Difference between revisions of "Chandrika Kumaratunga" - New World Encyclopedia
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|image = Chandrika Kumaratunga.jpg | |image = Chandrika Kumaratunga.jpg | ||
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| − | |term_start = | + | |term_start = November 12, 1994 |
| − | |term_end = | + | |term_end = November 19, 2005 |
|predecessor = [[Dingiri Banda Wijetunga]] | |predecessor = [[Dingiri Banda Wijetunga]] | ||
|successor = [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] | |successor = [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] | ||
| order2 = 14th [[Prime Minister (Sri Lanka)|Prime Minister of Sri Lanka]] | | order2 = 14th [[Prime Minister (Sri Lanka)|Prime Minister of Sri Lanka]] | ||
| − | | term_start2 = | + | | term_start2 = August 19 1994 |
| − | | term_end2 = | + | | term_end2 = November 14 1994 |
| predecessor2 = [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]] | | predecessor2 = [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]] | ||
| successor2 = [[Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike]] | | successor2 = [[Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike]] | ||
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| − | [[Her Excellency]] '''Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga ''' (born | + | [[Her Excellency]] '''Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga ''' (born 29 June 1945) was the fifth [[President of Sri Lanka|President]] (and fourth to hold the office as [[Executive president]]) of [[Sri Lanka]] (12 November 1994 - 19 November 2005). She was the leader of the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] until end of 2005. She was Sri Lanka's first [[female president]].<ref name="chandrika-profile">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3239821.stm | title =BBC Profile: Chandrika Kumaratunga|work =|publisher = BBC News|date=August 26, 2005|}}</ref> <ref name="chandrika-britannica">{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9218421/Chandrika-Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga|title=Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga|publisher=BRITANNICA-Online}}</ref> Her father and mother were both Prime Ministers; her mother was Sri Lanka's first female Prime Minister. The fact that several [[Asia|Asian]] countries<ref>including [[India]] ([[Indira Gandhi]], [[Pakistan]] (Benazir Bhutto]] and [[Bangladesh]] ([[Sheikh Hasina]] and [[Khaleda Zia]]</ref> have produced women leaders whose husbands or fathers had also served as heads of government or of state has led to some dismissing their achievements as dependent on their dynastic legacy. Others have pointed out that such women have their own skills and brought particular experiences into the political arena. Their achievements should not be dismissed simply because they belong to political families anymore than should that, say, of [[John Quincy Adams]] or [[George W. Bush]] simply because their fathers were also [[United States]] Presidents.<ref>The term "dynasty" is also inappropriate, since succession to power was via election, not inherited. See |
==Early life & education== | ==Early life & education== | ||
| − | Coming from a family that has a long history in the socio-political arena of the country, her father, [[Solomon Bandaranaike]] was a government minister at the time of her birth and later became [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|Prime Minister]]. He was assassinated in | + | Coming from a family that has a long history in the socio-political arena of the country, her father, [[Solomon Bandaranaike]] was a government minister at the time of her birth and later became [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|Prime Minister]]. He was assassinated in 1959, when Chandrika was fourteen. Chandrika's mother, [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]], then became the world's first female prime minister in 1960 and her brother [[Anura Bandaranaike]] was a former [[Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka]], a former minister and is currently a member of parliament. Her grandfather, [[Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranike]] was the [[Sri Lankan Mudaliyars|Maha Mudaliyar]], (the chief native interpreter and advisor to the Governor) during British colonial rule. |
