Harini Amarasuriya

Born in Galle on 6 March 1970, her father was a planter and her mother a housewife, Amarasuriya was the youngest of three. She is a relative of H. W. Amarasuriya, Cabinet Minister for Trade and Commerce from 1948 to 1952.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} The family moved to Colombo after her father's estate was taken over by the government under the Land Reform Act of 1972, where she attended Bishop's College, with a year in the United States as an exchange student.{{cite news |last1=Wickramasinghe |title=Harini Amarasuriya |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/life/Harini-Amarasuriya/243-230231 |access-date=5 October 2024 |agency=Daily Mirror |date=February 2022}}

Amarasuriya gained an Indian government scholarship to read Sociology at the Hindu College, from 1991 to 1994, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in sociology from the University of Delhi. Her contemporaries at Hindu College included Imtiaz Ali and Arnab Goswami.(24 September 2024). [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/delhi-roots-colombo-heights-sri-lankas-new-pm-harini-amarasuriyas-fascinating-link-to-india/articleshow/113641309.cms "Delhi roots, Colomobo heights: New Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya's fascinating link to India"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928103121/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/delhi-roots-colombo-heights-sri-lankas-new-pm-harini-amarasuriyas-fascinating-link-to-india/articleshow/113641309.cms |date=2024-09-28 }}. The Times of India. Retrieved on 24 September 2024. Following her return from India, she worked as a community health worker with Nest Sri Lanka, working with tsunami-affected children. Five years later she gained a Master of Arts in Applied and Development Anthropology from Macquarie University, followed by a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh.

She joined the Open University of Sri Lanka as a senior lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences in 2011 after completing her PhD, where she later became the head of the department. Amarasuriya has undertaken research into Human Rights and Ethics in Sri Lanka funded by the European Research Council and the influence of radical Christians on dissent in Sri Lanka funded by the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, The University of Edinburgh.{{Cite web|title=Dr Harini Amarasuriya {{!}} IASH|url=https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/profile/dr-harini-amarasuriya|access-date=2020-08-12|website=www.iash.ed.ac.uk}}

Becoming a member of the Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA), she took part in trade union action demanding better working conditions and fair treatment for university staff.{{cite news |last1=Basuriya |first1=Kasun |title=Former academic named Sri Lanka's third female Prime Minister |url=https://lmd.lk/former-academic-named-sri-lankas-third-female-prime-minister/ |access-date=17 October 2024 |work=LMD |date=24 September 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Cyber bullying prevents women from public positions - Harini Amarasuriya |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/know_before_you_vote/Cyber-bullying-prevents-women-from-public-positions---Harini-Amarasuriya/392-191979 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928103123/https://www.dailymirror.lk/know_before_you_vote/Cyber-bullying-prevents-women-from-public-positions---Harini-Amarasuriya/392-191979 |archive-date=2024-09-28 |access-date=2020-08-12 |website=Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) |language=English}}

Amarasuriya has been an advocate for educational reforms to truly enable free education as envisioned by C. W. W. Kannangara when free education was introduced in Sri Lanka in 1938. She has called for the equal access to quality education independent of the economic power of the people thus ensuring equal education opportunities for everyone, by which to stop the concept of popular schools in Sri Lanka. On this note, Amarasuriya campaigned with the FUTA in 2011 and 2012 for government allocation of 6% of the GDP for education.{{cite news |last1=Siriwardana |first1=Ajith |title=Free education only nominal today: Dr. Harini |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Free-education-only-nominal-today-Dr-Harini/108-270625 |access-date=10 October 2024 |publisher=DailyMirror |date=4 November 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Amarasuriya |first1=Harini |title=Education: The Elusive & Much Maligned 6% |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/education-the-elusive-much-maligned-6/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |publisher=Colombo Telegraph |date=4 December 2015}} In 2023, Sri Lanka had only allocated 2% of its GDP for education.{{cite news |title=SL among the lowest in South Asia for spending on education: UNICEF |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/breaking-news/SL-among-the-lowest-in-South-Asia-for-spending-on-education-UNICEF/108-265444 |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}}

