Minister John Amaratunga’s felicitation at BMICH tomorrow

Minister of Tourism Development Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga completed 40 years of service as a Member of Parliament on 19 October 2018. John Amaratunga had his secondary education at De Mazenod College in Kandana and at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. He later entered Law College and passed out as an Attorney at Law in July 1966. 

Amaratunga who had a very successful legal practice in Negombo, cut his teeth in politics as a youth joining the United National Party. He is an Attorney at Law, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace and Unofficial Magistrate (JPUM). Minister John Amaratunga has the honour of being the first parliamentarian to be appointed to the August Assembly without an election under the provisions of the 1978 constitution. He was appointed a Member of Parliament for the Wattala electorate to fill the vacancy created by the demise of then Posts and Telecommunications Minister, Shelton Jayasinghe. He has held many important positions in a career spanning over 50 years as a UNP member.

Political career

• Chairman/Sri Lanka Leather Corporation (1977-1978)
• Member of Parliament and Organiser of the United National Party for Wattala Electorate (Since Oct. 1978)
• Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (1984-1993)
• Acting Minister of Finance (1988-1989)
• State Minister of Foreign Affairs (1989-1994)
• Subject Minister for Provincial Councils (1990) 
• Acting State Minister for Information (1990) 
• Acting State Minister for Defence (1992)
• Cabinet Minister of Home Affairs and Provincial Councils (1993-1994)
• Cabinet Minister of Interior and Christian Affairs (2001-2004)
• Chief Opposition Whip/Acting Leader of the Opposition (2010-2015)
• Cabinet Minister of Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs (Jan-Mar 2015)
• Cabinet Minister of Public Order and Christian Religious Affairs (Mar 2015-Aug 2015)
• Cabinet Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs (Since Sep 2015)
• Additional Ministerial Portfolio of Land (May 2016-Aug 2017)
• Member of the Working Committee of the United National Party
• Chairman, United National Party Professional Group and Overseas Membership Development.
• President – Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya Trade Union
• Leader and Member of Several Parliamentary Delegations abroad since 1986.
• Vice President World Tourism Organization – South Asia

A special felicitation ceremony will be held on Wednesday 27 February at the BMICH at 4 p.m. to mark John Amaratunga’s 40th anniversary of service as a Member of Parliament under the distinguished patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.