Who Is Harini Amarasuriya? Meet Sri Lanka's 16th New Prime Minister

In a historic event, Harini Amarasuriya was sworn in as the 16th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on Tuesday, becoming the third woman to hold this esteemed office in the nation's history.

Appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, she also assumes several key portfolios, including justice, education, labor, industries, science and technology, health, and investments.

At 54 years old, Amarasuriya is a prominent rights activist and a leading figure in the JVP-NPP coalition. Notably, she is the first female Prime Minister since the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who served until 1994.

Educational Background and Early Life

Harini Amarasuriya holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, focusing her research on state-society relations, political movements, dissent, and activism. Born into a planter family, she grew up in southern Sri Lanka before relocating to Colombo when the government nationalized the tea estates. Her education included a private schooling experience in Colombo, where she was influenced by strong feminist ideals.

During a tumultuous time in Sri Lanka marked by civil war and armed conflict, Amarasuriya took part in an exchange program in the U.S. before completing her undergraduate studies at Hindu College in Delhi. She later earned her master's degree in Applied Anthropology in Australia and returned to Sri Lanka, where she worked in the international humanitarian and development sectors.

Political Journey

Amarasuriya's entry into mainstream politics was catalyzed by her experiences in humanitarian work. In 2011, during the influential Rajapaksa government, she joined colleagues in a protest march against governmental actions. Following the 2015 election of Maithripala Sirisena, she became affiliated with the JVP party.

Alongside Amarasuriya, NPP parliamentarians Vijitha Herath and Laxman Nipunarachchi have also been appointed as cabinet ministers. Together, they will serve in a caretaker cabinet until the imminent dissolution of parliament. A snap parliamentary election is expected before the end of November, leading to the establishment of a full-fledged cabinet.

Amarasuriya's leadership marks a significant step for women in Sri Lankan politics, and her comprehensive portfolio reflects a commitment to addressing critical national issues.