Chandrika spent five years at the [[University of Paris]], graduating from the ''[[Paris Institute of Political Studies|Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris]] (Sciences Po)'' in political science{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. While in Paris she obtained a Diploma in Group Leadership from the same University. Her Ph. D studies in Development Economics at the University of Paris were interrupted by the call to serve her country, where her mother’s government had launched a wide ranging programme of reform and development. During her days in France, she was active in the Student Revolution of 1968. She is fluent in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]], [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]].<ref name="chandrika-bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/566562.stm|title=Chandrika Kumaratunga: Politics in the blood|publisher=BBC News|date=9 October, 2000}}</ref> | Chandrika spent five years at the [[University of Paris]], graduating from the ''[[Paris Institute of Political Studies|Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris]] (Sciences Po)'' in political science{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. While in Paris she obtained a Diploma in Group Leadership from the same University. Her Ph. D studies in Development Economics at the University of Paris were interrupted by the call to serve her country, where her mother’s government had launched a wide ranging programme of reform and development. During her days in France, she was active in the Student Revolution of 1968. She is fluent in [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]], [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]].<ref name="chandrika-bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/566562.stm|title=Chandrika Kumaratunga: Politics in the blood|publisher=BBC News|date=9 October, 2000}}</ref> | ||
==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
| − | After returning to Sri Lanka, she took up politics in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and in | + | After returning to Sri Lanka, she took up politics in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and in 1974 became an Executive Committee Member of its Women's League. Following the [[Land Reform]] in Sri Lanka in 1972- 1976, she was Additional Principal Director of the '''Land Reform Commission''' (LRC). In 1976 - 1977 she was Chairman of the '''Janawasa Commission''', which established collective farms. In 1976- 1979 she acted as a consultant to the [[Food and Agriculture Organisation]](FAO). |
She stayed in active politics supporting her husbands party [[Sri Lanka Mahajana Party]] by leaving the SLFP. After Vijaya Kumaratunga was assassinated she left the country for the [[UK]],working for UNU-WIDER (United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research) during her time there, not returning till 1991. | She stayed in active politics supporting her husbands party [[Sri Lanka Mahajana Party]] by leaving the SLFP. After Vijaya Kumaratunga was assassinated she left the country for the [[UK]],working for UNU-WIDER (United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research) during her time there, not returning till 1991. | ||
Kumaratunga was elected as the Chief Minister of the Western Province of Sri Lanka in 1993 in a land slide election victory. | Kumaratunga was elected as the Chief Minister of the Western Province of Sri Lanka in 1993 in a land slide election victory. | ||
| − | Kumaratunga herself was [[Sri Lankan legislative election, 1994|elected]] Prime Minister of a [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] (PA) government on | + | Kumaratunga herself was [[Sri Lankan legislative election, 1994|elected]] Prime Minister of a [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] (PA) government on August 19, 1994 and President in the [[Sri Lankan presidential election, 1994|presidential election]] held shortly thereafter in November. This ended 17 years of [[United National Party|UNP]] rule. She appointed her mother to succeed her as Prime Minister. Early in her term she made conciliatory moves towards the separatist [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|Tamil Tigers]] to attempt to end the on-going [[Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka|civil war]]. These overtures failed, and she later pursued a more military-based strategy against them. |
==Presidency== | ==Presidency== | ||
| − | In October 1999 Kumaratunga called an early [[Sri Lankan presidential election, 1999|presidential election]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/480270.stm BBC News | South Asia | Presidential poll in Sri Lanka<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>. She lost vision in her right eye (permanent optic nerve damage) in an assassination attempt, allegedly by the separatist [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|Tamil Tigers]], at her final election rally at [[Colombo]] [[Town Hall]] premises on | + | In October 1999 Kumaratunga called an early [[Sri Lankan presidential election, 1999|presidential election]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/480270.stm BBC News | South Asia | Presidential poll in Sri Lanka<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>. She lost vision in her right eye (permanent optic nerve damage) in an assassination attempt, allegedly by the separatist [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|Tamil Tigers]], at her final election rally at [[Colombo]] [[Town Hall]] premises on 18 December 1999. President Kumaratunga defeated [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]] in the election held on 21 December and was sworn in for another term the next day.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/574780.stm] |
