Shiranthi Rajapaksa
Shiranthi Rajapaksa | |
|---|---|
 Shiranthi Rajapaksa in 2010 | |
| 6th First Lady of Sri Lanka | |
| In role 19 November 2005 – 9 January 2015 | |
| Succeeded by | Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shiranthi Wickremasinghe 12 January 1953 |
| Spouse | Mahinda Rajapaksa (m.1983) |
| Children | Namal (b. 1986) Yoshitha (b. 1988) Rohitha (b. 1989) |
| Parent | E. P. Wickremasinghe (father) |
Shiranthi Rajapaksa (née Wickremasinghe; born 23 January 1953) is a Sri Lankan educator and model who served as the First Lady of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015, as the wife of the sixth President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa.[1]
Life
[edit]In her youth, Rajapaksa worked as a hotel receptionist. She was selected as Miss Sri Lanka and competed in the Miss Universe 1973 and Miss World 1973 pageants.[2]
She is the founder of the Carlton Schools of Sri Lanka, a group of six preschools in Colombo, Beliatta, Ranna, Walasmulla, Tangalle and Weeraketiya.[3]
During her husband's presidency, she operated the Carlton Siriliya Saviya Foundation, a non-governmental organization which promotes peace and development.[4] Later administrations accused Rajapaksa of using the foundation's bank accounts fraudulently.[5][6]
Personal life
[edit]Rajakpaksa was born in Badulla to Violet Wickramasinghe and naval officer E. P. Wickremasinghe.[3] Her elder brother, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, was previously the chairman of SriLankan Airlines, while her younger brother, Srimal Wickramasinghe, was appointed Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Seychelles in 2021.[7] She has three sons with her husband.[8]
Rajakpaksa was raised Catholic, but converted to Buddhism prior to her marriage.[9] In 2007, she was recognized as an "Outstanding Woman in Buddhism" by the International Women's Meditation Center Foundation.[3] However, sources in the 2010s described her as a "devout Catholic".[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ "First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa". Barack Obama Presidential Library. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "Miss World Contestant Darts into Local". Cambridge Evening News. 3 December 1973. p. 4.
- 1 2 3 "Madam Shiran Wickramasingh Rajapaksa". International Women’s Meditation Center Foundation. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
- ↑ "Corruption case: Lankan police question Rajapaksa's wife". Firstpost. PTI. 1 June 2015.
- ↑ "Fresh probe into Shiranthi's bank account". Sri Lanka Mirror. 23 June 2025.
- ↑ "Rajapaksa family summoned in renewed criminal investigations". Tamil Guardian. 2026-02-03. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
- ↑ Werasinghe, N. H. L. (2021-01-21). "Mahinda's BIL named as High Commissioner to Seychelles". LankaTruth English. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
- ↑ Webley, Kayla (2010-01-28). "Mahinda Rajapaksa". TIME. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
- ↑ "Kerala temple atones as President clarifies wife's religion". Tamil Guardian. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
- ↑ "Pope Benedict to express concern over Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph's safety to President Rajapaksa at Vatican". Sri Lanka Brief. 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
