Gamini Dissanayake
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2015) |
D. J. Ranaweera | |
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Succeeded by | Constituency Abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | 20 March 1942 Kandy, Sri Lanka |
Died | 24 October 1994 Colombo, Sri Lanka (assassinated) | (aged 52)
Spouse | Shrima Dissanayake |
Children | Navin, Mayantha, Varuni. |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Kandy, Wolfson College, Cambridge |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Lawyer |
Dissanayake Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Lionel Gamini Dissanayake, PC (known as Gamini Dissanayake; Sinhala: ලයනල් ගාමිණි දිසානායක,Tamil: காமினி திஸாநாயக்க; 20 March 1942 – 24 October 1994) was a prominent Sri Lankan politician, a powerful minister of the United National Party, and Leader of the Opposition. He was designated as the UNP candidate in the 1994 presidential election, but was then assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Early life and education
He was born in
Legal career
In 1961, he entered
Political career
Parliament
Following is father's legacy, he sought nomination from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party for the 1970 general elections from the Nuwara Eliya electorate, but was refused. He instead contested from the United National Party (UNP) and was elected as a member of parliament under United National Party (UNP) candidature and was one of the 18 UNP members in the parliament at a time when his party has faced an humiliating defeat. However, he was unseated in an election petition and faced suspension of his civic rights for seven years. That year a modification of the law by Minister of Justice, Felix Dias Bandaranaike to benefit Nanda Ellawala, allowed for Dissanayake to retain his civic rights and contest the by-election regaining his seat in parliament in 1972.[2]
Minister
He comfortably secured his Nuwaraeliya-Maskeliya multielectorate seat in the
He was the chairperson of the
United National Democratic Front
He played a major role in the aborted impeachment motion against President Premadasa and as a result was expelled from UNP in 1991. In the same year Dissanayaka joined Lalith Athulathmudali to form United National Democratic Front (DUNF) which was a rising political force of that era. Dissanayaka contested to Kandy District at 1993 provincial council elections and became a member of the Central Provincial Council. After the assassination of Athulathmudali, Dissanayake became the leader of DUNF.
Return to the UNP
Later he rejoined UNP and was appointed to the parliament as a national list MP and was offered a vital portfolio in the Wijethunga Government. In 1994 PA came to power defeating UNP when Dissanayaka was re elected as a member of parliament from Kandy District. In a contest held among UNP MPs to choose the opposition leader Dissanayaka recorded a comfortable victory over previous prime minister
Assassination
When President D.B. Wijetunga indicated he would not run in the 1994 presidential election, Dissanayake was selected as the UNP candidate at the same time he was the Leader of the Opposition in parliament. This was cut short when he was assassinated by a female suicide bomber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) while he was addressing an election meeting at Thotalanga.[4][5] Government of India deputed Salim Ali IPS of CBI and Professor T D Dogra of All India Institute of Medical Sciences to assist the investigations of Gamini Dissanayake's assassination.[6] His wife Srima Dissanayake ran in his stead, but was defeated by People's Alliance candidate and Prime Minister Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Family
Gamini Dissanayake married Srima Lenaduwa in 1968. They had two sons, who are active in politics, Navin and Mayantha. His eldest son
Further reading
- P. Jayaram (15 November 1994). "Gamini Dissanayake's assassination brings his widow into electoral fray, threatens stability". India Today.
See also
References
- ^ a b Epasinghe, Premasara. "Gamini Dissanayake - Man who was born to be great". Daily News. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ a b Wijeratne, Srimega. "Gamini Dissanayake - A Visionary Leader". Island. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ GunaratnaRohan. Interview with Hasitha Kuruppu. Ceylontoday. November 2013
- ^ Associated Press (24 October 1994). "Candidate Among 50 Dead in Sri Lanka Bomb Attack : Terrorism: Opposition leader is killed by a suicide assassin at an election rally. Tamil guerrillas suspected". Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Jane's Sentinel examines the success of the LTTE in resisting the Sri Lankan forces
- ^ "WIDOW WANTS INDIAN EXPERTS TO INVESTIGATE ASSASSINATION". AP. 31 October 1994. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
External links
- Gamini Dissanayake Upahara (One Hour Rare Video)
- A distinguished person and a noble son of Sri Lanka[permanent dead link]
- A Visionary Leader
- A Charismatic and Caring Leader
- Reflections on 67th Birth Anniversary
- Gamini Dissanayake: Servant of Lanka[permanent dead link]
- QUALITIES OF Gamini Dissanayake[permanent dead link]
- Gamini: The renaissance man
- Gamini Dissanayake, a political colossus
- The Miracle-Maker; The Robert Kennedy Of Sri Lanka