Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena (born 10 October 1945) is a Sri Lankan politician. He is the current Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament since 2020. He first entered parliament in 1983.

Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana MP
මහින්ද යාපා අබේවර්ධන மகிந்த யாப்பா அபேவர்தன
21st Speaker of the Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 August 2020
Deputy	Ranjith Siyambalapitiya
Preceded by	Karu Jayasuriya
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
In office February 2015 – May 2015
Preceded by	Sumedha Jayasena
Succeeded by	Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena
Minister of Agriculture
In office 2010 – 12 January 2015
Preceded by	Maithripala Sirisena
Succeeded by	Duminda Dissanayake
Minister of Cultural Affairs
In office 2005–2010
Preceded by	Vijitha Herath
Deputy Minister of Healthcare & Nutrition
In office 2004–2005
Preceded by	Sajith Premadasa
Chief Minister of Southern Province
In office 1994–2001
Preceded by	Amarasiri Dodangoda
Succeeded by	H. G. Sirisena
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for Matara District
Incumbent
Assumed office 2001
Personal details
Born	(1945-10-10) 10 October 1945 Beragama, Matara, Colony of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
Other political affiliations	Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance, United National Party
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Colombo, Rahula College, Matara, Thelijjawila Central College
Occupation	Landed Proprietor
Profession	Politician

Early life

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was a young MP when he openly criticised the 1987's Indo-Lanka agreement for new provincial councils system to be established in Sri Lanka. He along with Chandrakumara Wijeya Gunawardena, the member for Kamburupitiya voted against the bill in Parliament becoming the only two government members who voted against it. He was later removed by Hon. President J. R. Jayewardene from his Parliamentary seat for violation the party rules by not voting the bill.

Career

He later joined hands with Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali (whom were also against the Indo-lanka agreement) as they too quit United National Party and formed the Democratic United National Front or aka 'Rajaliya-front'. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena then contested for Southern Provincial Council under DUNF and won. He was then elected as the opposition leader of the Southern Provincial Council in 1993, and he became the Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council in 1994. Elected twice as the Chief Minister he was in office from 1994 to 2001. He is said to be one of the most successful Chief Ministers from south for developing the infrastructures that was neglected for more than 5 years due to the dark era of the country.

He left office to contest in 2001 general elections and become an opposition MP and served till 2004. After 2004 General elections, he became the Deputy Minister of Healthcare and later the Cabinet Minister for Cultural Affairs & National Heritage. After 2010 General Elections, he was Appointed as the Minister of Agriculture. Having been in office as the Minister of Agriculture for several years he was elected Vice Chairman at the 38th session of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations FAO Conference held in Rome, Italy in 2013. He was again appointed as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in 2015 for a brief period until he resigned and joined the opposition. He is a representative of Matara District for the United People's Freedom Alliance in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He resides in Kalubowila, Dehiwala.