Vijitha Herath

Hon.
Vijitha Herath
MP
Hon. Vijitha Herath MP
විජිත හේරත් ; விஜித ஹேரத்
Minister of Foreign Affairs
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 24 September 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Ali Sabry
President	In office; 24 September 2024 – 18 November 2024
Former cabinet positions
Minister of Environment, Wildlife, Forest Resources, Water Supply, Plantation and Community, and Infrastructure
	In office; 24 September 2024 – 18 November 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Ramesh Pathirana
Succeeded by	Dammika Patabendi
Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, National Integration, Social Security and Mass Media
	In office; 24 September 2024 – 18 November 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Vidura Wickremanayake
Succeeded by	Hiniduma Sunil Senevi
Minister of Public Security
	In office; 24 September 2024 – 18 November 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Tiran Alles
Succeeded by	Ananda Wijepala
Minister of Rural and Urban Development, and Housing and Construction
	In office; 24 September 2024 – 18 November 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Prasanna Ranatunga
Succeeded by	Anura Karunathilake
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation
	In office; 24 September 2024 – 18 November 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Bandula Gunawardane
Succeeded by	Bimal Rathnayake
Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage
	In office; 10 April 2004 – 24 June 2005
President	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Prime Minister	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded by	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Succeeded by	Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena
Member of Parliament; for Gampaha District
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 18 October 2000
Majority	716,715 Preferential votes
Personal details
Born	Herath Mudiyanselage Vijitha Herath; 1 May 1968 (age 56)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Other political; affiliations	National People's Power
Residence(s)	49/53 B Salmal Uyana, Kirindiwela Road, Yakkala
Alma mater	University of Kelaniya (BSc)
Website	www.npp.lk/en/about

Herath Mudiyanselage Vijitha Herath (born 1 May 1968) is a Sri Lankan politician who has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since September 2024. Herath has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gampaha District since 2000.

Early life and education

Herath Mudiyanselage Vijitha Herath earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kelaniya, providing a solid foundation for his subsequent career in public service.^[1]

Career

First Cabinet Positions

Vijitha Herath has held various cabinet positions throughout his political career, showcasing his extensive experience in governance. He briefly served from September to November in the First Dissanayake Cabinet as the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, National Integration, Social Security, and Mass Media; Minister of Environment, Wildlife, Forest Resources, Water Supply, Plantation and Community, and Infrastructure; Minister of Public Security; Minister of Rural and Urban Development, and Housing and Construction; and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation.^[2] Additionally, he served as the Minister of Cultural Affairs & National Heritage from 2004 to 2005, focusing on preserving Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage.

Foreign Minister

In November 2024, Herath was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, where he oversees Sri Lanka's diplomatic engagements and addresses emerging international challenges. His portfolio includes strengthening diplomatic ties with regional and global partners, advocating for cultural preservation through modern diplomacy, and tackling social security and environmental sustainability on national and international levels. Known for his pragmatic approach, Herath balances Sri Lanka's domestic priorities with its global responsibilities, aligning his governance with socialist ideals while navigating complex political dynamics to achieve tangible outcomes in foreign policy and cultural promotion.^[3]

Parliamentary Position

In 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, Vijitha Herath set a record by receiving 716,715 votes in Gampaha, the highest ever obtained by a candidate in Sri Lanka's parliamentary electoral history.^[4]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Vijitha Herath
Election	Constituency			Votes	Result
1999 provincial	Gampaha District	JVP		605	Not Elected
2000 parliamentary	Gampaha District	JVP		8,823	Elected
2001 parliamentary	Gampaha District	JVP		13,981	Elected
2004 parliamentary	Gampaha District	JVP	UPFA	215,540	Elected
2010 parliamentary	Gampaha District	JVP	DNA	50,967	Elected
2015 parliamentary	Gampaha District	JVP		55,299	Elected
2020 parliamentary	Gampaha District	JVP	NPP	37,008	Elected
2024 parliamentary	Gampaha District	JVP	NPP	716,715	Elected

References

^ Staff Writer (18 November 2024). "Vijitha Herath: Sri Lanka's Minister Of Foreign Affairs".
^ "Sri Lanka's new president calls parliamentary election to consolidate his mandate". Associated Press. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ Staff Writer (18 November 2024). "Vijitha Herath: Sri Lanka's Minister Of Foreign Affairs".
^ "Minister Vijitha Herath sets new Sri Lanka Voting record". Newswire. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.

External links

Parliament profile

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[1] Staff Writer (18 November 2024). "Vijitha Herath: Sri Lanka's Minister Of Foreign Affairs".

[2] "Sri Lanka's new president calls parliamentary election to consolidate his mandate". Associated Press. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.

