Champika Ranawaka

The Honorable Ir
Patali Champika Ranawaka
පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක

MP
Minister of Megalopolis and Western Development
Assumed office
4 September 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by Ministry established
Ministry of Power and Energy
In office
12 January 2015  17 August 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi
Succeeded by Ranjith Siyambalapitiya
Ministry of Power and Energy
In office
12 January 2015  17 August 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi
Minister of Environment & Natural Resources
Ministry of Technology, Research and Atomic Energy
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Colombo District
Personal details
Born (1965-08-04) 4 August 1965
Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan
Political party Jathika Hela Urumaya
Alma mater University of Moratuwa
Taxila Central College, Horana
Occupation Engineer
Profession Electrical & Power Engineer
Religion Theravada Buddhism

Ranawaka Arachchige Patali Champika Ranawaka (Sinhala: පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක; born 4 August 1965) is a MP in Sri Lanka, and an Electrical Engineer by profession. Champika held Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, Power and Energy and Technology, Research and Atomic Energy and currently holds the ministry of Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development to build the Western Region Megapolis plan of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe[1][2]

Early life

Champika Ranawaka entered Taxila Central College, Horana after being qualified from the Scholarship Examination. Been an all-rounder at different extra curricular activities, Champika got qualified from G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination ranking first from the Kalutara district to the Engineering faculty of the University of Moratuwa. In 1988 he was graduated with a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Power Engineering. Ranawaka was writing articles to the newspaper in which the 'unofficial' editor was Prof. Nalin de Silva.Also, he wrote to the newspaper Vidusara, alias 'Sapumal Senanayake'[3]

He was an activist in the student movements in Sri Lanka during the late 1980s and was a member of the pro-J.V.P. student union. Quitting J.V.P. due to political and visionary reasons he formed the Non-political organization called, 'Janatha Mithuro' with some of his colleagues like Ven.Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Nishantha Warnasinghe and Malinda Seneviratne. 'Janatha Mithuro' was criticized for its right-wing anti-Tamil ideology and actions.[4] In the 1993 presidential elections they backed the People's Alliance headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Member of Parliament

When the JHU joined the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2007 they were offered a cabinet ministerial position. Since an ordained monk could not hold such a position Rev.Dr.Omalpe Sobhitha Thero resigned from his seat in parliament thus making way for Ranawaka to be nominated to parliament as a national list MP (appointed by the party and not elected). Ranawaka then accepted the post of minister of environment and natural resources.

Minister Ranawaka contested the 2010 General Election under the UPFA from Colombo District and was placed third place by obtaining 120,333 votes securing membership in the Sri Lanka Parliament.[5]

Allegations of racism

In 2008 Ranawaka called the Muslim community in Sri Lanka 'outsiders' sparking widespread protests.[6]

Criticism of international interventions

Ranawaka has also been critical of international intervention in Sri Lanka stating that anyone who takes action against Sri Lanka will be supporting terrorism.[7] In April 2011 Ranawaka called the United Nation's report on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka 'diplomatic terrorism'.[8] Ranwaka has also opposed airstrikes against Libya.[9]

Bibliography

See also

References


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