Amarasuriya joined the National Intellectuals Organization in 2019 and campaigned for the NPP Candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake during the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election. On 12 August 2020, she was nominated and appointed by the NPP as the national list candidate to enter the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka following the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-12 |title=Rights activist and academic Dr Harini Amarasuriya is the NPP National List nominee |url=https://economynext.com/rights-activist-and-academic-dr-harini-amarasuriya-is-the-npp-national-list-nominee-72873/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=EconomyNext |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-12|title=Dr. Harini Amarasuriya named as JJB National List MP|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/08/12/dr-harini-amarasuriya-named-as-jjb-national-list-mp/|access-date=2020-08-12|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en|archive-date=2024-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928103123/https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/08/12/dr-harini-amarasuriya-named-as-jjb-national-list-mp/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=tharindu|title=හරිනි අමරසූරිය මාලිමාවේ ජාතික ලැයිස්තු මන්ත්‍රී ධුරයට|url=https://sinhala.srilankamirror.com/news/25016-harini-amarasuriya-named-npp-national-list-mp|access-date=2020-08-12|website=sinhala.srilankamirror.com|language=en-gb|archive-date=2021-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907150642/https://sinhala.srilankamirror.com/news/25016-harini-amarasuriya-named-npp-national-list-mp|url-status=dead}}

Confusion and concerns were raised about whether she could continue her service as an academic senior lecturer at the Open University after being nominated as a national list candidate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.themorning.lk/npp-national-list-slot-dr-harini-amarasuriyas-name-proposed/|access-date=2020-08-12|website=www.themorning.lk|title=NPP National List slot: Dr. Harini Amarasuriya's name proposed|date=12 August 2020 |archive-date=2020-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812094338/http://www.themorning.lk/npp-national-list-slot-dr-harini-amarasuriyas-name-proposed/|url-status=live}} However, in an interview with EconomyNext, she officially revealed that she had resigned from the position of senior lecturer of the Open University in order to pursue her political career and parliamentary politics as an MP.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

She focused on reconciliation and social inclusion to help bridge ethnic, religious and political divides in Sri Lanka, as well as promoting national unity and stability. Additionally, she advocated for gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights, was involved in the Parliamentary Caucus for Animal Welfare, and served on the Board of Directors for the non-governmental organization Nest.{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2024 |title=Positive effects of Harini Amarasuriya's appointment as Prime Minister |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2024/09/25/local/636720/positive-effects-of-harini-amarasuriyas-appointment-as-prime-minister/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928103122/https://www.dailynews.lk/2024/09/25/local/636720/positive-effects-of-harini-amarasuriyas-appointment-as-prime-minister/ |archive-date=2024-09-28 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=Daily News (Sri Lanka)}}{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2024 |title=NPP will back bill to decriminalize same-sex relationships - Harini Amarasuriya |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=100098 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924103938/https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=100098 |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Ada Derana}}{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Caucus for Animal Welfare |url=https://www.parliament.lk/en/component/committees/commitee/showCommittee?id=582 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305005915/https://www.parliament.lk/en/component/committees/commitee/showCommittee?id=582 |archive-date=2024-03-05 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website= |publisher=Parliament of Sri Lanka}}{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2020 |title=Interview – Harini Amarasuriya |url=https://www.e-ir.info/2020/06/25/interview-harini-amarasuriya/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805012457/https://www.e-ir.info/2020/06/25/interview-harini-amarasuriya/ |archive-date=2020-08-05 |access-date=2020-08-12 |website=E-International Relations}}{{excessive citations inline|date=September 2024}}

{{Quote box

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|source = {{cite web |title=Sri Lanka's new PM Harini Amarasuriya's thorny path from social health worker |date=25 September 2024 |url=https://economynext.com/factbox-sri-lankas-new-pm-harini-amarasuriyas-thorny-path-from-social-health-worker-180880/}}

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On 24 September 2024, Amarasuriya was sworn in as the Sixteenth (16th) Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.{{Cite news |last=Jayasinghe |first=Uditha |date=24 September 2024 |title=Sri Lanka President Dissanayake picks Amarasuriya as PM, takes finance job |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-president-dissanayake-picks-harini-amarasuriya-pm-2024-09-24/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Reuters}} She is the first prime minister of her party, and the third woman to hold the role after Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunga.{{Cite web |title=Former academic named Sri Lanka's third female prime minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05gnm05qmdo |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=BBC |archive-date=2024-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925040816/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05gnm05qmdo |url-status=live }}

