 |
Hon. Bimal Rathnayake | |
|---|---|
| බිමල් රත්නායක பிமல் ரத்நாயக்க | |
| Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation | |
| Assumed office 18 November 2024 | |
| President | Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
| Prime Minister | Harini Amarasuriya |
| Preceded by | Vijitha Herath |
| Leader of the House | |
| Assumed office 21 November 2024 | |
| President | Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
| Prime Minister | Harini Amarasuriya |
| Preceded by | Susil Premajayantha |
| Member of Parliament for National List | |
| Assumed office 21 November 2024 | |
| In office 3 September 2015 – 3 March 2020 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kurunegala District | |
| In office 2001–2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 March 1973 |
| Political party | Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna |
| Other political affiliations | National People's Power |
| Spouse | Samanmalee Gunasinghe |
Bimal Rathnayake is a Sri Lankan politician who serves as the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House since November 2024. A longstanding member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Rathnayake is member of the JVP Politburo, a national executive member of National People's Power (NPP) and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka for the National List.[1][2][3]
He studied at Tangalle Primary College, Ananda College, Colombo and was selected to study civil engineering at the University of Moratuwa in 1993, however did not complete his degree.[4] His academic qualifications have been listed as BSc. Engineering Undergraduate in parliament.[5]
Rathnayake was first elected to parliament from Kurunagala in 2001 and served till 2010, when he lost his seat and had served as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation from 2004 to 2005 under President Kumaratunga’s government. He was appointed to parliament in 2015 after Sarath Chandrasiri Mayadunne two days into his term and served till 2000, when he again lost his seat. He was the JVP’s National Organiser He was the organiser of the Socialist Youth Union and a member of the Central Committee of the JVP.[6][7]
His wife, Samanmalee Gunasinghe, is a Central Committee member of the JVP and was elected in the 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election from Colombo from the NPP, while Rathnayake was elected as the first NPP national list candidate.
- ^ "Hon. Bimal Rathnayake, M.P." Directory of Past members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ Bimal had discussions with Korean Labour Party. lankatruth.com 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Academics, Tamils and an extremist Sinhala nationalist". Tamil Guardian. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Get to know the main contenders' core teams". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ "The Parliament of Sri Lanka". beta.parliament.lk.
- ^ "Get to know the main contenders' core teams". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ "JVP nominates Bimal Rathnayake from National List".