The political landscape of Sri Lanka has taken a new turn with an unprecedented power shift. In the recent presidential election, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the presidential candidate representing the National People’s Power, emerged victorious.
This marked a significant departure from the traditional political parties and alliances that had previously governed the country.
For the first time, a party with a socialist orientation assumed power in Sri Lanka. As a result of this transition, Dinesh Gunawardena, the former Prime Minister, resigned from his position, leading to the dissolution of the cabinet.
Subsequently, the newly elected President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, appointed Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as the Prime Minister.
Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, a National People’s Power member, was sworn in as the Prime Minister, becoming the third woman in the country’s history to hold this position after more than two decades.
Who is Harini?
She was born on March 6, 1970, in Colombo, the daughter of a tea planter. She has two brothers and sisters and received her education from Colombo Bishop’s College.
She is going abroad for higher education. She holds a BA in Sociology from Delhi University and a Master’s in Applied Anthropology and Development Studies from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.
In 2011, she also obtained a doctorate in social anthropology, international health, and development studies from the University of Edinburgh and Queen Margaret University.
Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is a university lecturer who has significantly contributed to education.
For the past decade, she has been a senior lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences at the Open University of Sri Lanka and has also been involved in the university’s administrative affairs.
Since 2016, Dr. Amarasuriya has been a member of the University Grants Commission Committee on Gender Equality and Equality. Additionally, she is an activist for community health, AIDS, and children.
Dr. Amarasuriya has also held the position of director and chairman of a community health organisation in Sri Lanka, making a unique contribution to the field.
She has played a crucial role in advancing research on women and gender in Sri Lanka and has been a member of various organisations contributing to the country’s development.
Harini’s intervention in education, especially her involvement in advocating for free and equal education for all, is noteworthy.
She has actively participated in various movements and campaigns supporting this cause. Harini has served as the secretary of the Open University Teachers’ Association and the assistant secretary of the University Teachers’ Association for several years.
Her recent contributions to the ongoing struggles for free education have been significant.
Step into the politics
In the meantime, the National People’s Power, a political party, was established. Her involvement in the party became a significant issue, and steps were taken to appoint her as a National List MP, a position won by the National People’s Power in the 2020 general election.
This marked the beginning of her political journey. Her appointment was a crucial development as she emerged as a prominent figure addressing essential issues in Parliament.
Since she entered Parliament, there have been 389 sessions, and she has been present for 269 of those days, actively contributing to discussions.
Primary Interventions
She has initiated discussions on women’s challenges in Sri Lanka, highlighting gender-based disparities and violations of women’s rights.
Her efforts were influential in establishing a parliamentary special committee to address gender equality issues and make recommendations to the Parliament.
Additionally, she has been actively involved in addressing child malnutrition in Sri Lanka, proposing unique solutions and collaborating with various committees such as the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women, and Gender, the Parliamentary Forum on Animal Welfare, the Committee on Public Accounts, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, and the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Education.
She has also been vocal on education, rights, representation, health, and economic and financial matters in Parliament.
2024 presidential election
It’s well known that Dr. Harini Amarasuriya played a significant role as a prominent speaker in Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s 2024 presidential campaign.
She was instrumental in mobilising support from women for the National People’s Force before the election. Dr Amarasuriya mentioned in a Facebook post that she travelled 21500 kilometres across the country to participate in campaign activities.
Sri Lanka’s historical situation regarding women’s politics
The first female prime minister in the world was from Sri Lanka. After the assassination of her husband, former Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Sirimavo Bandaranaike entered politics.
Later, her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga became prime minister in the 1994 general election. Chandrika Kumaratunga became the first female president of Sri Lanka by winning the presidential election in 1994.
Both of them belonged to the same family and could be considered prime ministers following the death of their husbands and father.
The entry of women into politics from powerful political family backgrounds is a common occurrence in South Asia. In countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, it can be observed that all the women who served as state leaders entered active politics after the assassination of their fathers or husbands.
Harini’s responsibility
Harini Amarasuriya is a woman who entered active politics from the education sector without any political legacy. She is the first woman with a doctorate to become the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, which has garnered attention in South Asian politics.
Some view her appointment as a coincidence, but it is undeniably unique. She has been entrusted with fulfilling the fundamental promises made by Anura Kumara Dissanayake during the presidential election. It’s crucial to acknowledge that her appointment’s significance and historical value lie in realising those aspirations.
