Buddhika Pathirana

The Honourable Buddhika Pathirana බුද්ධ්ක පතිරණ MP
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for Matara District
Incumbent
Assumed office 2010
Personal details
Born	(1974-03-17) March 17, 1974
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	United National Party
Spouse(s)	Mihiri Warnakulasuriya
Alma mater	Rahula College, Matara, University of Kelaniya
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Doctor in Medicine
Religion	Buddhist
Website	[1]

Akalanka Buddhika Uditha Dedduwa Pathirana (born 17 March 1974) who is a Member of the 7th Parliament of Sri Lanka represents the United National Party (UNP), for Matara District. He was elected to the Parliament at the General Election held on 8 April 2010 winning the second highest percentage of votes from the United National Party which is the major opposition in the country.

Family

Buddhika Pathirana was born on 17 March 1974 at Matara General Hospital. Father, Mr. M.S.D. Pathirana was a graduate teacher, senior lecturer of National Institute of Education and Teachers’ Training Colleges of Sri Lanka, later a Deputy Director of Education Department., since retired in service. Mother, Mrs. J. K. Gunawardana is a retired Teacher as well as a Teaching Instructor. Buddhika’s sister works as the Assistant Librarian in University of Ruhuna. Buddhika married to Ms. Mihiri Warnakulasuriya in 2009, who is the daughter of Mr. Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, Presidents’ Counsel and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Italy.

Education

Buddhika had his primary and secondary education from Rahula College, Matara (1980–1993). He was a senior school prefect, captain of the debating team and was awarded the President Scout Medal which is the highest accolade meant for a scout in Sri Lanka in 1991. Buddhika completed his higher education at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Kelaniya (1998–2003).

Professional career

Buddhika joined the Telshan Network Pvt. Ltd (TNL TV) in 1995 as an Assistant News Coordinator and worked there till 1998 as a News Coordinator, the Deputy News Editor and a Political Programme Presenter. From 1998 to 2004, he served at the MTV Channel Private Ltd (Sirasa TV) as a Political Programme Presenter and an Executive Producer. Also, he is a pre-intern medical practitioner.

Political career

Having 44,165 preferential votes at the Provincial Council Election in 2004, Buddhika has become a member of the Southern Provincial Council. He also became the youngest leader of the opposition in Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka by appointing as the leader of the opposition in Southern Provincial Council in 2009, having 57,802 votes. He entered into to the 7th Parliament of Sri Lanka as a member by having 62,499 preferential votes from Matara District at the General Election in 2010. Buddhika is a member of 14 Consultative Committees inclusive of Ministries of Economic Development, Ports & Aviation, Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, State Defense, etc. He was awarded as the Most Outstanding Young Politician in Sri Lanka in 1996. He has been working as the Media Secretary of the UNP for Southern Province since 2004 and the Chief Organiser of the UNP in Akuressa Electorate since 2005.

International Positions

Buddhika was elected as a member of the Executive Committee and the Chief Executive Officer for South Asia in Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia (YLDA) in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Other Positions

Buddhika was the first chairman of Mutuhara Children’s Society (1987–1990). He was the first District Secretary for Youth Red Cross Society (1990–1992). He was the youngest Principal of Sunday schools in Sri Lanka from 1991 to 1998. He has been the Chief Basnayaka Nilame for Matara Binara Maha Perahera since 2007. He was National Chairman of Liberal Youth Guilds (LYG) in Sri Lanka (2007–2009). Buddhika is the Founder, Chairman and the Managing Director of the Samadhi Community Development Foundation, since 2000.

External links

1. Buddhika Pathirana Official Web site
2. Buddhika Pathirana Blog site
3. Buddhika Pathirana in YouTube