Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)

Leader of the Opposition
Incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe since 6 April 2004
Term length	While leader of the largest political party not in government

Sri Lanka
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The Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lanka is the politician who leads main opposition. This is the leader of the largest party not within the government, usually the leader of the second largest party in the Parliament. The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The current Leader of the Opposition is Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the United National Party.

Leaders of the Opposition of Sri Lanka (1947–Present)

Those who have served as President or Prime Minister are indicated in italics.

Leaders of the Opposition of the Parliament (House of Representatives) (1947–1972)

#	Leader		Political Party	Term of office
1		Dr. N. M. Perera	Lanka Sama Samaja Party	1947–1952
2		S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike	Sri Lanka Freedom Party	1952–1956
(1)		Dr. N. M. Perera	Lanka Sama Samaja Party	1956–1959
3		C. P. De Silva	Sri Lanka Freedom Party	1960
4		Dudley Senanayake	United National Party	1960–1964
5		Sirimavo Bandaranaike	Sri Lanka Freedom Party	1965–1970
6		J. R. Jayewardene	United National Party	1970–1972

Leaders of the Opposition of the Parliament (National State Assembly) (1972–1978)

#	Leader		Political Party	Term of office
(6)		J. R. Jayewardene	United National Party	1972–1977
7		A. Amirthalingam	Tamil United Liberation Front	1977–1978

Leaders of the Opposition of the Parliament (1978–Present)

#	Leader		Political Party	Term of office
(7)		A. Amirthalingam	Tamil United Liberation Front	1978–1983
8		Anura Bandaranaike	Sri Lanka Freedom Party	1983–1988
(5)		Sirimavo Bandaranaike	Sri Lanka Freedom Party	1989–1994
9		Gamini Dissanayake	United National Party	1994
10		Ranil Wickremesinghe	United National Party	1994–2001
11		Ratnasiri Wickremanayake	Sri Lanka Freedom Party	2001
12		Mahinda Rajapakse	Sri Lanka Freedom Party	2001–2004
(10)		Ranil Wickremesinghe	United National Party	2004–Present

References

• Parliament of Sri Lanka - Handbook of Parliament, Leaders of the Opposition

See also

• President of Sri Lanka
• Prime Minister of Sri Lanka