Summary
Kumara Welgama (Sinhala: කුමාර වෙල්ගම) (born 5 April 1950) is a Sri Lankan politician and a current member of parliament for the Kalutara District.[1] Welgama had been a minister of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the past. Since 2020, he has been the leader of the New Lanka Freedom Party and contested elections with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
Kumara Welgama | |
|---|---|
| කුමාර වෙල්ගම குமார வெல்கம | |
| Leader of the New Lanka Freedom Party | |
| Assumed office 6 March 2020 | |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 2010 – 9 January 2015 | |
| Minister of Industrial Development | |
| In office 2007–2010 | |
| Deputy Minister of Power & Energy | |
| In office 2004–2007 | |
| Deputy Minister of Transport | |
| In office 2000–2001 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kalutara District | |
| Assumed office 1994 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 April 1950 |
| Political party | New Lanka Freedom Party (since 2019) Sri Lanka Freedom Party (before 2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Samagi Jana Balawegaya |
| Residence(s) | 101A Manning Place, Colombo |
| Alma mater | St Thomas' College |
Welgama was the chief organiser for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the Agalawatte electorate between 1984 and 2000. Welgamaa was the Minister of Industrial Development from 2007 to 2010 and the Minister of Transportation from 2010 to early 2015 in governments led by the SLFP.
Welgama had been a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until 2019, when he defected from the party after it supported the presidential candidacy of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, paving the way for the return of the Rajapaksa family. He supported UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa instead[2][3] and founded a new party named New Lanka Freedom Party, which joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya alliance led by Sajith Premadasa to run for the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.[4]
References edit
- ^ "Hon. Kumara Welgama, M.P." Directory of Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "CBK And Welgama Decide To Support Sajith Premadasa And Samagi Jana Balawegaya At Upcoming Parliamentary Election". Asian Mirror. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020.
- ^ "Kumara Welgama pledges support to Sajith". The Morning. 12 March 2020.
- ^ "Kumara Welgama's new political party joins Samagi Jana Balawegaya". Colombo Gazette. 12 March 2020.