Sunethra Bandaranaike
Sunethra Bandaranaike | |
|---|---|
 Bandaranaike in 2024 | |
| Born | 27 July 1943 |
| Alma mater | St Bridget's Convent, Colombo Somerville College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Philanthropist |
| Spouses | Kumar Rupesinghe
(m. 1972; div. 1976)Udaya Nanayakkara
(m. 1977; div. 1986) |
| Parent | S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Sirimavo Bandaranaike |
Sunethra Dias Bandaranaike[1] (Sinhala: සුනේත්රා බණ්ඩාරනායක; born 27 July 1943), is a Sri Lankan philanthropist and socialite. A member of the Bandaranaike family, she is the eldest child of former Prime Ministers S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike. She is the sister of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and former Speaker of Parliament, Anura Bandaranaike.
Early life and career
Sunethra Bandaranaike was born on 27 July 1943. Bandaranaike completed her schooling at St Bridget's Convent, Colombo, and received a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Somerville College, University of Oxford.[2] She worked as a researcher in the Minority Rights Group and the Overseas Development Institute and held the post of Coordinating Secretary to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka during her mother's tenure. She currently chairs the Sunera Foundation, a NGO which works with disabled youth and adults.
Personal life
Sunethra has been married twice. Her marriage to Kumar Rupesinghe lasted four years and her second marriage was to Udaya Nanayakkara which lasted nine years.
2015 presidential election speculation
In late 2014, Sunethra Bandaranaike was suggested in media reports as a potential common candidate for the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election. However, she was never officially nominated and did not participate in the election.[3]
Gallery
Sunethra Bandaranaike's residence at Horagolla
Sunethra Bandaranaike's residence at Horagolla
See also
References
- ↑ "27 July 1943 – Birth of Sunethra Dias Bandaranaike". sirimavobandaranaike.net. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ Sunethra Bandaranaike Archived 8 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ “If Not Ranil It Is Maithree Or Sunethra,” *Colombo Telegraph*, 11 November 2014.