Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan politician who served as the 5th Executive President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015 and as Prime Minister in three terms (2004–2005, 2018, and 2019–2022). A lawyer by profession, he entered Parliament in 1970 as the youngest MP representing Beliatta. During his presidency, Sri Lanka concluded its 26-year civil war against the LTTE in May 2009 and undertook massive post-war infrastructure projects (Southern Expressway, Hambantota Port, Mattala Airport, Norochcholai Power Plant) funded primarily by commercial sovereign bonds and Chinese bilateral loans.
Quick Facts
Career Timeline
All data is sourced from primary government records, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Department of Census and Statistics, Supreme Court determinations, and the National Audit Office.
Member of Parliament for Beliatta
Elected MP for Beliatta at age 24, becoming the youngest MP in Parliament.
Cabinet Minister of Labour and Vocational Training
Formulated the Workers' Charter and expanded vocational training centers islandwide.
Cabinet Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Established the Ocean University and modernized coastal fishery harbors.
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1st Term)
Appointed Prime Minister by President Kumaratunga following the UPFA general election victory.
5th Executive President of Sri Lanka (1st Term)
Elected President winning 50.29% of the vote against Ranil Wickremesinghe (48.43%).
Commander-in-Chief & President
Formally announced the military conclusion of the 26-year civil war in a historic address to Parliament.
5th Executive President of Sri Lanka (2nd Term)
Re-elected President with 57.88% of the vote against General Sarath Fonseka (40.15%); passed the 18th Amendment abolishing presidential term limits.
Prime Minister & Minister of Finance
Appointed Prime Minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa; won a two-thirds majority in the August 2020 parliamentary election.
Resignation from Office of Prime Minister
Resigned as Prime Minister following nationwide public protests (Aragalaya) and violent clashes at Galle Face Green.
Parliament & Terms
Calculated from recorded parliamentary service dates.
Public Accountability
MANDATORY VERIFICATION POLICY: Every submission enters [PENDING REVIEW]. Unverified social media rumors, partisan commentary, or defamatory statements without primary official documentation (Supreme Court, Parliament, NAO, Gazette) will be automatically rejected.
Petitioners alleged arbitrary decisions (approving the Nov 2019 tax cuts, delay in seeking IMF assistance, and maintaining an artificial exchange rate peg) violated citizen Fundamental Rights under Article 12(1).
Inquiry into the mobilization of political supporters at Temple Trees who subsequently attacked peaceful anti-government demonstrators at MynaGoGama and GotaGoGama.