Hon.
Reginald Cooray
MP MPC
Governor of Northern Province
In office
16 February 2016 – 31 December 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Preceded byH. M. G. S. Palihakkara
Succeeded bySarath Ekanayake
Governor of Central Province
In office
12 April 2018 – 13 April 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Preceded byNiluka Ekanayake
Succeeded byP. B. Dissanayake
Chief Minister of Western Province
In office
3 July 2005 – 4 May 2009
Preceded byNandana Mendis
Succeeded byPrasanna Ranatunga
In office
9 November 2000 – 22 June 2005
Preceded bySusil Premajayanth
Succeeded byNandana Mendis
Member of Parliament
for Kalutara District
In office
2010 – 26 June 2015
In office
2004 – 28 May 2004
Succeeded byNirmala Kotalawala
In office
1994–2000
Succeeded byParakrama Bandula Gunawardene
Personal details
Born(1947-11-12)12 November 1947
Wadduwa, British Ceylon
Died13 January 2023(2023-01-13) (aged 75)
Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Political partySri Lanka Freedom Party
Other political
affiliations		United People's Freedom Alliance
ProfessionTeacher

Reginald Cooray (12 November 1947 – 13 January 2023) was a Sri Lankan teacher and politician.[1] He was a provincial chief minister, a government minister, and governor of the Northern Province. He was briefly governor of the Central Province in April 2018, his tenure lasting less than 24 hours, making it the shortest of any governorship in Sri Lankan history.

Personal life and death

Cooray was born on 12 November 1947.[2] He was a Roman Catholic and a wealthy land owner. Cooray's wife died in July 2011.[3] His daughter Muditha Sanjeewani died in December 2013.[4]

Cooray died of a heart attack on 13 January 2023, aged 75.[5]

Career

Cooray was an English teacher by profession.[6][7][8] He started his political career in Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).[9] He contested the 1977 parliamentary election as an independent candidate in Beruwala but failed to get elected.[10] He later joined Vijaya Kumaratunga's Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP).[11]

In 1988, the Communist Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Nava Sama Samaja Party and SLPP formed the United Socialist Alliance (USA).[12] Cooray was a member of the first and second Western Provincial Council (WPC).[13][14] Cooray was one of the USA's candidates in Kalutara District in the 1989 parliamentary election but the USA failed to win any seats in the district.[15][16] In 1993 the USA and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) formed the People's Alliance (PA).[17][18] Cooray was one of the PA's candidates in Kalutara District at the 1994 parliamentary election. He was elected and entered Parliament.[19] He was re-elected in the 2000 parliamentary election.[20] He was appointed Minister of Ethnic Affairs and National Integration after the election.[21] However, shortly afterwards he was appointed to the WPC and on 9 November 2000 he became Chief Minister of the Western Province.[22][23]

On 20 January 2004 the SLFP and the JVP formed the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).[24] Cooray contested the 2004 parliamentary election as one of the UPFA's candidates in Kalutara District and was re-elected to Parliament.[25] He was appointed Minister of Information and Media after the election.[26]

Cooray contested the 2004 provincial council election as one of the UPFA's candidates in Kalutara District and was elected to the WPC.[27] Cooray was accused of accepting bribes from private operators in return for bus route permits and of nepotism. Facing a no-confidence motion over corruption and abuse of power, Cooray resigned in June 2005.[28][29][30] A few days later he was re-appointed Chief Minister.[23][31] He was re-elected at the 2009 provincial council election but lost his chief ministerial position.[32][33][34]

Cooray contested the 2010 parliamentary election as one of the UPFA's candidates in Kalutara District and was re-elected to Parliament.[35] He was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice after the election.[36][37] He was appointed Minister of Minor Export Promotion in November 2010.[38][39] He lost his cabinet position following the 2015 presidential election but a few days after the election he pledged his support for newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena.[40] In March 2015 Cooray was questioned by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).[41] A few days later, when the SLFP joined the national government, he was appointed Minister of Aviation.[42][43][44][45] Cooray did not contest the 2015 parliamentary election for financial reasons.[46][47] He was however placed on the UPFA's list of National List candidates.[48][49] However, after the election he was not appointed to the National List.[50][51]

