Sri Lanka appoints Harini Amarasuriya as third female prime minister

Sri Lanka’s new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has appointed Harini Amarasuriya as the country’s third female prime minister, marking a significant moment in the nation’s political history. The former university lecturer, now a Member of Parliament, will also oversee the ministries of justice, education, and labor.

Amarasuriya, representing the left-leaning National People’s Power alliance—which holds a mere three seats in the 225-member parliament—brings a wealth of experience in advocacy and social justice. Since beginning her activism in 2011, she has championed causes related to free education, youth development, child protection, and gender equality. Her ascension to the role of prime minister makes her not only the 16th individual to hold the office but also the first academic to do so.

This appointment comes at a time of political uncertainty and speculation, as Dissanayake has hinted at the possibility of dissolving parliament in the near future. “We will have the smallest cabinet in the history of Sri Lanka,” said party member Namal Karunaratne, indicating that the parliament could be dissolved “within the next 24 hours.” Dissanayake, who gained traction for his anti-corruption and anti-poverty initiatives, had previously expressed that continuing with a parliament “not in line with what the people want” would be futile.

This political shake-up follows Dissanayake’s recent electoral victory, his first since the country’s economic collapse in 2022, a remarkable comeback for a politician who garnered only 3% of the vote in the 2019 presidential race. Amarasuriya campaigned alongside him during that election cycle and won her own parliamentary seat the following year.

Her appointment revives a tradition of female leadership in Sri Lanka, following the legacies of Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, both of whom were connected to established political families. Notably, it has been over two decades since a woman last occupied the prime ministerial office.

As Sri Lanka navigates its current political landscape, Amarasuriya’s leadership could signal a new era of governance focused on addressing pressing social issues and representing the voices of the marginalized.