[[Image:Chandrika Kumaratunga and Colin Powell.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Kumaratunga (center) meeting with former [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Colin Powell]] (irght)]] | [[Image:Chandrika Kumaratunga and Colin Powell.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Kumaratunga (center) meeting with former [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Colin Powell]] (irght)]] | ||
| − | In December 2001 she suffered a setback in the [[Sri Lanka parliamentary election, 2001|parliamentary election]]. | + | In December 2001 she suffered a setback in the [[Sri Lanka parliamentary election, 2001|parliamentary election]]. Her [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] lost to the [[United National Party|UNP]], and her political opponent [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]] took office as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister. She continued as [[President of Sri Lanka]] although her relationship with the Wickremasinghe government was a strained one. |
| − | In February 2002 Wickremasinghe's government and the LTTE signed a permanent [[ceasefire]] agreement, paving the way for talks to end the long-running conflict. In December, the government and the rebels agreed to share power during peace talks in [[Norway]]. President Kumaratunga believed Wickremasinghe was being too lenient towards the LTTE. In May 2003 she indicated her willingness to sack the prime minister and government if she felt they were making too many concessions to the rebels. | + | In February 2002 Wickremasinghe's government and the LTTE signed a permanent [[ceasefire]] agreement, paving the way for talks to end the long-running conflict. In December, the government and the rebels agreed to share power during peace talks in [[Norway]]. President Kumaratunga believed Wickremasinghe was being too lenient towards the LTTE. In May 2003 she indicated her willingness to sack the prime minister and government if she felt they were making too many concessions to the rebels. On 4 November 2003, while Prime Minister Wickremasinghe was on an official visit to the [[United States]], Kumaratunga suspended Parliament and deployed troops to take control of the country, effectively putting it into a state of emergency. |
| − | Kumaratunga's PA and the leftist [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] or JVP (People's Liberation Front) formed the [[United People's Freedom Alliance]] (UPFA) in January 2004. Having won the [[Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004|election]] held on | + | Kumaratunga's PA and the leftist [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] or JVP (People's Liberation Front) formed the [[United People's Freedom Alliance]] (UPFA) in January 2004. Having won the [[Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004|election]] held on 2 April 2004 the UPFA formed a government with [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] as prime minister. This marked the first time in history that the JVP became a partner in a Sri Lankan government.<ref name="chandrika-Timeasia">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/sri_lanka/sri_lanka_intvu.html|title=Kumaratunga Interview|publisher=Time Asia|date=March 22, 2004}}</ref> |
However, in June 2005, the JVP left her government over a disagreement regarding a joint mechanism with LTTE rebels to share foreign aid to rebuild the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|tsunami]]-devastated Northern and Eastern areas of Sri Lanka.<ref name="un-2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/webcast/summit2005/statements15/sri05091515eng.pdf|title=General Assembly of the United Nations-15 September 2005}}</ref> | However, in June 2005, the JVP left her government over a disagreement regarding a joint mechanism with LTTE rebels to share foreign aid to rebuild the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|tsunami]]-devastated Northern and Eastern areas of Sri Lanka.<ref name="un-2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/webcast/summit2005/statements15/sri05091515eng.pdf|title=General Assembly of the United Nations-15 September 2005}}</ref> | ||
| − | Kumaratunga's six-year term ended in 2005. | + | Kumaratunga's six-year term ended in 2005. She argued that since the 1999 election had been held one year early, she should be allowed to serve that left-over year. This claim was rejected by the [[Supreme Court of Sri Lanka|Supreme Court]] and Kumaratunga's term was ended in November 2005. In the [[Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005|2005 election]], Rajapaksa succeeded her as president, leading all 25 parties in the UPFA. |
==Aftermath of presidency== | ==Aftermath of presidency== | ||
