoda at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Malaysian Tourism Minister Meets His Sri Lankan Counterpart
- A Warm Heart, a Cool Head, and a Deep Breath: Speeches
- "Peace with Development" - by Minister Milinda Moragoda
- The Power of Attitude Milinda Moragoda in Action on YouTube