Lakshman Kiriella

Lakshman Bandara Kiriella, (born 2 February 1948) is a Sri Lankan politician and lawyer. He is a former Member of Parliament from the Kandy District and former Leader of the House of the Parliament. He has also held office as Minister of Public Enterprises and Kandy Development and as Minister of Higher Education and Highways from 2015 to 2019.

Hon. Lakshman Kiriella
ලක්ෂ්මන් කිරිඇල්ල லக்ஸ்மன் கிரிஎல்ல
Kiriella in March 2015
Chief Opposition Whip
In office 20 August 2020 – 24 September 2024
President	Gotabaya Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister	Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe Dinesh Gunawardena
Preceded by	Gayantha Karunathilaka
Succeeded by	Gayantha Karunathilaka
Leader of the House
In office 20 January 2015 – 2 January 2020
President	Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by	Nimal Siripala De Silva
Succeeded by	Dinesh Gunawardena
Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage & Kandy Development
In office 25 February 2018 – 22 November 2019
President	Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by	Kabir Hashim
Minister of Higher Education and Highways
In office 14 October 2015 – 25 February 2018
President	Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Succeeded by	Kabir Hashim
Minister of Plantation Industries
In office 12 January 2015 – 17 August 2015
President	Maithripala Sirisena
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Preceded by	Mahinda Samarasinghe
In office 12 December 2001 – 2 April 2004
President	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Member of Parliament for Kandy District
In office 1989 – 24 September 2024
Personal details
Born	(1948-02-02) 2 February 1948 (age 77)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Samagi Jana Balawegaya United National Party
Other political affiliations	Sri Lanka Freedom Party (1989–2001)
Spouse	Charmaine née Jayawardena
Children	3 (Including Chamindrani Kiriella)
Residence	Pelawatta
Alma mater	Royal College, Colombo
Profession	Lawyer

Educated at Royal College, Colombo and Sri Lanka Law College, he became a practicing lawyer before entering politics. He has elected to Parliament in 1989, he has been a Member ever since. He has served as the Minister of Tourism and Sports and the Deputy minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2015, he was appointed as the Leader of the House of the United National Party government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.^[1]

He is married to Charmaine Jayawardena and they have two daughters, Kishanee and Chamindrani Kiriella, and one son, Dinuk L. B.

In October 2018, the Asgiriya Chapter of Siam Nikaya conferred the title of Shasanamamaka Jana Prasadini on Kiriella, in recognition of his service to Buddhism and society.^[2]

Controversies

Central Expressway Construction

Central expressway of Sri Lanka (E04 expressway) planned to construct in four phases to link Kadawatha to Kandy. However, the construction of phase one and phase three were delayed as Chinese and Japanese loans weren't receiving on time. Phase two of the project (Mirigama to Katugastota) funded by the Sri Lankan government and construction carrying out by local constructors. There are some allegations that phase two construction carrying out by companies attached to Kiriella.^[3][4] COPE decided to investigate tender procedure of central expressway project due to allegations of misappropriation of public funds.^[5][6] And MP. Anura Kumara Dissanayake mentioned in parliament recalling a statement by former president Maithripala Sirisena that tender procedures has been violated while offering contracts.^[7] Responding to media, minister of parliament Wimal Weerawansa blamed that former minister Kiriella and his daughter converted central expressway project into their money making venture.^[8][9]

Recruiting Political Supporters to RDA

Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing corruption in good governance (Yahapalana) government conducted inquiry on backdoor appointments given by former minister to UNP supporters. He was accused for recruiting UMP members as public liaison officers and consultants to the Road Development Authority (RDA) without conducting interviews, checking qualifications and assigning duties.^[10][11] Former minister denied allegations that those recruitments cost Rs. 62.87 million to government.^[10]