| − | Kumaratunga noted recently in | + | Kumaratunga noted recently in 2007 "I sincerely tried to reach a political consensus to solve the ethnic question, and tried to introduce a pluralistic constitution that would cater to the political aspirations of the Tamil people without dividing the country".<ref name="himal southasia">{{cite web|url=http://www.himalmag.com/2007/october_november/chandrika_kumaratunga.html|title=The Queen ponders a return|publisher=HIMAL South Asian}}</ref> |
==Family life== | ==Family life== | ||
| − | Chandrika married movie star and politician [[Vijaya Kumaratunga]] in | + | Chandrika married movie star and politician [[Vijaya Kumaratunga]] in 1978. Vijaya Kumaratunga was assassinated on 16th February 1988, outside his residence in the presence of Chandrika and their two little children then aged 5 years and 7 years. The extremists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) claimed responsibility for this act. Vijaya Kumaratunga's funeral, remains to date, the largest attended funeral of any politician or film idol in Sri Lanka. |
| − | Their two children Yasodhara Kumaratunga Walker (born 1980) is a [[Medical Doctor]] ([[Corpus Christi College,University of Cambridge and St George's Medical School, University of London) and Vimukthi Kumaratunga (born 1982) is a [[Veterinary Surgeon]] [[University of Bristol]], | + | Their two children Yasodhara Kumaratunga Walker (born 1980) is a [[Medical Doctor]] ([[Corpus Christi College,University of Cambridge and St George's Medical School, University of London) and Vimukthi Kumaratunga (born 1982) is a [[Veterinary Surgeon]] [[University of Bristol]], UK. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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[[Category:Living people|Kumaratunga, Chandrika]] | [[Category:Living people|Kumaratunga, Chandrika]] | ||
[[Category:Presidents of Sri Lanka|Kumaratunga, Chandrika]] | [[Category:Presidents of Sri Lanka|Kumaratunga, Chandrika]] | ||
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[[Category:Food and Agriculture Organization officials|Kumaratunga, Chandrika]] | [[Category:Food and Agriculture Organization officials|Kumaratunga, Chandrika]] | ||
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{{Credit|206574945}} | {{Credit|206574945}} | ||
Revision as of 18:42, 12 July 2008
| [[Image:{{{image name}}}|225px|center|Chandrika Kumaratunga]] | |
| Term of office | {{{date1}}} – {{{date2}}} |
| Preceded by | {{{preceded}}} |
| Succeeded by | {{{succeeded}}} |
| Date of birth | {{{date of birth}}} |
| Place of birth | {{{place of birth}}} |
| Date of death | {{{date of death}}} |
| Place of death | {{{place of death}}} |
| Spouse | {{{wife}}} |
| Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (born 29 June 1945) was the fifth President (and fourth to hold the office as Executive president) of Sri Lanka (12 November 1994 - 19 November 2005). She was the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until end of 2005. She was Sri Lanka's first female president.[1] [2] Her father and mother were both Prime Ministers; her mother was Sri Lanka's first female Prime Minister. The fact that several Asian countries[3] have produced women leaders whose husbands or fathers had also served as heads of government or of state has led to some dismissing their achievements as dependent on their dynastic legacy. Others have pointed out that such women have their own skills and brought particular experiences into the political arena. Their achievements should not be dismissed simply because they belong to political families anymore than should that, say, of John Quincy Adams or George W. Bush simply because their fathers were also United States Presidents.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
Political career
After returning to Sri Lanka, she took up politics in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and in 1974 became an Executive Committee Member of its Women's League. Following the Land Reform in Sri Lanka in 1972- 1976, she was Additional Principal Director of the Land Reform Commission (LRC). In 1976 - 1977 she was Chairman of the Janawasa Commission, which established collective farms. In 1976- 1979 she acted as a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO).
She stayed in active politics supporting her husbands party Sri Lanka Mahajana Party by leaving the SLFP. After Vijaya Kumaratunga was assassinated she left the country for the UK,working for UNU-WIDER (United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research) during her time there, not returning till 1991.
Kumaratunga was elected as the Chief Minister of the Western Province of Sri Lanka in 1993 in a land slide election victory. Kumaratunga herself was elected Prime Minister of a People's Alliance (PA) government on August 19, 1994 and President in the presidential election held shortly thereafter in November. This ended 17 years of UNP rule. She appointed her mother to succeed her as Prime Minister. Early in her term she made conciliatory moves towards the separatist Tamil Tigers to attempt to end the on-going civil war. These overtures failed, and she later pursued a more military-based strategy against them.
