Vijitha Herath
Sri Lankan politician and diplomat
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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.
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Early life and education
Herath Mudiyanselage Vijitha Herath earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kelaniya.[1]
Career
First Cabinet Positions
Vijitha Herath has held various cabinet positions throughout his political career. 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.[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
| Election | Constituency | Party | Alliance | 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 | ||
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