Anura Bandaranaike - Political Career

Political Career

Bandaranaike was elected to Parliament in 1977 from the Maskeliya multi-seat constituency representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) although it faced a crushing defeat that year and has been a member of parliament up until his death in 2008. Became the leader of the opposition from 1983 to 1988. Leaving his family's party in 1993 to join the United National Party (UNP), he served as Minister of Higher Education from 1993 to 1994. Serving in the opposition from 1994 to 2000, he was elected as Speaker of the 11th Parliament. He rejoined SLFP in 2001 to contest the elections in December that year, although the SLFP with its coalition faced a massive defeat Bandaranaike was elected to Parliament. When the SLFP led alliance of UPFA won the elections in 2004 with support of the JVP, Bandaranaike became Minister of Tourism, Industry and Investment in the new government. Following the assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in August 2005, Bandaranaike was appointed as Foreign Minister, amidst increased tension throughout the country. He dropped his position as minister of industry and investment, but remained tourism minister. The party chose Mahinda Rajapakse over Bandaranaike as its candidate for the presidential election in 2005. Following Rajapakse's election victory it had been widely predicted that Bandaranaike would be appointed Prime Minister or remain as foreign minister.

However he was accused of playing a "negative"/"non supportive" role in the campaign and was offered only the tourism ministry instead. In a cabinet reshuffle in January 2007, Anura also lost the tourism ministry but remained as national heritage. On 9 February 2007, he was sacked as the minister of national heritage, together with ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi after falling out with the President Mahinda Rajapakse, the party leader. Less than two weeks later, after reconciling with Rajapakse, Bandaranaike agreed to come back into the government, again being sworn in as Minister of National Heritage. On the 14 December 2007 he crossed over to the opposition benches thus leaving his ministerial posts. Despite being in politics for over a quarter of a century, he has only been in a governing side for about 5 years.