Mahinda Rajapaksa Biography: Awards, Children, Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Wife

Mahinda Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan lawyer-turned-politician who rose to international prominence after his decisive leadership in ending the civil war against the Tamil Tigers in 2009.

He served as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and later as its sixth President, gaining public attention through his forceful approach to national security and major infrastructure projects.

Profile

• Full name: Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa
• Date of birth: 18 November 1945
• Age: 80 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Weeraketiya, Hambantota District, Southern Province, British Ceylon
• State/Origin: Hambantota
• Nationality: Sri Lankan
• Profession: Lawyer, politician
• Height: 183 cm (6′0″)
• Weight: N/A
• Eye color: Dark Brown
• Hair color: Salt and Pepper
• Parents: Father – Don Alwin (D. A.) Rajapaksa; Mother – Dona Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake
• Siblings: Elder – Chamal Rajapaksa and Jayanthi Rajapaksa; Younger – Tudor Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, Preethi Rajapaksa, Dudley Rajapaksa, Gandini Rajapaksa
• Spouse: Shiranthi Wickremesinghe (married 1983)
• Children: Namal Rajapaksa, Yoshitha Kanishka Rajapaksa, Chandana Rohitha Rajapaksa
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Buddhism (Theravada)
• Ethnicity: Sinhalese
• Net worth: $11 million

Early Life and Education

Mahinda Rajapaksa, now 80 years old, was born on November 18, 1945, in Weeraketiya, a rural village in Hambantota District. He is the second eldest of nine children born to Don Alwin Rajapaksa, a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, and Dona Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake.

Raised in a Sinhalese Buddhist household, his early years unfolded amidst active political engagement by his father and uncle, D. M. Rajapaksa. He initially attended Richmond College in Galle, then transferred to Colombo’s Nalanda College, and later to Thurstan College, where he excelled in sports such as cricket and athletics.

He earned a law degree from Colombo Law College in 1974. His formative environment and schooling laid the foundation for a career fusing legal training and political ambition.

Personal Life

Mahinda Rajapaksa married Shiranthi Wickremesinghe, a child psychologist and educator, in 1983. They met within Sri Lanka’s upper-echelon social circles, though details of their courtship are scarce. The couple has three sons. Namal, the eldest, is a member of parliament.

Yoshitha served in the Sri Lankan Navy and later became Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister. Rohitha has pursued academic and sports interests in engineering and cricket.

Career

Rajapaksa entered Parliament in 1970 at age 24, representing Beliatta, succeeding his father’s seat. After losing the seat in 1977, he continued his law practice until re-elected in 1989 from Hambantota. He held ministerial portfolios in Labour, Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources in the 1990s.

In 2004, he became Prime Minister, and a year later, won the presidency.

His presidency (2005–2015) is defined by leading the military campaign against the LTTE, culminating in the end of the civil war in 2009.

He initiated infrastructure projects like Hambantota Port with Chinese investment. After losing the 2015 election to Maithripala Sirisena, he returned to Parliament and later served as Prime Minister from 2019 until his resignation in May 2022.

Awards

• Doctor of Law (honoris causa), University of Colombo, September 2009
• Honorary Doctorate, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, February 2010
• Honorary Doctorate, Beijing Foreign Studies University, 2011

Net worth

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s net worth is estimated at approximately US $11 million. His wealth stems from his long political career, government roles, and family-managed enterprises.

Controversy

He has faced numerous controversies. International observers criticized alleged civilian casualties and suppression of dissent at the end of the civil war. His presidency drew accusations of nepotism, with brothers Gotabaya, Basil, and Chamal in influential positions.

The family has been linked to offshore assets, money laundering, and misuse of state resources, with allegations of hidden wealth in tax havens and misuse of public funds for personal gain. In 2022, massive public protests broke out amid economic collapse blamed on policies initiated under his and his brother’s administrations.

Social Media

• Instagram: @presidentrajapaksa
• Twitter (X): @PresRajapaksa
• Facebook: PresidentRajapaksa