29 Facts About Mahinda Rajapakse

1.

Mahinda Rajapakse served as the President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015; the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2005,2018, and 2019 to 2022; the Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2004 and 2018 to 2019, and the Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2015 and 2019 to 2021.

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2.

Mahinda Rajapakse has been a Member of Parliament for Kurunegala since 2015.

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3.

Mahinda Rajapakse served as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party from 2005 to 2015.

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4.

Mahinda Rajapakse became Prime Minister again on 21 November 2019 after being appointed by his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had become president on 18 November after winning the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election.

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5.

Mahinda Rajapakse was targeted during the 2022 Sri Lankan Protests over the corruption and mismanagement by the Rajapaksa family which led to an economic crisis that brought Sri Lanka to the point of bankruptcy as it defaulted on its loans for the first time in its history since independence.

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6.

On 9 May 2022, Mahinda Rajapakse Rajapaksa organised his supporters at his official residence who were brought by buses and led by SLPP MPs.

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7.

Mahinda Rajapakse became a member of the Ceylon Mercantile Union and was elected its branch secretary in 1967.

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8.

Chamal who had joined the Ceylon Police Force as a Sub-inspector, turndown Mrs Bandaranaike's offer in favour of his younger brother and Mahinda Rajapakse Rajapaksa was appointed as SLFP organiser for Beliatta in 1968.

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9.

Mahinda Rajapakse thereafter started his legal practice in criminal law in the Unofficial Bar in Tangalle, which he did until 1994.

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10.

Mahinda Rajapakse continued to engage in politics and was re-elected to parliament in 1989, representing Hambantota District under proportional representation.

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11.

Mahinda Rajapakse came to prominence as a leader, together with Dr Manorani Saravanamuttu of the Mothers' Front.

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12.

Mahinda Rajapakse frequently complained about Sri Lanka's situation while in Geneva; he claimed that to restore democratic ideals, it is neither treacherous nor unpatriotic to seek third-party intervention.

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13.

Mahinda Rajapakse demanded that the United Nations, alongside NGOs such as Amnesty International, be allowed to come to Sri Lanka and investigate.

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14.

Mahinda Rajapakse held this post until 1997 when, following a cabinet reshuffle, his portfolio was changed to Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

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15.

Mahinda Rajapakse was however appointed as Leader of the Opposition in March 2002.

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16.

Mahinda Rajapakse was sworn in as Sri Lanka's 13th Prime Minister on 6 April 2004.

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17.

Mahinda Rajapakse Rajapaksa was chosen by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to run against Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader.

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18.

Mahinda Rajapakse was elected as Member of Parliament for Kurunegala District.

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19.

On 18 December 2018, the Speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, announced that Mahinda Rajapakse Rajapaksa had been appointed as Leader of the Opposition, with the UPFA joining the opposition benches in Parliament.

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20.

Mahinda Rajapakse replaced R Sampanthan, who was the leader of the Tamil National Alliance.

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21.

Mahinda Rajapakse was called Myna by the protesters who established MynaGoGama protest site outside his official residence at temple trees.

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22.

Mahinda Rajapakse is widely accused of using his family members for government duties, claims he has rejected.

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23.

Mahinda Rajapakse continued to stand against the Tamil version of the anthem and slammed his successors for removing the ban and singing it again on Independence Day, claiming that the "national anthem should be sung in one language and not two or three languages"; the Pro-Rajapaksa Joint Opposition boycotted the event.

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24.

Mahinda Rajapakse was the second eldest of nine chidden in the family which included six boys and three girls.

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25.

Mahinda Rajapakse served as minister of finance of Sri Lanka from 2021 to 2022 until his resignation amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan anti-government protests Mahinda Rajapaksa's eldest brother, Chamal Rajapaksa, has been an MP since 1989.

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26.

Mahinda Rajapakse was elected Speaker of the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

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27.

Mahinda Rajapakse Rajapaksa is superstitious; he wears talismans and consults astrologers in his decision-making.

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28.

Mahinda Rajapakse is known for acquiring a large number of valuable rings as lucky charms, some with colored stones and elephant hair.

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29.

Mahinda Rajapakse was referred as a "King" by some of his supporters, and he used the media to portray himself as a strong man.

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