Reginald Cooray

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The Honourable
Reginald Cooray
MP MPC
5th Governor of Northern Province
Assumed office
16 February 2016
Preceded by H. M. G. S. Palihakkara
5th Chief Minister of Western Province
In office
3 July 2005 – 4 May 2009
Preceded by Nandana Mendis
Succeeded by Prasanna Ranatunga
In office
9 November 2000 – 22 June 2005
Preceded by Susil Premajayanth
Succeeded by Nandana Mendis
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament
for Kalutara District
In office
2010 – 26 June 2015
In office
2004 – 28 May 2004
Succeeded by Nirmala Kotalawala
In office
1994–2000
Succeeded by Parakrama Bandula Gunawardene
Personal details
Born (1947-11-12) 12 November 1947 (age 77)
Political party Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Other political
affiliations		 United People's Freedom Alliance
Profession Teacher
Religion Roman Catholic

Reginald Cooray (born 12 November 1947) is a Sri Lankan teacher and politician. He is a former provincial chief minister, former government minister and the 5th and current Governor of the Northern Province.

Early life and family

Cooray was born on 12 November 1947.[1] Cooray is a Roman Catholic and a wealthy land owner.[2] Cooray's wife died in July 2011.[3] His daughter Muditha Sanjeewani died in December 2013.[4]

Career

Cooray is an English teacher by profession.[5][6][7] He started his political career in Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).[8] He contested the 1977 parliamentary election as an independent candidate in Beruwala but failed to get elected.[9] He later joined Vijaya Kumaratunga's Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP).[10]

In 1988 the Communist Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Nava Sama Samaja Party and SLPP formed the United Socialist Alliance (USA).[11] Cooray was a member of the first and second Western Provincial Council (WPC).[12][13] Cooray was one of the USA's candidates in Kalutara District at the 1989 parliamentary election but the USA failed to win any seats in the district.[14][15] In 1993 the USA and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) formed the People's Alliance (PA).[16][17] Cooray was one of the PA's candidates in Kalutara District at the 1994 parliamentary election. He was elected and entered Parliament.[18] He was re-elected at the 2000 parliamentary election.[19] He was appointed Minister of Ethnic Affairs and National Integration after the election.[20] However, shortly afterwards he was appointed to the WPC and on 9 November 2000 he became Chief Minister of the Western Province.[21][22]

On 20 January 2004 the SLFP and the JVP formed the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).[23] Cooray contested the 2004 parliamentary election as one of the UPFA's candidates in Kalutara District and was re-elected to Parliament.[24] He was appointed Minister of Information and Media after the election.[25]

Cooray contested the 2004 provincial council election as one of the UPFA's candidates in Kalutara District and was elected to the WPC.[26] Cooray was accused of accepting bribes from private operators in return for bus route permits and of nepotism.[27] Facing a no confidence motion over corruption and abuse of power, Cooray resigned in June 2005.[28][29][30] A few days later he was re-appointed Chief Minister.[22][31] He was re-elected at the 2009 provincial council election but lost his chief ministerial position.[32][33][34]

Cooray contested the 2010 parliamentary election as one of the UPFA's candidates in Kalutara District and was re-elected to Parliament.[35] He was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice after the election.[36][37] He was appointed Minister of Minor Export Promotion in November 2010.[38][39] He lost his cabinet position following the 2015 presidential election but a few days after the election he pledged his support for newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena.[40] In March 2015 Cooray was questioned by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).[41] A few days later, when the SLFP joined the national government, he was appointed Minister of Aviation.[42][43][44][45] Cooray did not contest the 2015 parliamentary election for financial reasons.[46][47] He was however placed on the UPFA's list of National List candidates.[48][49] However, after the election he was not appointed to the National List.[50][51]

Cooray was appointed Governor of Northern Province in February 2016.[52][53][54][55]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Reginald Cooray
Election Constituency Party Votes Result
1977 parliamentary[9] Beruwala Ind 54 Not elected
1989 parliamentary[15] Kalutara District USA 4,956 Not elected
1994 parliamentary[18] Kalutara District PA 85,297 Elected
2000 parliamentary[19] Kalutara District PA 67,945 Elected
2004 parliamentary[24] Kalutara District UPFA 78,693 Elected
2004 provincial[26] Kalutara District UPFA 94,316 Elected
2009 provincial[32] Kalutara District UPFA 72,951 Elected
2010 parliamentary[35] Kalutara District UPFA 60,196 Elected

References

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