Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi is a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and former cabinet minister.
15 Facts About Pavithra Wanniarachchi
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi is a Member of Parliament from the Ratnapura District.
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Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi was born on 10 November 1964, as the eldest daughter of Dharmadasa Wanniarachchi and Podi Menike Weerasekera Wanniarachchi.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi's father was a senior politician who served as the 7th Governor of the North Western Province from 2004 until his death in 2007 and a member of Parliament from 1967 to 1977 and from 2000 to 2001.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi has one sister, Prasanna Devi Wanniarachchi, who is a lawyer.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi then entered Gankanda Central College and Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda for her secondary education.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi was the Head Prefect, leader of the debating team, president of the Buddhist Association, Member of the Western band and the Captain of the 1st Volleyball Team of Anula Vidyalaya.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi then entered Sri Lanka Law College in 1985 and took oaths as an attorney of law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka five years later.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi then became a member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council in 1993 and in 1994 she entered Parliament as an MP representing the Ratnapura District.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi's husband is Kanchana Jayaratne, who is the Chairman of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and serves as her Private Secretary.
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In March 2021, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi dismissed five members of the Sri Lanka Medical Council, including its President, Prof.
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Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi faced criticism for approving COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, without comprehensive efficacy and safety data.
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In March 2022, upon assuming duties as the Minister of Power and Energy, Pavithra Wanniarachchi emphasized that public servants should not evade crises or assign blame.
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Pavithra Wanniarachchi advocated for collaborative efforts to address challenges, referencing her previous tenure where she transformed the Petroleum Corporation from a loss-incurring entity to a profitable one.
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In May 2024, as Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Pavithra Wanniarachchi controversially decided to remove the protected status of certain areas within the Vidattaltivu Nature Reserve.