Sri Lanka has a history that is somewhat regarded as “rare” considering the time it all began. Before the arrival of the colonial masters, Sri Lanka was ruled by 181 kings and queens from the Anuradhapura to Kandy periods. We all are quite familiar with how the British rule started and how it ended with the declaration of Sri Lanka as an Independent country. Despite all the struggle leading to several armed uprisings against the British, Sri Lanka was finally declared an Independent state in 1948 even though the country remained a Dominion of the British Empire.
Later on, Sri Lanka introduced its own constitution in 1978 after it had assumed the status of a Republic in 1972. We seem to know quite much about the over all history of Sri Lanka, but not so much about the profile and background of the great men and women who have paddled the boat all through the journey even up to this point especially their academic qualifications. After a long research, we gathered the academic qualifications of all the Presidents of Sri Lanka including those who were only acting Presidents. Read on so you don’t miss out on this big information.
William Gopallawa, MBE was the last Governor-General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared itself a republic in 1972 and changed its name to Sri Lanka.
Born on 17 September 1896 at the Dullewe Maha Walauwa, Dullewe in the Matale District of Ceylon, William had his primary education at the Dullewe village school then proceeded to St. John’s College, Kandy.
He had his secondary education at Dharmaraja College Kandy in 1909, and furthered his studies in St.Anthony’s College, Kandy. He earned his sat at the Cambridge Senior Certificate Examination in 1917
He joined the Ceylon Law College in 1920 and qualified as a Proctor in 1924.
Junius Richard Jayewardene (1906–1996):
Junius Richard Jayewardene, famously abbreviated in Sri Lanka as JR, was the leader of Sri Lanka from 1977 to 1989.
He served as the Prime Minister from 1977 to 1978 and as President of Sri Lanka from 1978 till 1989.
Junius earned his primary education at Bishop’s College, Colombo. He also schooled at prestigious Royal College, Colombo for his secondary education. In 1926, he was admitted into the University College, Colombo. In 1928 he enrolled to Colombo Law College and passed out as an advocate.
Ranasinghe Premadasa (1924–1993):
Sri Lankabhimanya Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from 2nd January 1989 to 1st May 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the Government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from 6th February 1978 to 1st January 1989
Ranasinghe schooled at St Joseph’s College, Colombo.
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga (1916–2008):
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga was the President of Sri Lanka from 1 May 1993 to 12 November 1994. He had his secondary education at St. Andrew’s College, Gampola,
Chandrika Kumaratunga (1945):
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the fifth President of Sri Lanka, who served from 12 November 1994 to 19 November 2005. She was educated at the St Bridget’s Convent, Colombo and at the Aquinas University College Colombo where she studied for the bachelor of laws.
She was granted a scholarship to the University of Paris, where she spent five years, and graduated from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) in Political Science and International Relations in 1970. She also acquired a diploma in Group Leadership from the same university in Paris.
Chandrika was also trained as a Political Journalist at “Le Monde” newspaper. She started PhD studies in Development Economics at the University of Paris 1970-73 but it was never concluded as she returned to Sri Lanka to enter politics.
Mahinda Rajapaksa (1945):
Percy Mahendra “Mahinda” Rajapaksa was the 6th President of Sri Lanka and Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, who served from 19 November 2005 to 9 January 2015. Rajapaksa schooled at Richmond College in Galle, he then moved to Nalanda College Colombo.
Later on, he continued at Thurstan College, Colombo. Rajapaksa studied law at the Sri Lanka Law College and was admitted to bar at-law in November 1977.
Maithripala Sirisena (1951):
Incumbent President of Sri Lanka, Maithrpala received his educated at Thopawewa Maha Vidyalaya and Royal College. He attended Sri Lanka School of Agriculture, Kundasale for three years, from where he earned a diploma in agriculture in 1973.
In 1980, he added a Diploma in Political Science at the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute in Russia to the host of his educational qualifications.
