Udaya Gammanpila
Encyclopedia
Udaya Prabhath Gammanpila (born 6 February 1970) (known as Udaya Gammanpila) is a Sri Lanka
n politician and current Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Irrigation, Livestock Production and Development, Trade and Environment in Western Provincial Council.
Gammanpila was active in politics since his schooling days at D. S. Senanayake College
where it is alleged that he actively participated in the 1987–89 Insurrection by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
, he has neither admitted nor denied this fact, however his principal of the school at the time, R I T Alles
, has mentioned in his autobiography “My Life” that Udaya actively participated in the JVP organized student protests. he has claimed that he was a student leader
of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka
.
Having obtained the highest marks in the country's Advance Level examination in the commerce stream in 1988 he won a scholarship to study Computer Science
at Monash University
. He was a teaching assistant while as an undergraduate and became a member of Australian Computer Society
. Later he became an Attorney at Law
. After graduation, he joined the corporate sector as a Management Trainee and became the Chief Executive Officer
of Australia Lanka Group at the age of 26.
Gammanpila entered politics in 2000 as a founding member of Sinhala
ultra-nationalist political party
and was appointed as the Propaganda
Secretary and spokesperson for Sihala Urumaya in December 2000 soon after the internal rift which caused 7 out of 15 Central Committee members to leave the party including the much respected party chairman S L Gunasekera and two deputy chairmen. He joined the Jathika Hela Urumaya
(JHU) political party
along with members of the Sihala Urumaya as the Propaganda Secretary, when it was formed in 2004 to wheeled candidates who were all Buddhist monk
s, for Parliament in the 2004 general election
. Gammanpila was later appointed as the Administrative Secretary of the party and he presently functions as the Party’s Legal Advisor. He played a major role on behalf of his party supporting Mahinda Rajapakse
's presidential election campaign in 2005.
Udaya represented the JHU at All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which was appointed by All Party Conference
to formulate a political solution for the ethnic conflict
in Sri Lanka. Although Udaya participated in the APRC, he always stated that there was no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
After fellow party member Champika Ranawaka
was appointed as minister of environment and natural resources by Mahinda Rajapaksa
, he was made the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority. Controversial legislative act
“Environmental Conservation Levy Act” was a brainchild of Udaya which attempted to introduce Polluter Pays Principle (Principle 16 of Rio Declaration) in Sri Lanka. He was able to get the Act passed by the parliament despite of the resistance from both government and opposition members. However, regulations published under this Act were suspended by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
.
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 current Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Irrigation, Livestock Production and Development, Trade and Environment in Western Provincial Council.
Gammanpila was active in politics since his schooling days at D. S. Senanayake College
D. S. Senanayake College
D.S. Senanyake College is a public school in Sri Lanka, named after the first Prime Minister of Independent Sri Lanka, Rt.Hon. D.S. Senanayake. It was established on February 10, 1967 under the stewardship of RIT_Alles.-Overview:...
where it is alleged that he actively participated in the 1987–89 Insurrection by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
, he has neither admitted nor denied this fact, however his principal of the school at the time, R I T Alles
R I T Alles
Ralph Ignatius Thomas Alles is a Sri Lankan educationalist. He served as the State Secretary for Ministry of Education from 1989 to 1993 and is currently holds the position of Chairman of the Gateway Group. R. I. T. Alles was educated at St. Aloysius' College, Galle and is the founder of D.S...
, has mentioned in his autobiography “My Life” that Udaya actively participated in the JVP organized student protests. he has claimed that he was a student leader
Student Leader
A student leader is typically a college student who serves in a leadership position on their campus. The term student leader can also refer to high school students.-Examples:A student leader could be any of the following:* Resident Assistant...
of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka
Communist Party of Sri Lanka
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka is a communist political party in Sri Lanka. At the last legislative elections, on 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats....
.
Having obtained the highest marks in the country's Advance Level examination in the commerce stream in 1988 he won a scholarship to study Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. He was a teaching assistant while as an undergraduate and became a member of Australian Computer Society
Australian Computer Society
The Australian Computer Society is an association for information and communications technology professionals. According to its Constitution, its objects are "to advance professional excellence in information technology" and "to promote the development of Australian information and communications...
. Later he became an Attorney at Law
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. After graduation, he joined the corporate sector as a Management Trainee and became the Chief Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of Australia Lanka Group at the age of 26.
Gammanpila entered politics in 2000 as a founding member of Sinhala
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...
ultra-nationalist political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and was appointed as the Propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
Secretary and spokesperson for Sihala Urumaya in December 2000 soon after the internal rift which caused 7 out of 15 Central Committee members to leave the party including the much respected party chairman S L Gunasekera and two deputy chairmen. He joined the Jathika Hela Urumaya
Jathika Hela Urumaya
The Jathika Hela Urumaya is a political party in Sri Lanka which is led by Buddhist monks. The JHU was launched in February, 2004 by the lay-based, secular Sinhala nationalist political party Sihala Urumaya. Founding members include Kolonnawe Sumangala Thero, Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero, Ellawela...
(JHU) political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
along with members of the Sihala Urumaya as the Propaganda Secretary, when it was formed in 2004 to wheeled candidates who were all Buddhist monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s, for Parliament in the 2004 general election
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004
Parliamentary elections were held in Sri Lanka on 2 April 2004. The ruling United National Party of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated, winning only eighty two seats in the 225-member Sri Lankan parliament. The opposition United People's Freedom Alliance won 105 seats...
. Gammanpila was later appointed as the Administrative Secretary of the party and he presently functions as the Party’s Legal Advisor. He played a major role on behalf of his party supporting Mahinda Rajapakse
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,...
's presidential election campaign in 2005.
Udaya represented the JHU at All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which was appointed by All Party Conference
Party conference
The terms party conference , political convention , and party congress usually refer to a general meeting of a political party. The conference is attended by certain delegates who represent the party membership...
to formulate a political solution for the ethnic conflict
Ethnic war
An ethnic conflict or ethnic war is a conflict between ethnic groups often as a result of ethnic nationalism. They are of interest because of the apparent prevalence since the Cold War and because they frequently result in war crimes such as genocide...
in Sri Lanka. Although Udaya participated in the APRC, he always stated that there was no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
After fellow party member Champika Ranawaka
Champika Ranawaka
Ranawaka Arachchige Patali Champika Ranawaka MP is the current cabinet Minister of Power and Energy in the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa...
was appointed as minister of environment and natural resources by 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,...
, he was made the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority. Controversial legislative act
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
“Environmental Conservation Levy Act” was a brainchild of Udaya which attempted to introduce Polluter Pays Principle (Principle 16 of Rio Declaration) in Sri Lanka. He was able to get the Act passed by the parliament despite of the resistance from both government and opposition members. However, regulations published under this Act were suspended by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is the highest court of the nation of Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court is the highest and final judicial instance of record and is empowered to exercise its powers, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. The Court has ultimate appellate jurisdiction in...
.