Ratnasiri Wickremanayake 1933 – 2016

Biography

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was born on May 5, 1933, in British Ceylon during a formative period in the island nation’s history. He came of age during the final years of colonial rule, witnessing the profound changes that would reshape his homeland in the decades to follow. His life spanned eight decades of significant transformation for Sri Lanka and its people.

Throughout his career, Wickremanayake dedicated himself to public service as a Sri Lankan politician. He contributed to the political and civic life of his nation during a pivotal era of independence and nation-building. His work reflected the values and concerns of his generation as they worked to establish and strengthen their newly independent country.

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake passed away on December 27, 2016, in Colombo, the capital city he served throughout his life. He left behind a legacy as someone who participated in the political development of modern Sri Lanka. His long life witnessed the country’s journey from colonial dependency to independent nationhood, a transformation in which he played an active role.