Chief Opposition Whip (Sri Lanka)

The Chief Opposition Whip is a position in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The position was first established in 1960.[1]

Chief Opposition Whip of Sri Lanka
since 2 December 2024
AppointerLeader of the Opposition
Inaugural holderJ. R. Jayewardene
Formation1960
This article is part of a series on the
Politics of
Sri Lanka
Constitution
Executive
  • G. P. Saputhanthri
  • W. M. D. J. Fernando
Legislature

  • Secretary General
  • Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera
  • D. W. R. B. Seneviratne
Judiciary
  • Parinda Ranasinghe
  • Viraj Dayaratne
  • Ayesha Jinasena
Elections
  • R. M. A. L. Rathnayake
  • Members
  • M. A. P. C. Perera
  • Ameer Faaiz
  • Anusuya Shanmuganathan
  • Lakshman Dissanayake
Administrative divisions
Devolution
  • S. Aloka Bandara
Central Bank
  • K. M. Mahinda Siriwardana
Foreign relations
  • Aruni Ranaraja
Related topics

List of Chief Opposition Whips

Parties

  United National Party   Sri Lanka Freedom Party   Tamil United Liberation Front   Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna   Samagi Jana Balawegaya

Name Portrait Tenure Political party Parliament References
Parliament of Ceylon (1960–1972)
J. R. Jayewardene 1960 – 1965 United National Party 5th [1]
M. P. de Z. Siriwardena 1965 – 1970 Sri Lanka Freedom Party 6th [1]
Ranasinghe Premadasa 1970 – 1972 United National Party 7th [1]
National State Assembly (1972–1978)
Ranasinghe Premadasa 1972 – 1977 United National Party 1st [1]
X. M. Sellathambu 1977 – 1978 Tamil United Liberation Front 2nd [1]
Parliament of Sri Lanka (1978–present)
X. M. Sellathambu 1978 – 1983 Tamil United Liberation Front 8th [1]
Lakshman Jayakody 1983 – 1988 Sri Lanka Freedom Party [1]
Richard Pathirana 1989 – 24 June 1994 Sri Lanka Freedom Party 9th [1]
Wijayapala Mendis 25 August 1994 – 21 July 1998 United National Party 10th [1]
W. J. M. Lokubandara 22 July 1998 – 10 October 2001 United National Party 10th
11th 		[1]
Mahinda Rajapaksa 18 December 2001 – 5 February 2002 Sri Lanka Freedom Party 12th [1]
Mangala Samaraweera 6 February 2002 – 7 February 2004 Sri Lanka Freedom Party [1]
Mahinda Samarasinghe 22 April 2004 – 26 January 2006 United National Party 13th [1]
Joseph Michael Perera 26 January 2006 – 20 April 2010 United National Party [1]
John Amaratunga 22 April 2010 – 20 January 2015 United National Party 14th [1]
W. D. J. Senewiratne 20 January 2015 – 26 June 2015 Sri Lanka Freedom Party [1]
Anura Kumara Dissanayake 3 September 2015 – 18 December 2018 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 15th [1]
Mahinda Amaraweera 18 December 2018 – 21 November 2019 Sri Lanka Freedom Party [1]
Gayantha Karunatileka 3 January 2020 – 2 March 2020 United National Party [1]
Lakshman Kiriella 20 August 2020 – 24 September 2024 Samagi Jana Balawegaya 16th [1]
Gayantha Karunathilaka 2 December 2024 – present Samagi Jana Balawegaya 17th [1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Chief Opposition Whips". Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Gayantha Karunatilake appointed Chief Opposition Whip". Ada Derana. 2 December 2024. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  • Parliament of Sri Lanka – Handbook of Parliament, [1]