Beliatta is a town located in the Hambantota District of Sri Lanka.
68-519: It is an inland town, approximately, 7 km (4.3 mi) from the coastal town of Tangalle . Beliatta has the second highest mountain range located in the Beliatta Divisional Secretariat area (also called Raga) on the boundary of Hambantota and Matara districts . The mountain peaks are about 239 m (784 ft) high. Beliatta is fed by fountain water originating from Rilagala mountain range. Apart from Tangalle,
136-571: A backbencher in the governing party. Following changes to the admission process to the Sri Lanka Law College , which allowed young MPs to gain admission, he entered Sri Lanka Law College and studied law while serving as an MP. In July 1977, Rajapaksa lost his parliamentary seat in SLFP's landslide defeat in the 1977 general elections , to Dr Ranjit Atapattu who had gained 24,289 votes to Rajapaksa's 17,896. In November 1977, Rajapaksa
204-712: A cabinet reshuffle, his portfolio was changed to Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. When the United National Party (UNP) defeated the People's Alliance in the 2001 elections, Rajapaksa lost his position in the government. He was however appointed as Leader of the Opposition in March 2002. After Sri Lanka's 2004 parliamentary elections, in which the United People's Freedom Alliance gained
272-518: A marker he passed on 19 November. In the run-up to the election, several people had been suggested for nomination as the common opposition candidate: former President Chandrika Kumaratunga , UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe , UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya , former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake , and leader of the National Movement for Social Justice Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero . However, on 21 November 2014, after
340-408: A new constitution within one year of being elected, but not to abolish the executive presidency — it would be amended and the "weakness" in the parliamentary system eliminated. A naval force and a special security force would be set up, with the help of the army , to tackle drug trafficking and other organised crime . The manifesto also pledged to establish a transparent judicial inquiry into
408-445: A publication in his newspaper involving First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa . Wickrematunge was detained briefly at Bandaranaike International Airport on 21 February 2006 as he arrived for a flight to Geneva . Airport officials had claimed that Wickrematunge required "special permission" to leave Sri Lanka . On 8 January 2009, Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated on the streets of Colombo . After Mahinda Rajapaksa's defeat at
476-448: A reference to the rocks which form the coastline in the town area, which contrasts with the sandy beach of the surrounding areas. Another rationale is that the name is derived from ran-gala or "golden rock", which relates to a local legend that a holy man once ate a meal there and the rock was turned to gold. Suwanda Hennedige Sauris Silva (5 May 1898 – October 1982), dancer (principal dancer of his father's dance troupe, performed
544-668: A report by an UN-appointed panel of experts, which concluded that as many as 40,000 people were killed in the final weeks of the war between the Tamil Tigers and the government forces. A number of foreign journalists and news teams, such as the UK's Channel Four News , have reported and filmed evidence of targeted shelling of civilians, executions, and atrocities. Dead female Tamil fighters appeared to have been raped or sexually assaulted, abused, and murdered. Rajapaksa and his government have denied all allegations of war crimes. Following
612-532: A slim majority, Rajapaksa became the new prime minister. He was sworn in as Sri Lanka's 13th Prime Minister on 6 April 2004. While Rajapaksa was prime minister, he was also in charge of the Ministry of Highways, Ports & Shipping . Mahinda Rajapaksa was chosen by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to run against Ranil Wickremesinghe , former prime minister and Opposition Leader . Wickremesinghe
680-536: A victory address to the Parliament and declared that Sri Lanka was liberated from terrorism. On 11 January 2006, Lasantha Wickrematunge alleged he was threatened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with whom he had a close personal friendship with for over 20 years. Wickrematunge was allegedly abused in foul language in a telephone call According to Wickrematunge the President had threatened to “destroy him” over
748-589: Is a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the sixth President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015; the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2005, 2018, and 2019 to 2022; the Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2004 and 2018 to 2019, and the Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2015 and 2019 to 2021. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kurunegala since 2015 . Rajapaksa is a lawyer by profession and
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#1732772368333816-609: Is a centre of tourism and a popular holiday destination on the south coast. In the town centre there is an old Dutch fort which is used as a prison today. The Dutch and subsequently the British used Tangalle as an important anchorage on the southern coast of the island. The Dutch Fort, Rest House and Court House are a few remaining examples of Dutch architecture in Tangalle. The name of the town in Sinhala means "projected rock",
