Dinesh Gunawardena

Dinesh Chandra Rupasinghe Gunawardena (Sinhala: දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන, Tamil: தினேஷ் குணவர்தன; born 2 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician who was the 15th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2024. He has served as a member of parliament, cabinet minister, and Leader of the House in the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena MP
දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන தினேஷ் குணவர்தன
Gunawardena in 2020
15th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
In office 22 July 2022 – 23 September 2024
President	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Succeeded by	Harini Amarasuriya
Cabinet positions Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Incumbent Assumed office 18 April 2022 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe Himself Preceded by Janaka Bandara Tennakoon Minister of Education In office 16 August 2021 – 18 April 2022 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Preceded by G. L. Peiris Succeeded by Ramesh Pathirana Minister of Foreign Affairs In office 22 November 2019 – 16 August 2021 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Preceded by Tilak Marapana Succeeded by G. L. Peiris Minister of Water Supply and Drainage In office April 2010 – 12 January 2015 Preceded by A. L. M. Athaullah Succeeded by Rauff Hakeem Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply In office April 2004 – April 2010 Preceded by Gamini Atukorale Succeeded by Mahinda Rajapaksa Deputy Minister of Education of Sri Lanka In office April 2004 – January 2007 Succeeded by M. Satchithanandan Minister of Transport of Sri Lanka In office October 2000 – December 2001 Preceded by Srimani Athulathmudali Succeeded by Gamini Atukorale
Parliamentary positions Leader of the House In office 20 August 2020 – 27 July 2022 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe Himself Preceded by Lakshman Kiriella Succeeded by Susil Premajayantha Chief Government Whip In office 17 June 2008 – 20 January 2015 Preceded by Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Succeeded by Gayantha Karunathilaka President of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Incumbent Assumed office 1972 Preceded by Philip Gunawardena Leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna In office July 2022 – 15 December 2023 Preceded by Mahinda Rajapaksa Succeeded by Mahinda Rajapaksa Member of Parliament Incumbent Assumed office 10 October 2000 Constituency Colombo In office 18 May 1983 – 16 August 1994 Constituency Maharagama (1983–1989) Colombo (1989–1994) Preceded by Premarathne Gunasekera
Personal details
Born	(1949-03-02) 2 March 1949 Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon
Political party	Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
Other political affiliations	Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance
Alma mater	Royal College Colombo, University of Oregon
Occupation	Trade unionist