Srima Dissanayake
| Srima Dissanayake MPC | |
|---|---|
| United National Party candidate for President of Sri Lanka | |
|
Election date 9 November 1994 | |
| Opponent(s) |
Chandrika Kumaratunga and others |
| Incumbent | D. B. Wijetunga |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Gamini Dissanayake |
| Children | Navin, Mayantha, Varuni |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Vajira Srimathi Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and former presidential candidate.
Family
Dissanayake was married to former minister Gamini Dissanayake.[1] They had two sons, Navin and Mayantha, both of whom are Members of Parliament, and a daughter, Varuni.[2]
Career
Dissanayake is a lawyer by profession and was a member of the Central Provincial Council.[3][4] Her husband Gamini Dissanayake, who was Leader of the Opposition, was chosen by the United National Party to be its candidate at the 1994 presidential election.[5] However, he was killed in a suicide bombing on 24 October 1994, sixteen days before the election.[6] The UNP, hoping to capitalise on the sympathy vote, chose Srima Dissanayake over former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former first lady Hema Premadasa to be Gamini Dissanayake’s replacement.[7] However, many UNP officials refused to campaign for Srima Dissanayake who, for security reasons, campaigned through the media only.[6][8] Dissanayake was heavily defeated by Prime Minister Chandrika Kumaratunga who swept the polls, winning all but one of the 160 polling divisions.[9] Dissanayake received 2,715,283 votes (35.91%), the lowest share for a major party candidate in any Sri Lankan presidential election.[10][11]
See also
References
- ↑ Jayasekera, Talia (21 March 2003). "Remembering a trail-blazing servant of the people". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ Epasinghe, Premasara (23 October 2003). "Gamini Dissanayake - Man who was born to be great". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ Jayaram, P. (15 November 1994). "Another shattering blow". India Today.
- ↑ Epasinghe, Premasara (7 July 2011). "Navin Dissanayake - Crickting personality with leadership ingredients". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ "Six Vie for Presidency" (PDF). Tamil Times. XIII (10): 7. 15 October 1994. ISSN 0266-4488.
- 1 2 "Sri Lankan Claims Victory in Presidential Vote". The New York Times. 10 November 1994.
- ↑ Dahlburg, John-Thor (26 October 1994). "Sri Lankan's Widow Gets Party Nod : Asia: The wife of the slain opposition figure will run for president in his place, sources say". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ Dahlburg, John-Thor (10 November 1994). "Sri Lankan Premier Wins Presidency, Partial Results Show". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ Sebastian, Rita (15 November 1994). "Shortest Race to Presidency" (PDF). Tamil Times. XIII (11): 4. ISSN 0266-4488.
- ↑ Weerapperuma, E. (14 November 2005). "A historical sketch of Presidential Elections". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ Ranatunga, D. C. (7 January 2015). "Long journey to presidency: Part V". Daily FT.