884-598: Is a tertiary institution and was one of the pioneers of the Technical College concept in Beliatta. The technical college is located on Tangalle road about 0.5 km from Beliatta town. It offers various courses and has a large number of students graduating each year. The Beliatta railway station, which opened on 8 April 2019, serves as the current southernmost terminus of the Coastal Line . The total length of
952-403: Is known for the production of coconuts, paddy, pepper and cinnamon. The main educational institutions in Beliatta include Beliatta Central College, Dammapala Girls' School, Beliatta Technical college and Pagngnananda Primary School. Beliatta Central College is the largest and best known school in Beliatta. It is located on Walasmulla road about 0.5 km (0.31 mi) from Beliatta. In 1994,
1020-519: Is neither treacherous nor unpatriotic to seek third-party intervention. He also demanded that the United Nations, alongside NGOs such as Amnesty International , be allowed to come to Sri Lanka and investigate. Rajapaksa requested that foreign nations put human-rights-related conditions on Sri Lanka when giving aid. On 25 October 1990, he said, "If the government is going to deny human rights, we should go not only to Geneva, but to any place in
1088-458: Is one of the largest towns in southern province. It is located 195 km (121 mi) south of Colombo and 35 km (22 mi) east of Matara . It has a mild climate, in comparison to the rest of the district, and sandy beaches. Tangalle is a regionally important fishing port, situated on one of the largest bays in Sri Lanka, which is protected from the ocean by an enclosing reef. It
1156-621: Is said that they would have favoured Wickremesinghe of the UNP party. Rajapaksa received 50.3% of the vote. After becoming President of Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa reshuffled the cabinet and took the portfolios of Defense and Finance in the new cabinet, which was sworn in on 23 November 2005. Immediately following his election in 2005, Rajapaksa extended the term of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army , Sarath Fonseka , less than 30 days before he
1224-637: The 2015 parliamentary election ; that year, the United People's Freedom Alliance was defeated but was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Kurunegala District. On 26 October 2018, Rajapaksa was appointed to the office of prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after the United People's Freedom Alliance withdrew from the unity government. The incumbent, Ranil Wickremesinghe , refused to accept his dismissal, stating that it
1292-529: The 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election . On 9 August 2020, Rajapaksa was sworn in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fourth time at a Buddhist temple on Colombo's outskirts. On 3 May 2022, a motion of no confidence aimed at Rajapaksa and his cabinet was declared by opposition leaders. He was targeted during the 2022 Sri Lankan protests over the corruption and mismanagement by the Rajapaksa family which led to an economic crisis that brought Sri Lanka to
1360-785: The All Ceylon Muslim Congress and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also withdrew from the UPFA government, on 22 and 28 December 2014 respectively, blaming the government's failure to protect Sri Lankan Muslims from Sinhalese Buddhist extremists . Rajapaksa released his manifesto, titled Mahinda's Vision — The World Winning Path , on 23 December 2014 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall . The manifesto pledged to introduce
1428-844: The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport , the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway , and the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium . Sri Lanka also rose into the "high" category of the Human Development Index during this time. Development projects included highways, roads, a Colombo beautification project, and rural infrastructure development. However, the roadway projects reportedly had extremely high costs and were suspected of corruption, and large Chinese loans tripled
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#17327723683331496-591: The alleged war crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War , but Rajapaksa had refused to co-operate with the UN investigation. In the presidential election of 8 January 2015, Rajapaksa was defeated by his ex-aide Maithripala Sirisena , winning only 47.6% of the vote. Many had accused Rajapaksa of authoritarianism , nepotism , poor governance, and corruption. In June 2018, The New York Times reported that President Rajapaksa, during
1564-571: The family home in Medamulana . At the age of six, he was sent to his father's school Richmond College in Galle . Initially, he and his elder brother were boarded with a family in Galle, later their mother rented a house in Galle called the 'Singapore House' and moved there to facilitate the education of the growing family. In the mid-fifties, the Rajapaksa family moved to Colombo and Mahinda Rajapaksa
