# Chandrika Kumaratunga

_President of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2005_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/chandrika-kumaratunga
Last updated: 2026-11-09

> Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, commonly referred to by her initials CBK, is a Sri Lankan stateswoman who served as the fifth president of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2005. She is the longest-serving president in Sri Lankan history. She led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from 1994 to 2006.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 29 June 1945 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Colombo ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Sri Lanka ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P106))
- **Political party:** Sri Lanka Freedom Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P102))
- **Education:** Paris Institute of Political Studies; Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P69))
- **Spouse:** Vijaya Kumaranatunga ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P26))
- **Positions held:** Minister of Defence (4 November 2003 – 19 November 2005); President of Sri Lanka (12 November 1994 – 19 November 2005); Minister of Defence (12 November 1994 – 12 December 2001); Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka (30 September 1994 – 5 December 2001); Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (19 August 1994 – 12 November 1994); Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P39))
- **Awards:** Commander of the Legion of Honour ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432#P166))

## Questions

**When was Chandrika Kumaratunga born?**  
Chandrika Kumaratunga was born on 29 June 1945 in Colombo.

**What positions has Chandrika Kumaratunga held?**  
Positions held by Chandrika Kumaratunga include: Minister of Defence (2003–2005); President of Sri Lanka (1994–2005); Minister of Defence (1994–2001); Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka (1994–2001); Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1994–1994).

**Where did Chandrika Kumaratunga study?**  
Chandrika Kumaratunga was educated at Paris Institute of Political Studies, Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence.

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- [William Gopallawa](https://diginpl.com/people/william-gopallawa)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Chandrika Kumaratunga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrika_Kumaratunga) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): चन्द्रिका कुमारातुंगा](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q207432](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207432) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Chandrika Kumaratunga.jpg by The original uploader was Scanlan at English Wikipedia . ( Original text: en:U.S. State Department ) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chandrika_Kumaratunga.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Chandrika Kumaratunga, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Chandrika Kumaratunga.jpg — The original uploader was Scanlan at English Wikipedia . ( Original text: en:U.S. State Department ), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Chandrika Kumaratunga". DigiNepal. Last updated 9 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/chandrika-kumaratunga. Retrieved 10 November 2026.