13 Facts About Richard Pathirana

Richard Pathirana was a Sri Lankan politician and educationist.

Richard Pathirana was the minister for education and higher education from 1994 to 2000 and the minister for state administration, home affairs and administration reforms from 2000 to 2001 in the cabinets of Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Richard Pathirana graduated from the Peradeniya University and obtained his post graduate diploma from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Richard Pathirana was married to Vijitha Pathirage and they had three children.

Richard Pathirana was a teacher by profession and his teaching career spanned over 22 years.

Richard Pathirana began his teaching career in 1958 and became a school principal in 1971.

Richard Pathirana was first elected to the Parliament in 1983 in the Akmeemana by-election that year.

Richard Pathirana was the chief opposition whip from 1989 to 1994 in the Sri Lankan parliament and he was the Galle District leader for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party at many elections.

Richard Pathirana was re-elected to the parliament in 1994 and was appointed minister of education and higher education and chief government whip in the People's Alliance government of Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Richard Pathirana was the leader of the house i 2000 to 2001 and was the minister for state administration, home affairs and administration reforms.

Richard Pathirana's son, Ramesh, is a current member of parliament and minister of plantation industries and eExport agriculture.

Richard Pathirana established the Rajarata, Sabaragamuwa and Wayamba Universities while higher education minister and increased the annual enrollments of students to local universities.

Richard Pathirana took measures to double the allocation made for education and took the initiative to resolve the salary anomalies of Sri Lankan teachers as the education minister.