Dinesh Gunewardena sworn in as new PM

Senior politician Dinesh Gunawardena was appointed as the new Prime Minister by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.Anura Dissanayake was appointed as Secretary to the Prime Minister. 

Gunawardena has served as a Member of Parliament since 1983 and been a Cabinet Minister, and Leader of the House. He is the current leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) party since 1983.

Born on 2 March 1949, Gunawardena is the son of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Founder Philip Gunawardena and Kusumasiri Gunawardena.

He received his primary and secondary education from Royal College, Colombo and was a classmate of President Wickremesinghe. He later studied at the Netherlands School of Business, graduating with a diploma in business administration and management. He later joined the University of Oregon, graduating with a B.B.A. degree in international business.