Presidency
In October 1999 Kumaratunga called an early presidential election[4]. She lost vision in her right eye (permanent optic nerve damage) in an assassination attempt, allegedly by the separatist Tamil Tigers, at her final election rally at Colombo Town Hall premises on 18 December 1999. President Kumaratunga defeated Ranil Wickremasinghe in the election held on 21 December and was sworn in for another term the next day.[1]
In December 2001 she suffered a setback in the parliamentary election. Her People's Alliance lost to the UNP, and her political opponent Ranil Wickremasinghe took office as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister. She continued as President of Sri Lanka although her relationship with the Wickremasinghe government was a strained one.
In February 2002 Wickremasinghe's government and the LTTE signed a permanent ceasefire agreement, paving the way for talks to end the long-running conflict. In December, the government and the rebels agreed to share power during peace talks in Norway. President Kumaratunga believed Wickremasinghe was being too lenient towards the LTTE. In May 2003 she indicated her willingness to sack the prime minister and government if she felt they were making too many concessions to the rebels. On 4 November 2003, while Prime Minister Wickremasinghe was on an official visit to the United States, Kumaratunga suspended Parliament and deployed troops to take control of the country, effectively putting it into a state of emergency.
Kumaratunga's PA and the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP (People's Liberation Front) formed the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in January 2004. Having won the election held on 2 April 2004 the UPFA formed a government with Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister. This marked the first time in history that the JVP became a partner in a Sri Lankan government.[5]
However, in June 2005, the JVP left her government over a disagreement regarding a joint mechanism with LTTE rebels to share foreign aid to rebuild the tsunami-devastated Northern and Eastern areas of Sri Lanka.[6]
Kumaratunga's six-year term ended in 2005. She argued that since the 1999 election had been held one year early, she should be allowed to serve that left-over year. This claim was rejected by the Supreme Court and Kumaratunga's term was ended in November 2005. In the 2005 election, Rajapaksa succeeded her as president, leading all 25 parties in the UPFA.
Aftermath of presidency
Kumaratunga noted recently in 2007 "I sincerely tried to reach a political consensus to solve the ethnic question, and tried to introduce a pluralistic constitution that would cater to the political aspirations of the Tamil people without dividing the country".[7]
Family life
Chandrika married movie star and politician Vijaya Kumaratunga in 1978. Vijaya Kumaratunga was assassinated on 16th February 1988, outside his residence in the presence of Chandrika and their two little children then aged 5 years and 7 years. The extremists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) claimed responsibility for this act. Vijaya Kumaratunga's funeral, remains to date, the largest attended funeral of any politician or film idol in Sri Lanka. Their two children Yasodhara Kumaratunga Walker (born 1980) is a Medical Doctor ([[Corpus Christi College,University of Cambridge and St George's Medical School, University of London) and Vimukthi Kumaratunga (born 1982) is a Veterinary Surgeon University of Bristol, UK.
See also
- President of Sri Lanka
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ "BBC Profile: Chandrika Kumaratunga", BBC News, August 26, 2005.
- ↑ Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. BRITANNICA-Online.
- ↑ including India (Indira Gandhi, Pakistan (Benazir Bhutto]] and Bangladesh (Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia
- ↑ BBC News | South Asia | Presidential poll in Sri Lanka
- ↑ "Kumaratunga Interview", Time Asia, March 22, 2004.
- ↑ General Assembly of the United Nations-15 September 2005.
- ↑ The Queen ponders a return. HIMAL South Asian.
External links
- Chandrika Kumaratunga's official website
- Sri Lanka Freedom Party's official Website
- Profile by BBC
- Search BBC for news about Chandrika Kumaratunga
- Ministry of Defence : Sri Lanka
- Profile of Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga on Sri Lankan government website
- Personal reminiscence of meeting with the Sri Lankan President by S. Abbas Raza of 3 Quarks Daily.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Dingiri Banda Wijetunge |
President of Sri Lanka 1994–2005 |
Succeeded by: Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Preceded by: Ranil Wickremesinghe |
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka 1994–1994 |
Succeeded by: Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike |
Template:SriLankaPresidents Template:SriLankaPrimeMinisters
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