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Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR (Sinhala: ගෝඨාභය රාජපක්ෂ; Tamil: கோட்டாபய ராஜபக்ஸ; born 20 June 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician, technocrat and military officer. He is the 8th President of Sri Lanka since 18 November 2019. He was Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development from 2005 to 2015.

His Excellency Lieutenant Colonel

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

RWP, RSP
ගෝඨාභය රාජපක්ෂ
கோட்டாபய ராஜபக்ஸ
Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa.jpg
8th President of Sri Lanka
In office
18 November 2019 – 14 July 2022
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byMaithripala Sirisena
Succeeded byRanil Wickremesinghe
Minister of Defence
In office
18 November 2019 – 14 July 2022
PresidentHimself
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byMaithripala Sirisena
Succeeded byRanil Wickremesinghe
Minister of Technology
In office
26 November 2020 – 14 July 2022
PresidentHimself
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded bySusil Premajayantha
Succeeded byRanil Wickremesinghe
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development
In office
25 November 2005 – 8 January 2015
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byAsoka Jayawardena
Succeeded byB. M. U. D. Basnayake
Personal details
Born
Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa

(1949-06-20) 20 June 1949 (age 74)
Palatuwa, Matara District, Dominion of Ceylon
Citizenship
  • Sri Lankan (to 2003)
  • American (2003-05)[1][2]
  • American and Sri Lankan (2005-19)[3][4]
  • Sri Lankan (since 2019)[5]
Spouse(s)Ayoma Rajapaksa
RelationsMahinda Rajapaksa (brother)
Basil Rajapaksa (brother)
Chamal Rajapaksa (brother)
ChildrenManoj
ParentsD. A. Rajapaksa (father)
Dandina Rajapaksa (mother)
Alma materAnanda College
Websitehttps://gota.lk/
Military service
Nickname(s)Gota
AllegianceSri Lanka
Branch/serviceSri Lankan Army
Years of service1971–1992
RankLieutenant colonel
UnitGajaba Regiment
Commands1st Gajaba Regiment
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy
Battles/warsSri Lankan Civil War
1987–1989 JVP insurrection
AwardsRana Wickrama Padakkama Bar.png Rana Wickrama Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama bar.GIF Rana Sura Padakkama

He led the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to the military defeat of the Tamil tigers, ending the Sri Lankan Civil War.

In mid 2022, massive protests broke out in the country against Rajapaksa and his government because of his bad handling of the country's economy.[6] On 9 July 2022, Rajapaksa left his official residence in Colombo before protesters broke into the residence.[7] Protesters were seen taking over the mansion even swimming in the president's pool.[8] Later that evening, it was announced he would resign on 13 July 2022.[9]

On the day he promised he would resign, he left the country by military plane to the Maldives without resigning as president.[10][11][12] On 14 July, he left the Maldives after people there protested his arrival and left to Singapore.[13][14] On 14 July, Rajapaksa resigned from presidency.[15]

Gotabaya Rajapaksa Media

  • Gotabaya Rajapaksa during an official tour of Brazil

  • President Rajapaksa meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a state visit to India

  • President Gotabaya Rajapaksa meeting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a visit to Sri Lanka

  • Ribbon bar of the Rana Wickrama medal awarded to members of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces

  • Ribbon bar of the Rana Sura medal awarded to members of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces

  • Desha Putra Sammanaya ribbon bar

  • Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal ribbon bar

  • Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal ribbon bar

  • Purna Bhumi Padakkama ribbon bar

  • North and East Operations Medal ribbon bar

References

  1. ↑ "Police to probe Gota's citizenship, passports". Daily FT (Colombo, Sri Lanka). 10 August 2019. http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Police-to-probe-Gota-s-citizenship-passports/44-683723. Retrieved 27 October 2019. 
  2. ↑ "Gota's Lanka citizenship in doubt, candidacy under cloud". The Island (Colombo, Sri Lanka). 22 September 2019. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=210978. Retrieved 27 October 2019. 
  3. ↑ Singh, Anurangi (29 September 2019). "Gota's citizenship challenged in Court of Appeal". Sunday Observer (Colombo, Sri Lanka). http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2019/09/29/news/gota%E2%80%99s-citizenship-challenged-court-appeal. Retrieved 27 October 2019. 
  4. ↑ "People want non-traditional politicians - Gotabhaya Rajapaksa". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  5. ↑ "CT finds Gota's true U.S. renunciation certificate". Ceylon Today. 2019-08-01. Archived from the original on 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  6. ↑ "Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Sri Lanka president defies calls for his resignation" (in en-GB). BBC News. 6 April 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61005827. Retrieved 6 April 2022. 
  7. ↑ Sri Lanka leader flees as protesters storm home. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220709-sri-lanka-leader-flees-as-protesters-storm-home. Retrieved 9 July 2022. 
  8. ↑ Sri Lanka crisis: Protesters swim in president's pool. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-62105698. Retrieved 9 July 2022. 
  9. ↑ "BREAKING: President to step down on 13th July". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  10. ↑ "Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees the country on military jet" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2022-07-12. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62132271. Retrieved 2022-07-12. 
  11. ↑ Marian, Teena (14 July 2022). "Speaker yet to receive GRs resignation". News First. https://www.newsfirst.lk/2022/07/14/speaker-yet-to-receive-grs-resignation/. Retrieved 14 July 2022. 
  12. ↑ Jayasinghe, Uditha (14 July 2022). "Sri Lanka awaits president's resignation after flight". Reuters (Colombo). https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-awaits-presidents-resignation-after-flight-2022-07-14/. Retrieved 14 July 2022. 
  13. ↑ Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa set to fly to Singapore via Maldives - government source. 13 July 2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-president-rajapaksa-set-fly-singapore-via-maldives-government-source-2022-07-13/. Retrieved 13 July 2022. 
  14. ↑ Sri Lanka’s embattled leader leaves Maldives on Saudi plane. Indian Express. 14 July 2022. https://indianexpress.com/article/world/sri-lanka-president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-maldives-singapore-saudi-arabia-8028501/. Retrieved 14 July 2022. 
  15. ↑ President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Resigns. 14 July 2022. https://www.hirunews.lk/english/309987/president-gotabaya-rajapaksa-resigns-letter-sent-to-speaker-of-parliament. Retrieved 14 July 2022. 


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