Hema Premadasa
Hema Premadasa | |
|---|---|
| 3rd First Lady of Sri Lanka | |
| In role 2 January 1989 – 1 May 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Elina Jayewardene |
| Succeeded by | Wimalawathi Kumarihami |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hema Wickramatunge 27 October 1934 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Sajith, Dulanjali |
Hema Premadasa (née Wickramatunge; born 27 October 1934) is a Sri Lankan politician and widow of Ranasinghe Premadasa, third President of Sri Lanka. She was the First Lady of Sri Lanka from 2 January 1989 to 1 May 1993, when her husband was assassinated.[1]
As first lady, she visited accident sites and hospitals when Sri Lankans were injured.[2] Although Premadasa was married to a politician, she attempted to form a unique identity for herself in the Sri Lankan political landscape. She was a member and also president of the Seva Vanitha Movement (SVM).[3][4] In 1991, even though the Sri Lankan government attempted to ban the Mothers' Front rally, Premadasa held her own rally on the same day.[5] Later, she made her own attempts to run for presidency in 1994.[6] She was forced to call off her campaign after opposition parties ran a "scurrilous poster campaign".[7]
Premadasa is the mother of Sajith Premadasa, current Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Premadasa is a fan and player of netball.[8]
References
- ↑ Gargan, Edward A. (May 2, 1993). "Suicide Bomber Kills President of Sri Lanka (Published 1993)" – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ "At least 45 Die in Sri Lanka Crash". Appeal Democrat. 18 January 1989. Retrieved 7 February 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ Mittra, Sangh; Kumar, Bachchan (2004). Encyclopedia of Women in South Asia: Sri Lanka. Kalpaz Publications. p. 283. ISBN 9788178351926.
- ↑ de Alwis, Malathi (2002). "Housewives of the Public". In Lenz, Ilse; Lutz, Helma (eds.). Crossing Borders and Shifting Boundaries. Vol. II. VS Verlag fur Sozialwissenschaften. p. 32. ISBN 9783663095279.
- ↑ De Mel, Neloufer (2002). Women & the Nation's Narrative: Gender and Nationalism in the Twentieth Century Sri Lanka. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 246. ISBN 9780742518070.
- ↑ "Premadasa's Widow Indicates She May Seek Political Office". Santa Ana Orange County Register. 7 May 1993. Retrieved 7 February 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Why Lankan Women Shun Politics". Hindustan Times. 13 March 2007. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
- ↑ "PMs Call For Global Help With Housing". Kingston Gleaner. 30 April 1985. Retrieved 7 February 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.
