President, Maithripala Sirisena’s 65th Birthday Today

President, Maithripala Sirisena, the 6th executive President of Sri Lanka, turned 65 today.

Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena, generally known as Maithripala Sirisena or ‘Maithri’, was born on 3rd September  1951, in Yagoda, Gampaha District. However, he grew up in Polonnaruwa, where he joined active politics in his teenage years. Sirisena joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party youth wing in 1967 and has been a member of the SLFP ever since.

In 1974, he started his first job as a Cooperative Purchasing Officer. In 1976 he was appointed a ‘Grama Niladhari’ or village official. He left the job in 1978 to engage in full time politics.

He was appointed as the SLFP – Polonnaruwa District Organizer to lead the SLFP in district level in 1980. In 1981 he became the Treasurer of the SLFP youth wing.

Sirisena was elected to Parliament from the Polonnaruwa District in 1989 and was an MP until his election as President.

He was appointed Deputy Minister of Irrigation in 1994. Three years later Sirisena was appointed Cabinet Minister of Mahaweli Development and Parliamentary Affairs.

Sirisena was appointed as General Secretary of the SLFP, a post he held until his defection to the opposition in late 2014. Even thereafter he claimed to be the General Secretary until his victory at the Presidential Election. A few days after the election, he became the Chairman of the party.

After the victory of the UPFA in 2004 election, Sirisena was appointed Cabinet Minister of Mahaweli, River Basin and Rajarata Development. He was also appointed Leader of the House.

He held several ministries under President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and was appointed the Minister of Health in 2010. He held this position until his defection in November 2014 to become the ‘common candidate’ of the opposition for the January 2015 Presidential Election. Sirisena won the election and was sworn in on January 9.