Shiranthi Rajapaksa

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Shiranthi Rajapaksa (née Wickremasinghe; born 23 January 1953) is a Sri Lankan educator and model who served as the First Lady of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015, as the wife of the sixth President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa.[1]

Life

In her youth, Rajapaksa worked as a hotel receptionist. She was selected as Miss Sri Lanka and competed in the Miss Universe 1973 and Miss World 1973 pageants.[2]

She is the founder of the Carlton Schools of Sri Lanka, a group of six preschools in Colombo, Beliatta, Ranna, Walasmulla, Tangalle and Weeraketiya.[3]

During her husband's presidency, she operated the Carlton Siriliya Saviya Foundation, a non-governmental organization which promotes peace and development.[4] Later administrations accused Rajapaksa of using the foundation's bank accounts fraudulently.[5][6]

Personal life

Rajakpaksa was born in Badulla to Violet Wickramasinghe and naval officer E. P. Wickremasinghe.[3] Her elder brother, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, was previously the chairman of SriLankan Airlines, while her younger brother, Srimal Wickramasinghe, was appointed Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Seychelles in 2021.[7] She has three sons with her husband.[8]

Rajakpaksa was raised Catholic, but converted to Buddhism prior to her marriage.[9] In 2007, she was recognized as an "Outstanding Woman in Buddhism" by the International Women's Meditation Center Foundation.[3] However, sources in the 2010s described her as a "devout Catholic".[10]

References

  1. 1."First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa". Barack Obama Presidential Library. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  2. 2."Miss World Contestant Darts into Local". Cambridge Evening News. 3 December 1973. p. 4.
  3. 3.[3.2][3.3]"Madam Shiran Wickramasingh Rajapaksa". International Women’s Meditation Center Foundation. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  4. 4."Corruption case: Lankan police question Rajapaksa's wife". Firstpost. PTI. 1 June 2015.
  5. 5."Fresh probe into Shiranthi's bank account". Sri Lanka Mirror. 23 June 2025.
  6. 6."Rajapaksa family summoned in renewed criminal investigations". Tamil Guardian. 2026-02-03. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  7. 7.Werasinghe, N. H. L. (2021-01-21). "Mahinda's BIL named as High Commissioner to Seychelles". LankaTruth English. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  8. 8.Webley, Kayla (2010-01-28). "Mahinda Rajapaksa". TIME. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  9. 9."Kerala temple atones as President clarifies wife's religion". Tamil Guardian. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  10. 10."Pope Benedict to express concern over Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph's safety to President Rajapaksa at Vatican". Sri Lanka Brief. 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2026-08-12.