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Ranil Wickremesinghe Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth24 March 1949

Age73 Years

BirthplaceColombo, Sri Lanka

ProfessionPolitician and Lawyer

NationalitySri Lankan

Marital statusMarried

SpouseMaithree Wickremesinghe

FamilyFather - Esmond Wickremesinghe; Mother - Nalini Wickremesinghe; Siblings - Shan, Niraj, Channa, Kshanika

Ranil Wickremesinghe Biography

Ranil Wickremesinghe is a Sri Lankan lawyer and long-serving politician from the United National Party (UNP). A veteran of the island's political scene, he

Early life and background

Ranil Wickremesinghe was born on 24 March 1949 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Raised in a family with connections to law and journalism, his father was Esmond Wickremesinghe and his mother Nalini Wickremesinghe. He attended preparatory and secondary school in Colombo, studying at Royal Preparatory School and Royal College. He went on to study law at the University of Ceylon (now the University of Colombo) and later continued studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He qualified with an LLB and is listed as a Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow. Wickremesinghe practices Buddhism and lists reading as a personal interest.

Career

Wickremesinghe began his professional life as a lawyer in Sri Lanka's highest courts after serving an apprenticeship under a senior Supreme Court practitioner. His formal entry into politics came through the youth wing of the United National Party (UNP) while he was at university. He rose through party ranks to become chief organizer in local contests and won his first parliamentary election in 1977 from the Biyagama electorate at age 28.

Soon after entering parliament he received a ministerial appointment, becoming Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and then Minister of Youth Affairs & Employment. During his time as Youth Affairs minister he established the National Youth Services Council to provide vocational training and career counselling. In 1980 he was moved to the Education Ministry, where he promoted measures intended to standardize distribution of school materials, reduce political appointments of teachers in state schools, and introduce educational television and computer resources.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s Wickremesinghe accumulated a number of senior portfolios. He served as Minister of Industries from 1989 and played a role in legislation that contributed to the creation of the Biyagama Special Economic Zone. He also held positions including Leader of the House and was given additional charge of Science and Technology in 1990.

Wickremesinghe's parliamentary career includes multiple terms as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and periods as Leader of the Opposition. He has been appointed Prime Minister on six separate occasions and, in July 2022, became the ninth President of Sri Lanka. His long tenure in national politics has made him one of the country's most recognizable political figures.

Public profile

Wickremesinghe is associated with the United National Party and has been a central figure in the party's leadership for decades. His public profile includes both policy initiatives and controversies. Over the years he has faced allegations related to incidents from the late 1980s through more recent years; some of these claims were investigated by commissions or raised in political debate, while other matters drew criticism from political rivals and members of the public.

As President in 2022 he declared a nationwide emergency and ordered a law-enforcement response to widespread protests. That action, and the resulting dispersals of demonstrators, generated criticism from domestic and international observers and coverage of injuries to civilians and journalists amid the confrontations.

Personal life

Wickremesinghe married Maithree Wickremesinghe, a professor who served as director of the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya. The couple married in 1995. He has no children listed in public records cited in the available material. His listed residence is in Colombo.

Latest updates

As of July 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe is serving as the ninth President of Sri Lanka. At that time his official presidential salary and allowances were recorded in available reports. His presidency followed a long career as a multiple-term prime minister and as a senior figure within the UNP.

Wickremesinghe is described as approximately 180 cm tall, with dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. He continues to be a prominent presence in Sri Lankan public life.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Ranil Wickremesinghe, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

9th President of Sri Lanka

Assumed the presidency in July 2022 after a long career in parliament and multiple terms as prime minister.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on six occasions
  2. Became the 9th President of Sri Lanka (July 2022)
  3. Held multiple ministerial portfolios including Youth Affairs & Employment, Education and Industries
  4. Established the National Youth Services Council
  5. Contributed to legislation forming the Biyagama Special Economic Zone
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ranil Wickremesinghe born?

Ranil Wickremesinghe was born on 24 March 1949.

What is Ranil Wickremesinghe known for?

Ranil Wickremesinghe is known for politician and Lawyer.

What is Ranil Wickremesinghe’s marital status?

Ranil Wickremesinghe's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Ranil Wickremesinghe married to?

Ranil Wickremesinghe is publicly listed as married to Maithree Wickremesinghe.