1632-488: The presidential election in 2015 , the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena reopened the investigation over allegations that former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered the assassination. In 2010, WikiLeaks made public classified US messages sent during 2009 and 2010, stating that American diplomats, including the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia A. Butenis , believed that Rajapaksa
1700-503: The 2005 presidential election, opposition parties accused Rajapaksa of bribing the LTTE to dissuade people from voting in the northern and eastern provinces . Most voters in these areas were forcibly restrained from voting by the militant group and, according to observers, they would have favoured the opposition candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe . In the 2010 election, Rajapaksa was accused of manipulating election results using computers. In
1768-524: The 2015 election, according to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating irregularities into SriLankan Airlines , it was revealed that security officers and vehicles of the national carrier had been used in the Rajapaksa's 2015 presidential campaign. At the time, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, a brother-in-law of Rajapaksa, was also Chairman of SriLankan Airlines until Rajapaksa lost the presidential election in 2015. Capitalizing on
1836-555: The 2015 presidential campaign and elections, received large payments from a Chinese port construction fund that flowed directly to campaign aides and activities. Rajapaksa had agreed to Chinese terms and was seen as an important ally in China's efforts to tilt influence away from India in South Asia. The payments were confirmed by documents and checks detailed in a government investigation report obtained by The New York Times . During
1904-527: The Constitution. This amendment allowed Rajapaksa to run for a third term and cement his grip on power. The move came just a day after the Supreme Court ruled that a referendum was not required to make the change. The amendment had consequences beyond just term limits, including provisions that increased the president's power to act without oversight, removing an independent advisory council that
1972-601: The Mothers' Front. Saravanamuttu's organization united the mothers of those who had "disappeared" during the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection ; the insurrection was instigated by a rebel group that called themselves Deshapremi Jathika Vyaparaya , or "Patriotic National Movement". During the insurrection, Rajapaksa frequently tried to encourage third-party intervention. He frequently complained about Sri Lanka's situation while in Geneva; he claimed that to restore democratic ideals, it
2040-477: The Rajapaksa had moved about 2,000 troops into Colombo from the Northern Province three days before the election results were announced. The general claimed that the troops were ready take action on a coup. However, the cabinet spokesperson of the new government stated, during a press conference held on 24 March 2015, that there was no evidence to prove that such a coup was attempted on the night of
2108-659: The Supreme Court dismissed legal objections regarding President Rajapaksa's eligibility to seek a third term. Two years ahead of schedule, in November 2014, Rajapaksa signed an official proclamation confirming that he would seek re-election for a third term, after being unanimously endorsed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party . Though his second term officially was to end in November 2016, he could legally seek re-election after completing four years in office,
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2176-510: The Tamil people. Furthermore, the cessation of aid to the tsunami-damaged LTTE-occupied areas, and the sidelining of the Norwegian facilitators due to their alleged bias were included. Immediately following his election victory, a series of mine blasts blamed on the LTTE claimed the lives of many off-duty servicemen and civilians, pushing the country back to the brink of civil war. Following
2244-410: The base year, was reduced to 3.4 and 4.5 percent, respectively. A forensic audit was launched, with International Monetary Fund help, on various projects initiated by Rajapaksa. The audit confirmed that Sri Lanka had additional liabilities of 1.3 trillion rupees (8.9 billion US dollars). Rajapaksa was accused of election fraud in relation to both of his previous presidential election runs. During
2312-648: The closure by the LTTE of the Mavil Aru reservoir supplying water to 15,000 people in government-controlled areas on 21 July 2006, the Sri Lankan military launched an offensive against the LTTE, bringing the entire reservoir under government control. Further military engagements led to the LTTE being driven out of the entire Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and loss of 95% of the territory they had controlled. The Sri Lankan government declared total victory on 18 May 2009. On 19 May 2009, President Rajapaksa delivered
2380-500: The college was converted from a mixed-gender school to a boys-only school. However in 2014, the decision was reversed and the college was re-established as a mixed-gender school. Dammapala Girls' School is located on Tangalle road in Puwakdandawa about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from Beliatta town. The school was initially established as a mixed-gender school but was later changed to a girls-only school. Beliatta Technical college
