Champika Ranawaka
Ranawaka Arachchige Patali Champika Ranawaka (Sinhala: පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක; born 4 August 1965) is a MP in Sri Lanka, and an Electrical Engineer by profession. Champika held Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, Power and Energy and Technology, Research and Atomic Energy and currently holds the ministry of Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development to build the Western Region Megapolis plan of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe[1][2]
Champika Ranawaka entered the University of Moratuwa, to study engineering, in 1984. As a university student he was involved in political activities. Initially, he aligned with Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a revolutionary Marxist party. However, he ideologically shifted towards Sinhala Buddhist nationalism later on and aligned with Jathika Chinthana group. Due to his involvements with JVP, who had been engaged in an uprising against the United National Party (UNP) government then, Champika Ranawaka was arrested and detained.
After released, Champika Ranawaka formed "Janatha Mithro" (People’s friends) group, which is generally regarded as Sri Lanka's first green party, and helped Chandrika Kumaratunga to power in 1994. Then he joined Sinhala Nationalists Thilak Karunaratne and S.L. Gunasekara to form Sihala Urumaya, a Sinhala nationalist party. Sihala Urumaya was later dissolved to found Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) to facilitate Buddhist monks entering the parliamentary in 2004.
JHU supported Mahinda Rajapakse in 2005 presidential election. Champika Ranawaka became a prominent figure in the presidential campaign. He was appointed to the cabinet as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in 2007. In 2010, he was given the post of minister of Power and Energy and finally the ministry of Technology, Research and Atomic Energy.
Over the past two decades, Champika Ranawaka emerged as one of the prominent Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist leaders of Sri Lanka. He is quite vocal against Tamil Separatism and Islamic fundamentalism.
Early life
Champika Ranawaka entered Taxila Central College, Horana after being qualified from the Scholarship Examination. Been an all-rounder at different extra curricular activities, Champika got qualified from G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination ranking first from the Kalutara district to the Engineering faculty of the University of Moratuwa. In 1988 he was graduated with a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Power Engineering. Ranawaka was writing articles to the newspaper in which the 'unofficial' editor was Prof. Nalin de Silva.Also, he wrote to the newspaper Vidusara, alias 'Sapumal Senanayake'[3]
He was an activist in the student movements in Sri Lanka during the late 1980s and was a member of the pro-J.V.P. student union. Quitting J.V.P. due to political and visionary reasons he formed the Non-political organization called, 'Janatha Mithuro' with some of his colleagues like Ven.Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Nishantha Warnasinghe and Malinda Seneviratne. 'Janatha Mithuro' was criticized for its right-wing anti-Tamil ideology and actions.[4] In the 1993 presidential elections they backed the People's Alliance headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Member of Parliament
When the JHU joined the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2007 they were offered a cabinet ministerial position. Since an ordained monk could not hold such a position Rev.Dr.Omalpe Sobhitha Thero resigned from his seat in parliament thus making way for Ranawaka to be nominated to parliament as a national list MP (appointed by the party and not elected). Ranawaka then accepted the post of minister of environment and natural resources.
Minister Ranawaka contested the 2010 General Election under the UPFA from Colombo District and was placed third place by obtaining 120,333 votes securing membership in the Sri Lanka Parliament.[5]
Allegations of racism
In 2008 Ranawaka called the Muslim community in Sri Lanka 'outsiders' sparking widespread protests.[6]
Criticism of international interventions
Ranawaka has also been critical of international intervention in Sri Lanka stating that anyone who takes action against Sri Lanka will be supporting terrorism.[7] In April 2011 Ranawaka called the United Nation's report on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka 'diplomatic terrorism'.[8] Ranwaka has also opposed airstrikes against Libya.[9]
Bibliography
- 1991– End of Modern Development Paradigm (club of Rome) limit to growth elaboration in sustainable development.
- 1993– Relational Relativity.
- Sihala Abhiyogaya (The Challenge of the Sinhalese)
- Koti Viniwideema (An insight of the LTTE ) Book Pre-view Book Download
- Nagenahira Sinhala Urumaya (Sinhala Heritage in the East) Book Pre-view Book Download
- Thrastha Virodi Jathika Salasma (The way to defeat the Tiger) Pre-view Book Download
- Al Jihad- Al Queida (The past, present & the future of Islamic fundamentalism) Pre-view
- Sangwardanaye Thunveni Yamaya (The Sunset of Development) Pre-view Book Download
- Patisothagamiwa Tis Wasak (A self written Autobiography) Pre-view Book Download
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/01/29/news23.asp
- ↑ "Work on Megapolis from 2016".
- ↑ http://www.champikaranawaka.com/common/pdf/paper_articles/kaalaya_saha_awakaashaya_01.pdf
- ↑ "Sri Lanka: State-owned newspaper publishes death threat against SEP". World Socialist Website.
- ↑ Official Website
- ↑ "Muslims protest 'racist' remarks". BBC.
- ↑ "Champika: Action Against SL Will Be Supportive Of Terrorists". The Sunday Leader.
- ↑ "UN unleashes diplomatic terrorism". Daily News.
- ↑ "Air strikes against Libya wrong". Daily News.
External links
- A step in the right direction in combating air pollution
- Annihilate traitors by any means – Champika
- Ranawaka proposes carbon credit cartel for SAARC
- Parliament Profile
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