[3] Staff Writer (18 November 2024). "Vijitha Herath: Sri Lanka's Minister Of Foreign Affairs".

[4] "Minister Vijitha Herath sets new Sri Lanka Voting record". Newswire. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.

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v t e Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka
External Affairs and Defence (1947–1978)	D. S. Senanayake Dudley Senanayake Kotelawala Bandaranaike Dahanayake Dudley Senanayake Bandaranaike Dudley Senanayake Bandaranaike Jayewardene
Foreign Affairs (1978–present)	Hameed Wijeratne Herath Hameed Kadirgamar Fernando Kadirgamar Bandaranaike Samaraweera Bogollagama Peiris Samaraweera Karunanayake Marapana Gunawardena Peiris Sabry Herath

v t e Members of the Sri Lankan Parliament from Gampaha
Gampaha Electoral District (1947–1989) Current District: Gampaha Electoral District
One–member (1947 – 1989)	Don David Karunaratne Paulis Peiris Jayawardena Samuel Dias Bandaranayake A. T. Basnayake Samuel Dias Bandaranayake
Multi–member (1989 – Present)	(1989 – 1994): Sirimavo Bandaranaike Anura Bandaranaike Joseph Michael Perera John Amaratunga Ranil Wickremesinghe Sarathchandra Rajakaruna Paul Perera Lakshman Jayakody Wijayapala Mendis Donald Dissanayake Mahindra Wijerathna Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Anura Pradeep Mahen Gunasekera Ariyarathna Jayathilaka Reggie Ranatunga Sardhatissa Sakalasooriya (1994 – 2000): Chandrika Kumaratunga John Amaratunga Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Wijayapala Mendis Joseph Michael Perera Lakshman Jayakody Felix Perera Reginald Perera Athula Nimalasiri Suranimala Rajapaksha Anura Hapangama Reggie Ranatunga Sarathchandra Rajakaruna Jinadasa Nandasena Lionel Gunawardena Neil Rupasinghe Upali Gunaratne A. V. Suraweera (2000 – 2001): Karu Jayasuriya Susil Premajayantha Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Anura Bandaranaike Felix Perera Pandu Bandaranaike Jayalath Jayawardena Reggie Ranatunga Sarath Keerthiratne John Amaratunga Edward Gunasekara Lionel Gunawardena Joseph Michael Perera Sarathchandra Peramuna Neil Rupasinghe Suranimala Rajapaksha Ananda Moonasinghe Vijitha Herath (2001 – 2004): Anura Bandaranaike Karu Jayasuriya Jayalath Jayawardena Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Joseph Michael Perera John Amaratunga Olitha Premathiratne Pandu Bandaranaike Felix Perera Edward Gunasekara Suranimala Rajapaksha Sarathchandra Rajakaruna Sarana Gunawardena Ravindra Randeniya Reggie Ranatunga Neil Rupasinghe Vijitha Herath Anjan Umma (2004 – 2010): Vijitha Herath Karu Jayasuriya Anura Bandaranaike (Until 2008) Replaced by Sarana Gunawardena Siripala Amarasinghe (Until 2006) Replaced by Sarath Kumara Gunaratna Anjan Umma Joseph Michael Perera Jayalath Jayawardena Jeyaraj Fernandopulle (Until 2008) Replaced by Duleep Wijesekera Lasantha Alagiyawanna John Amaratunga Sripathi Sooriyarachchi (Until 2008) Replaced by Reggie Ranatunga (Until 2008) Replaced by Neil Rupasinghe Felix Perera Pandu Bandaranaike Sarathchandra Rajakaruna Edward Gunasekara Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala (Until 2004) Replaced by Alawwe Nandaloka Thero Aparekke Punnananda Thero (2010 – 2015): Basil Rajapaksa Sudarshani Fernandopulle Mervyn Silva Athuraliye Rathana Thero Ruwan Wijewardene Upeksha Swarnamali Felix Perera Ruwan Ranatunga Lasantha Alagiyawanna Sarana Gunawardena Karu Jayasuriya Jayalath Jayawardena John Amaratunga Duleep Wijesekera Wasantha Senanayake Vijitha Herath Pandu Bandaranaike Sarath Kumara Gunaratna (2015 – Present): Prasanna Ranatunga Ranjan Ramanayake Arjuna Ranatunga Ruwan Wijewardene Harshana Rajakaruna Prasanna Ranaweera Ajith Mannapperuma Nimal Lansa Sisira Jayakody John Amaratunga Kavinda Jayawardena Indika Anuruddha Sudarshani Fernandopulle Chathura Senaratne Edward Gunasekara Duleep Wijesekera Lasantha Alagiyawanna Vijitha Herath