2448-497: The country's foreign debt and created an economic crisis. Rajapaksa claimed that under his tenure, Sri Lanka started to experience rapid economic growth and that the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate reached over 7%. However, these claims have been disputed, and after his terms in office ended, the successor government revealed that GDP growth was inflated by using the year 2002 as the base year. GDP growth for 2013 and 2014, which had been calculated at 7.2% and 7.4% using 2002 as
2516-533: The election had been called, Maithripala Sirisena was announced as the common opposition candidate by the UNP. Sirisena had been Minister of Health in Rajapaksa's government and general secretary of the SLFP before defecting to the opposition coalition. Sirisena immediately received the support of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and several UPFA MPs that had defected alongside him ( Duminda Dissanayake , M. K. D. S. Gunawardena , Wasantha Senanayake , Rajitha Senaratne , and Rajiva Wijesinha ). Sirisena and
2584-437: The election. A spokesman for Rajapaksa has denied the allegations as baseless. The army and police also denied the allegations. Rajapaksa unsuccessfully sought to become prime minister again, after losing his third-term presidential bid, in the 2015 parliamentary elections . The position of Prime Minister is largely that of a senior member of the cabinet who acts as a deputy to the President. The President directly appoints
2652-595: The end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in May 2009, coming off an election win in January 2010, and with the near-collapse of the opposition United National Party , President Rajapaksa rallied more than the two-thirds majority in Parliament necessary to pass an amendment to the constitution removing presidential term limits. On 9 September 2010, Parliament passed the amendment to remove presidential term limits from
2720-463: The end of the conflict, a rift emerged between Rajapaksa and Fonseka over reasons which are still disputed. On 15 November 2009, Rajapaksa ordered Fonseka to leave his post as Chief of the Defence Staff with immediate effect through a letter from his secretary. Fonseka then joined the opposition as the candidate against Rajapaksa in the 2010 Presidential election , which Rajapaksa won. Fonseka
2788-489: The final months of the election, the ambassador of China to Sri Lanka had lobbied voters, "even caddies at Colombo's premier golf course", to support Rajapaksa over the opposition, which was threatening to tear up economic agreements with the Chinese government. With the election coming around, large payments started to flow toward the president's circle. Affiliates of Rajapaksa's campaign received at least $ 7.6 million that
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2856-449: The first public low country dance for the visiting Queen Elizabeth), poet, educationalist, social-worker, journalist. He was the pioneer in committing to writing the oral tradition of the healing ceremony of Tovil. Locally a road, Sauris Silva Mawata, has been named after him. Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lankan politician who served as the sixth President of Sri Lanka from 19 November 2005 to 9 January 2015. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa
2924-697: The government peacefully transferring to Maithripala Sirisena. The Sirisena government launched a probe into the alleged coup by Rajapaksa. The government argued that Rajapaksa attempted to seize the poll-counting centres when he realised that he was losing the election. One of the witnesses, the Attorney General, described to the Criminal Investigation Department the coup attempt made by Rajapaksa. The Attorney General said that he had refused to act on behalf of Rajapaksa. Former army chief General Sarath Fonseka claimed that
2992-582: The government to support Rajapaksa. Attanayake was later appointed Minister of Health, the post previously held by Sirisena. Rajapaksa also received support from the Buddhist extremist group Bodu Bala Sena . However, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party withdrew from the UPFA government on 18 November 2014, citing Rajapaksa's refusal to reform the executive presidency and enact reforms to promote accountability. After much hesitation,
3060-458: The nearest major towns from Beliatta are Ambalantota (37 km (23 mi)), Walasmulla (14 km (8.7 mi)) and Matara (33 km (21 mi)). The population of Beliatta is almost entirely Sinhalese (more than 99%), while the rest are Tamils . Buddhism and Christianity are the main religions. Beliatta Siri Sunanda Maha Viharaya is the main Buddhist temple . Beliatta
3128-529: The orders. According to MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Mangala Samaraweera , before going to the Army Chief, Rajapaksa had earlier instructed the Attorney General to prepare the necessary documentation for the issuance of a State of Emergency , but the Attorney General had refused. Rajapaksa subsequently accepted defeat and left the Temple Trees , the official residence of president, with the control of
