Sarath Kumara Gunaratna

Who is Sarath Kumara Gunaratna?

Arachchige Sarath Kumara Gunarathne is a Sri Lankan politician, a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and a government minister. He contests the Negombo eletorate under the Gampaha district and is a long standing member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Prior to his current appointment as the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, he has been appointed deputy minister for state resources, and as deputy minister of aviation.

Sarath Kumara Gunaratna was born in Dungalpitiya, a village close to Negombo. His father was a local school principal. Mr Gunaratna first contested the Negombo seat in 1989, but was not able to get the required preferential votes to get elected. After a stint overseas in Italy, Mr.Gunarathne returned to Sri Lanka to enter active politics. He contested the 1999 Provincial council election representing the Wattala seat and entered the Western Provincial Council. He unsuccessfully contested the 2001 and 2004 general elections for parliament but was able to enter parliament as a 'next in line' MP in 2006 when an MP from the ruling coalition relinquished his seat due to illness.

He describes his politics as progressive and 'people-oriented'.