Chamal Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan politician and a former parliamentarian who is known to be the elder brother of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa was born on Sunday, 30 October 1942 (age 80 years; as of 2022) in Palatuwa, Matara, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). After completing his formal education at Richmond College, Chamal joined the police force in 1964. [1]Chamal Rajapaksa – Sri Lankan Parliament
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Chamal Rajapaksa with Mahinda Rajapaksa
Family
Chamal Rajapaksa belongs to a Sri Lankan Sinhalese family. [2]The Times of India
Parents & Siblings
His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, was a freedom fighter and a politician. His mother’s name is Dandina Rajapaksa (deceased).
A photograph of DA Rajapaksa and Dandina Rajapaksa
Chamal Rajapaksa has eight siblings. His younger brother Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015. He was also the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2019 to 2022. His brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the former President of Sri Lanka, who fled the country in July 2022 amidst the economic crisis. Gotabaya returned to the country in September 2022. His younger brother Basil Rajapaksa is a former member of the parliament who served as the minister of finance from 8 July 2021 to 3 April 2022.
A photo of Chamal Rajapaksa with Gotabaya Rajapaksa (right) and Mahinda Rajapaksa (left)
His younger brother Dudley Rajapaksa is the vice president of QA/RA/Technical Service at Berlin Heart GmbH.
Dudley Rajapaksa, brother of Chamal Rajapaksa
His brother Chandra Tudor Rajapaksa died in July 2022.
Chandra Tudor Rajapaksa, deceased brother of Chamal
His younger sister Gandini Rajapaksa died on 8 May 2017. His younger sister Jayanthi Rajapaksa is a former member of the Sri Lankan parliament and a former deputy minister of water supply and drainage (2010 – 2015). His sister Preethi Rajapaksa was a teacher. His other sister’s name is Gandini Rajapaksa.
Wife & Children
His wife’s name is Chandra Malani Rajapaksa. The couple got married in 1975. His elder son, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, was the Chief Minister of Uva Province and the custodian of Sri Skanda Kumara Maha Devalaya, Kataragama. His younger son’s name is Shamindra Rajapaksa.
A photo of Chamal Rajapaksa with his wife and sons
Religion
Chamal Rajapaksa follows Buddhism. [3]Sri Lankan parliament’s profile on Chamal Rajapaksa’s
Address
He resides at House No. B90, Gregory’s Road, 7th Lane, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
Career
As a Police Officer
Chamal Rajapaksa joined the Ceylon Police in 1964 as a Sub-Inspector. He served with the police force for more than eight years. As a police officer, Chamal served as the bodyguard of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world’s first female prime minister, who became the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (then the Dominion of Ceylon) in 1960. In 1972, Chamal left the police force and joined the State Trading General Corporation (STC). He left the corporation in 1985 as the Assistant General Manager. After leaving the corporation, Chamal Rajapaksa tended towards his coconut estate in Beliatte for a while.
Politics
In the 1983 by-election, UNP candidate Ananda Kularatne was elected as MP from Mulkirigala. However, defeated candidate Nirupama Rajapaksa filed an election petition against him, which necessitated another by-election. In 1985, Chamal Rajapaksa joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and contested the 1985 by-elections in Sri Lanka from the Mulkirigala Electorate; however, he lost by a slim margin of 1,300 votes. In 1989, Chamal Rajapaksa contested and won the parliamentary elections from the Hambantota constituency. Between 1989 and 2022, Chamal Rajapaksa held several key ministerial appointments such as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Deputy Minister of Ports & Southern Development, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries, Minister of Agricultural Development, Minister of Irrigation & Water Management, and Minister of Ports & Aviation. As a Minister of Irrigation & Water Management, Chamal Rajapaksa implemented several irrigation projects at Maw Ara, Weheragala, Weli Oya, Menik Ganga, Uma Oya, Deduru Oya, Kekiriobadakan Oya, and Yan Oya. In 2010, Chamal Rajapaksa was appointed the speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament by his younger brother, President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Chamal Rajapaksa while serving as the speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament
He served as the speaker of the house till 2015. Later, he left the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and joined Mahinda’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). On 9 November 2018, Chamal Rajapaksa was appointed the Minister of Health, Nutrition, and Indigenous Medicine.
Chamal Rajapaksa assuming his duties as the Minister of Health, Nutrition, and Indigenous Medicine
On 17 August 2020, he was once again appointed as Minister of Irrigation & Water Management by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Chamal Rajapaksa signing a document after swearing in as the Minister of Irrigation
In November 2020, he was sworn in as the State Minister of National Security, Home Affairs, and Disaster Management.
Chamal Rajapaksa signing a document after swearing in as the State Minister of National Security, Home Affairs, and Disaster Management
Chamal resigned from his post as cabinet minister on 3 April 2022 amidst the outbreak of violent protests in Sri Lanka due to the Sri Lankan economic crisis. Throughout his political career, Chamal has held several non-ministerial appointments such as President of the Sri Lanka – Russia Parliamentary Friendship Association, President of the Sri Lanka – Hungary Parliamentary Friendship Association, and Chairman of the District Development Committee, Hambantota. Chamal Rajapaksa never lost a general election between 1989 and 2022 and has remained the Member of the Parliament (MP) from the Hambantota constituency for more than 32 years. [4]Chamal Rajapaksa – Sri Lankan Parliament
A photo of Chamal Rajapaksa taken while he was giving a speech in the parliament
As a parliamentarian, he served on several parliamentary committees including Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, Sectoral Oversight Committee on Transport and Communication, Sub Committee on Prison Reforms under the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, Liaison Committee, Ministerial Consultative Committee on Ports & Shipping and Southern Development, and many more.
Facts/Trivia
- Chamal Rajapaksa is also known by his other name “The Bodyguard.” [5]The Times of India
- He used to play football during his school and even represented his school at various football tournaments.
- While serving as a member of the parliament, Chamal Rajapaksa received the Sri Lanka Janaseva Vibhushana, an honourary title bestowed upon him by the Sri Lankan government.
- In May 2022, Chamal Rajapaksa issued a statement in the Sri Lankan parliament in which he said that Mahinda Rajapaksa, his younger brother, should have retired after completing his second tenure as the President of Sri Lanka. Talking about it, he said,
One should be prepared to give up positions. I believe that Mahinda should have left when he completed his second tenure as the President of Sri Lanka. Failure to do so has led to him having to face the current situation. Being greedy for power leads to situations like what is being faced by us today.”