3196-839: The other UPFA MPs were stripped of their ministerial positions and expelled from the SLFP. Rajapaksa received the backing of a number of small constituent parties of the UPFA, including the Ceylon Workers' Congress , Communist Party , the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), the National Freedom Front , the National Union of Workers, and the Up-Country People's Front . On nomination day, 8 December 2014, two opposition MPs, Tissa Attanayake and Jayantha Ketagoda , defected to
3264-483: The peace process once in power by allying with the Sinhalese nationalist parties, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya . The JVP had opposed the original 2002 peace process as treasonous. The agreement made with Rajapaksa included provisions that called for a revision of the ceasefire agreement to give the military broader powers against the LTTE, as well as ruling out any devolution of power to
3332-659: The point of bankruptcy as it defaulted on its loans for the first time in its history since independence. Protesters called him " Myna " and demanded his resignation which he resisted. On 9 May 2022, Mahinda Rajapaksa organised his supporters at his official residence who were brought by buses and led by SLPP MPs. The loyalists then attacked protestors at Temple Trees before assaulting protestors at Galle Face as attacks were carried out simultaneously against protests in other areas; however this intensified protests and retaliatory violence against Rajapaksa loyalists erupted islandwide and Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted his letter of resignation
3400-419: The poor. Pushpa Rajapaksa is Mahinda Rajapaksa's sister-in-law, wife of his brother, Basil Rajapaksa , who was also his economic development minister. CICT did not say how the money was used. According to Sri Lankan MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero , Rajapaksa attempted a coup d'état hours after the announcement of the election results, in order to remain in power, but the Army Chief, Jagath Jayasuriya , disobeyed
3468-513: The post of prime minister on 15 December 2018. Wickremesinghe was re-appointed as prime minister, and Rajapaksa was appointed Leader of the Opposition. Rajapaksa became the leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in 2019, splitting the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He became prime minister again on 21 November 2019 after being appointed by his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa , who had become president on 18 November after winning
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#17327723683333536-614: The president was previously required to consult before appointing people to important non-partisan posts, such as Supreme Court judges and members of the human rights and electoral commissions. A Parliamentary Council without veto power and with only two opposition members was created in its place. In a move that was widely seen as solidifying his control over the Supreme Court, Rajapaksa removed chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake from office in January 2013, allowing Rajapaksa to appoint an ally and legal adviser, former Attorney General Mohan Peiris , as Chief Justice. In November 2014,
3604-493: The railway station is 300 m (980 ft) and consists of three platforms. This Southern Province, Sri Lanka location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Tangalle Tangalle ( Sinhala තංගල්ල [ˈtaŋɡalːə] , Tamil : தங்காலை ) (also known as Tangalla) is a large town in Hambantota District , Southern Province, Sri Lanka , governed by an Urban Council . It
3672-523: The same day. During Rajapaksa's political career, he has been accused of multiple crimes including war crimes during the last years of the Sri Lankan civil war as well as other criminal accusations including human rights violations during his presidency, corruption and for instigating violence on anti-government protestors on 9 May 2022. As of 2023 he has been sanctioned by Canada for human rights violations. Rajapaksa spent his formative years at
3740-509: The world, or hell if necessary, and act against the government. The lamentation of this country's innocents should be raised anywhere." In 1994, Rajapaksa appeared in the Sinhalese film Nomiyena Minisun . In 1994, following the election victory of the People's Alliance , a political front led by Sri Lanka Freedom Party and headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga , Rajapaksa was appointed Minister of Labor. He held this post until 1997 when, following
3808-517: Was called to the bar as an attorney at law . He thereafter started his legal practice in criminal law in the Unofficial Bar in Tangalle , which he did until 1994. He continued to engage in politics and was re-elected to parliament in 1989, representing Hambantota District under proportional representation. He came to prominence as a leader, together with Dr Manorani Saravanamuttu of
3876-574: Was admitted to Nalanda College, Colombo . Later in 1957, he transferred to Thurstan College , where he took part in sports such as cricket , rugby and athletics, taking part in the 400m relay team and becoming the shot put champion. In the mid-sixties, he started work as a library assistant at the Vidyodaya Pirivena and soon became active in leftwing politics. He became a member of the Ceylon Mercantile Union and
