Velupillai Prabhakaran
1954 – 2009Founded and led the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for over three decades, waging a separatist war for an independent Tamil state until his death in 2009.
Famous People from Sri Lanka
27 notable historical figures from Sri Lanka, including leaders, artists, scientists, and other influential people.
Sri Lanka has produced 27 notable historical figures, with politicians making up the largest group at 19 individuals. The country's political scene has seen influential figures like Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first female Prime Minister in 1960. The Rajapaksa family has held significant sway, with Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa both serving as President. Chandrika Kumaratunga also served as president, playing a role in democratic development. Other prominent leaders include Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maithripala Sirisena, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, along with S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. The database features controversial figures such as Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Tamil Tigers, and spans beyond politics to entertainment with actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who represents Sri Lanka's contribution to international cinema.
politician (14)diplomat (6)cricketer (4)lawyer (3)writer (2)dictator (1)freedom fighter (1)president (1)civil servant (1)military officer (1)
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
1968 – PresentLeader of the Marxist-Leninists JVP party who won the 2024 presidential election, becoming Sri Lanka's first leftist president since independence.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
1949 – PresentFormer military officer and brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa who served as President from 2019-2022 before fleeing the country amid economic crisis and mass protests.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
1916 – 2000Sri Lanka's first female Prime Minister who made history as the world's first woman to serve as head of government, leading the country through three separate terms from 1960-2000.
Junius Richard Jayewardene
1906 – 1996Sri Lanka's first Executive President (1978-1989) who introduced the current constitution and economic liberalization policies that transformed the country's political system.
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
1899 – 1959Prime Minister from 1956-1959 who championed Sinhalese nationalism and made Sinhala the official language, before being assassinated by a Buddhist monk.
Jacqueline Fernandez
1985 – PresentFormer Miss Universe Sri Lanka (2006) who became a prominent Bollywood actress, starring in films like Kick and Race 3.
Ranil Wickremesinghe
1949 – PresentLong-serving leader of the United National Party who became Sri Lanka's President in 2022 following mass protests that forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign.
Mahinda Rajapaksa
1945 – PresentServed as Sri Lanka's President from 2005-2015, leading the military campaign that ended the 26-year civil war against the LTTE in 2009.
Kumar Sangakkara
1977 – PresentFormer wicket-keeper batsman widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest players, who captained Sri Lanka and scored over 12,000 Test runs.
Lasith Malinga
1983 – PresentSri Lankan fast bowler famous for his distinctive sling-arm action and yorker deliveries, who took 546 international wickets across all formats. He was instrumental in Sri Lanka's 2014 T20 World Cup victory and is considered one of the greatest limited-overs bowlers in cricket history.
Muttiah Muralitharan
1972 – PresentLegendary spin bowler who holds the world record for most Test wickets (800) and most One Day International wickets (534) in cricket history.
Aryadeva
200 – 2503rd century Sri Lankan philosopher and writer
Chandrika Kumaratunga
1945 – PresentSri Lanka's first female President (1994-2005) and daughter of Prime Ministers S.W.R.D. and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who initiated peace negotiations during the civil war.
Maithripala Sirisena
1951 – PresentFormer Health Minister who defeated Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015 to become Sri Lanka's President, serving until 2019 in a coalition government.
Don Stephen Senanayake
1884 – 1952Led Sri Lanka's independence movement and became the country's first Prime Minister (1947-1952), earning recognition as the "Father of the Nation."
Ranasinghe Premadasa
1924 – 1993Rose from poverty to become President of Sri Lanka (1989-1993) before being assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber during a May Day parade.
Harini Amarasuriya
1970 – PresentAcademic and sociologist who became Sri Lanka's first female Prime Minister since 2000 when appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in 2024.
Shehan Karunatilaka
1975 – PresentWon the 2022 Booker Prize for his novel "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida," making him the second Sri Lankan author to receive this prestigious literary award.
Dudley Senanayake
1911 – 1973Sri Lankan politician who served three terms as Prime Minister (1952-1953, 1960, 1965-1970) and was a founding member of the United National Party. He was known for his moderate policies and efforts to promote national reconciliation during a turbulent period in Sri Lankan politics.
Susanthika Jayasinghe
1975 – PresentWon the bronze medal in the 200 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming the first Sri Lankan woman to win an Olympic medal.
Dinesh Gunawardena
1949 – PresentVeteran politician who served as Prime Minister from 2022-2024 and has held various ministerial portfolios over his decades-long political career.
William Gopallawa
1897 – 1981Served as Sri Lanka's first President (1972-1978) when the country transitioned from a dominion to a republic, previously serving as Governor-General.
Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don
1947 – PresentCatholic Cardinal who serves as Archbishop of Colombo and has been a vocal advocate for human rights and reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka.
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
1933 – 2016Served twice as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (2000-2001, 2005-2010) and was a key figure in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party for over five decades.
D. M. Jayaratne
1931 – 2019Served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2010-2015 under President Mahinda Rajapaksa, representing the Matara District in Parliament for over four decades.
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
1916 – 2008Served as President for eight months (1993-1994) following the assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa, having previously been Prime Minister.
Related Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the first female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the world's first female head of government. She served three terms as Prime Minister between 1960 and 2000, leading the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and implementing social and economic reforms.
Which famous actress from Sri Lanka works in Bollywood movies?
Jacqueline Fernandez is a Sri Lankan actress and former model who has gained prominence in Bollywood cinema. She has appeared in many successful Hindi films and is a well-known Sri Lankan figure in the Indian film industry.
Who are the most well-known political leaders from the Rajapaksa family?
Mahinda Rajapaksa was President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015 and later became Prime Minister. His brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa was President from 2019 to 2022. The Rajapaksa family has been influential in modern Sri Lankan politics.