Chandra Ranaraja

Chandra Ranaraja
Mayor of Kandy
In office
1990–1991
Preceded byTilak Ratnayake
Succeeded byDon Edmund Pathirane
Personal details
Born
Chandra Mahadiulwewa

1939
Anuradhapura
Died2 March 2016
Kandy
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partyUnited National Party
Other political
affiliations		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
SpouseShelton Ranaraja
ChildrenPremila, Aruni, Siromi, Shamila, Anjali
Parent(s)S. H. Mahadiulwewa
(father)
Alma materHillwood College

Chandra Ranaraja (née Mahadiulwewa) (b. 1939 – d. 2 March 2016) was the first female mayor in Sri Lanka, when she was elected the mayor of Kandy in 1990.[1][2]

The eldest in a family of seven children, Chandra was born in Anuradhapura in 1939.[3] Her grandfather, D. P. B. Mahadiulwewa, was Chairman of the Village Tribunals, which functioned during British colonial times. Her father was S. H. Mahadiulwewa (1906–1988), Kachcheri Mudliyar of Anuradhapura and the member of parliament for Kalawewa between 1947 and 1952.[3]

Chandra was educated at Hillwood College, Kandy[4] and was one of the first women to attend the University of Peradeniya from the Northern Central Province, graduating with a teaching degree in 1961.[3] The first school she taught at was the Holy Family Convent in Anuradhapura.[3] After she married Shelton Ranaraja, (b. 1926 – d. 11 August 2011), the member of parliament for Senkadagala,[5] she moved to Kandy, and taught at the Girls’ High School.[3][4] She gave up teaching to care for her five daughters: Premila, Aruni (b. 1967), twins Siromi and Shamila, and Anjali.[3]

In 1978 Ranaraja was appointed as a member of the first Council of the University of Peradeniya.[6] She entered local politics and was elected a member of the Kandy Municipal Council.[4] Ranaraja was subsequently elected the Deputy Mayor (1979 –1989) and later in 1990, the first female Mayor of Kandy and the first female mayor in Sri Lanka.[7][3] Ranaraja during and after her tenure on Council was a strong and vocal advocate for the protection and conservation of built heritage in Kandy.[8]

Her daughter Aruni is the Ambassador to the Philippines.[9] Ranaraja died on 2 March 2016 at 77 years old.

  1. ^ Chitra Wijesekera (1995). Women in Our Legislature. Sarvodaya Vishva Lekha. p. 17. ISBN 9559579703.
  2. ^ "Chandra Ranaraja, former Mayor of Kandy passes away". Sunday Times. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Dharmadasa, Sumangalika (20 March 2016). "Chandra Ranaraja (nee Mahadiulwewa)". The Island. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Wimalasurendre, Cyril (3 March 2016). "Chandra Ranaraja dead". The Island. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Shelton Ranaraja : Principled Politician and Conscience-Keeper of the Nation". Daily Mirror. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  6. ^ University of Ceylon/University of Peradeniya: Golden Jubilee Souvenir, 1942-1992. University of Peradeniya. 1992. p. 140. ISBN 955580043X.
  7. ^ Sirima Kiribamune (1999). Women and Politics in Sri Lanka: A Comparative Perspective. International Centre for Ethnic Studies. p. 51.
  8. ^ "Teaching Kandy's Heritage to Kandy's Children". The Kandy News. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Profile of Ambassador Aruni Ranaraja". Embassy of Sri Lanka - Manila, The Philippines. Retrieved 9 January 2017.