3944-489: Was appointed as SLFP organiser for Beliatta in 1968. Rajapaksa contested the 1970 general elections as the SLFP candidate for the Beliatta constituency and was elected to the House of Representatives having gained 23,103 votes against his rival Dr Ranjit Atapattu from the United National Party (UNP) who gained 16,477. At the time he was the youngest member of parliament (MP) at the age of twenty-four years and served as
4012-597: Was dispensed from China Harbor's account at Standard Chartered Bank. A sum of around $ 3.7 million was distributed in checks with ten days to go before polls opened, including $ 678,000 to print campaign t-shirts and other promotional material, and $ 297,000 to buy supporters' gifts, including women's saris. $ 38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting the Rajapaksa campaign, while two checks totalling $ 1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees . A subaccount controlled by China Harbor, called "HPDP Phase 2", shorthand for Hambantota Port Development Project,
4080-611: Was elected its branch secretary in 1967. His father who had lost his parliamentary seat in the 1965 general elections , died in November 1967. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) party leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike offered his father's post of SLFP party organiser for the Beliatta electorate to his older brother Chamal. Chamal who had joined the Ceylon Police Force as a Sub-inspector , turndown Mrs Bandaranaike's offer in favour of his younger brother and Mahinda Rajapaksa
4148-572: Was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970. He served as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party from 2005 to 2015 . Rajapaksa was sworn in for his first six-year term as president on 19 November 2005. He was subsequently re-elected in 2010 for a second term. Rajapaksa was defeated in his bid for a third term in the 2015 presidential election by Maithripala Sirisena , and he left office on 9 January 2015. Later that year, Rajapaksa unsuccessfully sought to become prime minister in
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#17327723683334216-573: Was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and he served as prime minister from 6 April 2004 until his victory in the 2005 presidential election . He was sworn in for his first six-year term as president on 19 November 2005. He was re-elected for a second term on 27 January 2010. This Southern Province, Sri Lanka location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Mahinda Rajapaksa Mahinda Rajapaksa ( Sinhala : මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ; Tamil : மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ ; born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa ; 18 November 1945)
4284-561: Was responsible for massacres of Tamil civilians and captured LTTE fighters at the end of the war against the LTTE. The cables also stated that the responsibility for many of the alleged crimes rested with the country's senior civilian and military leadership, including President Rajapaksa, his brothers, and General Fonseka. In April 2011, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon published
4352-573: Was scheduled to retire. Over the next three and a half years, Fonseka and Rajapaksa's brother, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa , led the country's armed forces in their battle against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, or Tamil Tigers), ultimately defeating the Tigers and killing their leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran . Although styling himself as a man of peace and a willing negotiator, Rajapaksa signalled his intention to end
4420-567: Was subsequently sentenced to two years in jail for various offences by a court martial . President Rajapaksa signed documents for the release of Fonseka in May 2012. His presidency after ending the civil war in 2009 is known for initiating large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Colombo Lotus Tower , Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port , the Colombo Harbour South Container Terminal ,
4488-408: Was the leader of the United National Party in the presidential election held on 17 November 2005. Despite the huge election campaign led by the UNP, Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to gain a narrow victory, by 190,000 votes. Rajapaksa's opponents claimed that he won only because the LTTE called for Tamil voters to boycott the polls. Most voters in these areas were forcibly restrained from voting, and it
4556-416: Was the source of most of the payments. Rajapaksa responded in the Colombo Telegraph by calling the article "part of a political mudslinging campaign". In July 2018, a joint Chinese-Sri Lankan company, Colombo International Container Terminals Limited (CICT), confirmed paying nearly 20 million Sri Lankan rupees as a donation to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation, a private fund meant to build houses for
4624-442: Was unconstitutional. This disagreement resulted in a constitutional crisis . The Sri Lankan Parliament passed two no-confidence motions brought against Rajapaksa on 14 and 16 November 2018. Failing to follow proper procedures, President Sirisena rejected both. On 3 December 2018, a court suspended Rajapaksa's powers as prime minister, ruling that his cabinet could not function until establishing its legitimacy. Rajapaksa resigned from
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