Since the NPP had only two members left in parliament following Dissanayake's ascent to the Presidency, his first cabinet consisted of only three members, including himself and Amarasuriya. Amarasuriya was given the portfolios of Justice, Public Administration, Provincial Councils, Local Government and Labour, Education, Science and Technology, Trade, Commercial, Food Security, Co-operative Development, Industries and Entrepreneur Development, Women, Child and Youth Affairs and Sports and Health in the caretaker government until a new parliament is elected in the parliamentary election on 14 November 2024.{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka's new president calls parliamentary election to consolidate his mandate |url=https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-prime-minister-election-66fd3b9e7f42a0ec7fb3f37e60ad0ca6 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Associated Press |date=24 September 2024 |archive-date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925035304/https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-prime-minister-election-66fd3b9e7f42a0ec7fb3f37e60ad0ca6 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=The New Cabinet of Sri Lanka |url=https://manthri.lk/en/blog/posts/the-new-cabinet-of-sri-lanka |website=manthri.lk |access-date=29 September 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928103123/https://manthri.lk/en/blog/posts/the-new-cabinet-of-sri-lanka | archive-date=2024-09-28 }}

Following her appointment as Minister of Education, Amarasuriya initiated educational reforms with the halting of the longstanding practice of inviting politicians to school functions by school administrators, to remove the political influence from schools.{{cite news |last1=De Alwis |first1=Dinesh |title=istoric government shift holds promise of education reform |url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20240927170758911 |access-date=10 October 2024 |publisher=Universityworldnews.com}}

Amarasuriya who is the Deputy Secretary of the NPP{{cite web |title=Information of Recognized Political Parties - NPP |url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/pdf/pol_party_list/Officers/31_13.pdf |website=Election Commission of Sri Lanka |access-date=5 October 2024}} lead the NPP nominations from Colombo District for the 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Harini to contest from Colombo |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2024/10/08/prime-minister-harini-to-contest-from-colombo/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |publisher=NewsWire}}

Amarasuriya set a new record by securing the highest preferential votes from Colombo District with 655,289 votes. She surpassed the preferential vote count of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who contested from Kurunegala District in 2020 and gained 527,364 votes, but in the same election Vijitha Herath set a new record with 716,715 votes in Gampaha District.

Following the parliamentary election, Amarasuriya was re-appointed as the seventeenth (17th) Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. She was also appointed as the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.{{cite news |title=Dr. Harini Amarasuriya re-appointed Prime Minister |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103576 |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Ada Derana |date=18 November 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka leader reappoints Amarasuriya as PM, retains finance and defence |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/18/sri-lanka-leader-reappoints-amarasuriya-as-pm-retains-finance-and-defence |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=Al Jazeera |date=18 November 2024 |language=en}}

Amarasuriya is unmarried, and has no children.{{cite news |last1=Aneez |first1=Shirar |title=Factbox – Sri Lanka's new PM Harini Amarasuriya's thorny path from social health worker |url=https://economynext.com/factbox-sri-lankas-new-pm-harini-amarasuriyas-thorny-path-from-social-health-worker-180880/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=EconomyNext |date=25 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927022718/https://economynext.com/factbox-sri-lankas-new-pm-harini-amarasuriyas-thorny-path-from-social-health-worker-180880/ |url-status=live }}

In October 2024, the Postal Department issued a personalized stamp of Prime Minister Amarasuriya. The incident caused some controversy.{{cite news |last1=Balasuriya |title=Only personalised stamps issued featuring Harini, Vijitha: Postal Department clarifies |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Only-personalised-stamps-issued-featuring-Harini-Vijitha-Postal-Department-clarifies/108-293458 |access-date=13 October 2024 |publisher=Daily Mirror}}

• {{Cite book |last=Amarasuriya |first=Harini |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Intimate_Life_of_Dissent_Anthropolog/4A4BEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=The Intimate Life of Dissent: Anthropological Perspectives |last2=Kelly |first2=Tobias |last3=Maunaguru |first3=Sidharthan |last4=Oustinova-Stjepanovic |first4=Galina |last5=Spencer |first5=Jonathan |date=2020-09-01 |publisher=UCL Press |isbn=978-1-78735-777-8 |language=en}}

• List of international prime ministerial trips made by Harini Amarasuriya

{{notelist|30em}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.parliament.lk/en/members-of-parliament/directory-of-members/viewMember/3449 Harini Amarasuriya, Parliament directory of members]
• {{Google scholar id|LgWk7B0AAAAJ&hl}}

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