Susil Moonesinghe
Encyclopedia
Susil Moonesinghe is a Sri Lanka
n lawyer, politician and diplomat and current Chairman of State Trading Wholesale Company Ltd. A former Chief Minister
of the Western Provincial Council and a member of parliament, he was a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran
. The brother of Anil Moonesinghe
and the son of Piyadas Moonesinghe, he was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
.
His paternal grandmother was the sister of Anagarika Dharmapala
, daughter of Don Carolis Hewavitharana
and grand-daughter of Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana
.
He began his political career by contesting, unsuccessfully, the Polgahawela
constituency in the 1960 general election from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
. During the 1970 general election, he was appointed organiser for the Southern Province by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
.
From 1970-72 he served as Director-General of Broadcasting. Thereafter he devoted himself to business activities.
He was elected first Chief Minister of the Western Province
in 1988 and served until 1993. Thereafter until 1994 he was leader of the opposition in the Provincial Council. In 1994-2000 he was a Member of Parliament for Colombo District. In 2000-2002 he was Ambassador to Iran.
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 lawyer, politician and diplomat and current Chairman of State Trading Wholesale Company Ltd. A former Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of the Western Provincial Council and a member of parliament, he was a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The brother of Anil Moonesinghe
Anil Moonesinghe
Anil Moonesinghe was a Sri Lankan Trotskyist revolutionary politician and trade unionist. He became a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a Diplomat. He authored several books and edited newspapers and magazines. He was Chairperson and General Manager of...
and the son of Piyadas Moonesinghe, he was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal 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...
.
His paternal grandmother was the sister of Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
, daughter of Don Carolis Hewavitharana
Don Carolis Hewavitharana
Don Carolis Hewavitharana Wijeyaguneratne was a Ceylonese businessman, industrialist, philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement. He was the father of Anagarika Dharmapala, and created a political family of considerable influence.-Early life:He was born in Yatiyana, Hittetiya,...
and grand-daughter of Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana
Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana
Muhandiram Lansage Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana was a Sri Lankan businessman, a philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement...
.
He began his political career by contesting, unsuccessfully, the Polgahawela
Polgahawela
Polgahawela is a town in north western Sri Lanka. The town is most notable for a major railway accident that occurred in 2005. Polgahawela is a small city that belongs to the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, and situated at a distance of 80 km north-east from the capital city of Colombo; 50 km...
constituency in the 1960 general election from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna is a left-wing political party in Sri Lanka. Today the party is led by Dinesh Gunawardena, son of Philip Gunawardena....
. During the 1970 general election, he was appointed organiser for the Southern Province by 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...
.
From 1970-72 he served as Director-General of Broadcasting. Thereafter he devoted himself to business activities.
He was elected first Chief Minister of the Western Province
Western Province, Sri Lanka
The Western Province is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenapura as well to Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center.-Districts:Basnahira is divided into 3 districts:...
in 1988 and served until 1993. Thereafter until 1994 he was leader of the opposition in the Provincial Council. In 1994-2000 he was a Member of Parliament for Colombo District. In 2000-2002 he was Ambassador to Iran.