# Mahinda Rajapaksa

_President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/mahinda-rajapaksa
Last updated: 2026-11-09

> Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan politician who served as the sixth president of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015. He thrice served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2005, 2018, and 2019 to 2022. He was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2004 and 2018 to 2019, and the Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2015 and 2019 to 2021.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 November 1945 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Weeraketiya ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Sri Lanka ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; lawyer; trade unionist; head of government ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P106))
- **Political party:** United People's Freedom Alliance; Sri Lanka Freedom Party; Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P102))
- **Education:** Richmond College; Nalanda College ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P69))
- **Spouse:** Shiranthi Rajapaksa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P26))
- **Positions held:** Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs (12 August 2020 – 20 May 2022); Minister of Urban Development & Housing (12 August 2020 – 12 May 2022); Minister of Economic Policies & Plan Implementation (12 August 2020 – 12 May 2022); Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (21 November 2019 – 9 May 2022); Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (26 October 2018 – 14 November 2018); Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (since 17 August 2015); Commonwealth Chair-in-Office (15 November 2013 – 9 January 2015); Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka (23 November 2005 – 9 January 2015); President of Sri Lanka (19 November 2005 – 9 January 2015); Minister of Defence (19 November 2005 – 8 January 2015); Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (6 April 2004 – 19 November 2005); Leader of the Opposition (6 February 2002 – 2 April 2004); minister of fisheries (1997–2001); Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (15 February 1989 – 19 November 2005); Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (27 May 1970 – 21 July 1977) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P39))
- **Awards:** Registered firearms; Honorary Doctor of the Beijing Foreign Studies University; honorary doctor of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia; Order of the Star of Palestine ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338#P166))

## Questions

**When was Mahinda Rajapaksa born?**  
Mahinda Rajapaksa was born on 18 November 1945 in Weeraketiya.

**What positions has Mahinda Rajapaksa held?**  
Positions held by Mahinda Rajapaksa include: Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs (2020–2022); Minister of Urban Development & Housing (2020–2022); Minister of Economic Policies & Plan Implementation (2020–2022); Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (2019–2022); Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (2018–2018).

**Where did Mahinda Rajapaksa study?**  
Mahinda Rajapaksa was educated at Richmond College, Nalanda College.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Mahinda Rajapaksa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahinda_Rajapaksa) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): महिन्दा राजपाक्ष](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%87) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q57338](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57338) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Mahinda Rajapaksa 1.jpg by khamenei.ir (CC BY 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mahinda_Rajapaksa_1.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Mahinda Rajapaksa, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Mahinda Rajapaksa 1.jpg — khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Mahinda Rajapaksa". DigiNepal. Last updated 9 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/mahinda-rajapaksa. Retrieved 10 November 2026.