Sri Lanka, which is facing economic crisis and political instability, has got a new prime minister. Newly elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed 73-year-old Dinesh Gunawardene as the new Prime Minister.
Gunawardene had previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Home of Sri Lanka. Let us tell you that Gunawardene's family has a special connection with India and his father also took part in India's freedom struggle.
Sri Lanka, which is facing a severe economic crisis, has run out of foreign exchange and is unable to import essential things. In the midst of this economic crisis, people in Sri Lanka have been on the streets for the last three months and due to their pressure, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to resign from the presidency.
Sri Lanka's senior leader Gunawardene is considered close to former President Rajapaksa and is known for his outspokenness. Between 2015 and 2019, Gunawardene strengthened the opposition's voice against Maithripala Sirisena and Wickremesinghe as the joint leader of the opposition.
After this, the situation became such that while Wickremesinghe was the President, Gunawardene would take over as the Prime Minister. Gunawardene, who was a union leader, completed his studies from the US and the Netherlands.
According to News18, Philip Gunawardene, the father of the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, studied at the University of Wisconsin with Jayaprakash Narayan and VK Krishna Menon. From here he contributed to the freedom struggle of India.
In 1943, the British intelligence agency arrested both of them and lodged them in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai (then Bombay). After being kept here for a year, both were sent to Sri Lanka and both were released only after the war ended.
After Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, Philip and Kusuma became MPs. Later, Philip became a cabinet minister in the People's Revolution government formed in 1956. He has four children and all four have held very high positions in politics.
Gunawardene also has a clear image towards his family members. Gunawardene, who has been active in politics for many decades, has been a minister for 22 years and has been in favor of better relations with India.
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