Cooray was appointed Governor of Northern Province in February 2016.[52][53][54][55][56] On 12 April 2018, he was sworn in as Governor of the Central Province. Less than 24 hours later on the morning of the 13th, he was sworn in as Governor of the Northern Province, and his governorship of the Central Province revoked, going to P. B. Dissanayake.[57][58][59][60] The revocation has been attributed to an objection by senior Buddhist clergy from the Central Province on the basis of Cooray's Catholic faith and non-Govigama caste.[61]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Reginald Cooray
Election Constituency Party Votes Result
1977 parliamentary[10]BeruwalaInd54Not elected
1989 parliamentary[16]Kalutara DistrictUSA4,956Not elected
1994 parliamentary[19]Kalutara DistrictPA85,297Elected
2000 parliamentary[20]Kalutara DistrictPA67,945Elected
2004 parliamentary[25]Kalutara DistrictUPFA78,693Elected
2004 provincial[27]Kalutara DistrictUPFA94,316Elected
2009 provincial[32]Kalutara DistrictUPFA72,951Elected
2010 parliamentary[35]Kalutara DistrictUPFA60,196Elected

References

  1. ↑ "Parliament of Sri Lanka – REGINOLD COORAY". Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Directory of Past Members: Reginold Cooray". Parliament of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Minister Reginald Cooray's wife passes away". adaderana.lk. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Superstars And Wild Boars". The Sunday Leader. 8 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Former minister Reginald Cooray passes away". adaderana.lk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Cooray Governor Northern Province". Ceylon Today. 15 February 2016. p. A2. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Reginald Cooray to assume duties as new Governor of Northern Province". News First. 14 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Reginald Cooray felicitated". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 1 July 2003. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  9. ↑ Perera, Sunil C. (15 May 2005). ""JVP find it difficult to contain and control me" – Reginald Cooray". Asian Tribune. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1977" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2011.
  11. ↑ Balachandran, P. K. (5 February 2016). "Reginald Cooray Likely To Be Lanka's Northern Province Governor". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  12. ↑ Maher, Joanne, ed. (2004). The Europa World Year Book 2004: Volume II – Kazakhstan – Zimbabwe. Europa Publications. p. 3933. ISBN 1-85743-255-X. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "Members of the First Council". Western Provincial Council. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "Members of the Second Council". Western Provincial Council. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  15. ↑ "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1989" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2009.
  16. 1 2 de Silva, W. P. P.; Ferdinando, T. C. L. 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka (PDF). Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. p. 182. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 June 2015.
  17. ↑ Peebles, Patrick (2015). Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 267. ISBN 978-1-4422-5584-5.
  18. ↑ East, Roger; Thomas, Richard J. (2003). Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders. Europa Publications. p. 486. ISBN 1-85743-126-X.
  19. 1 2 "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1994" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010.
  20. 1 2 "General Election 2000 Preferences" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2010.
  21. ↑ "New cabinet sworn in today". Current Affairs. Government of Sri Lanka. 19 October 2000. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  22. ↑ Weerarathne, Chitra (6 August 2003). "Reginald Cooray's appointment as CM of WP challenged". The Island (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Sri Lankan Provinces from 1988". WorldStatesmen.org. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  24. ↑ "SLFP-JVP alliance signed in Colombo". TamilNet. 20 January 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  25. 1 2 "General Election 2004 Preferences" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2010.
  26. ↑ "The new UPFA Cabinet". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 11 April 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  27. 1 2 "Results of Provincial Council Elections 2004" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2009.
  28. ↑ "UPFA Chief Minister for Western Provincial Council". TamilNet. 22 June 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  29. ↑ Ratnatunga, Sinha (21 June 2005). "Chief minister of Sri Lankan province resigns". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  30. ↑ Gnanadass, Wilson (1 May 2005). "I was compelled to prorogue the council". The Sunday Leader. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  31. ↑ "Cooray reappointed Chief Minister". TamilNet. 2 July 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  32. 1 2 "Preferences Kalutara" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2009.
  33. ↑ "MR picks WPC ministers: Prasanna CM Duminda, Thilanga, Reginald overlooked". The Island (Sri Lanka). 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  34. ↑ "People 'do not vote for pledges'". BBC Sinhala. 4 May 2009. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  35. 1 2 "General Elections 2010 – Preferential Votes" (PDF). The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 11 April 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  36. ↑ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1651/3. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2010.
  37. ↑ "New Cabinet Ministers & Deputy Ministers". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  38. ↑ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1681/2. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014.
  39. ↑ "New Faced Boost Cabinet as Hopes Rise". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 28 November 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  40. ↑ Dharmasena, Ranil; Balasuriya, Anura (12 January 2015). "SLFP split again; 11 more pledge support to MS". The Island (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  41. ↑ "Bribery Commission questions Reginald Cooray". Ceylon Today. 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  42. ↑ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1907/48. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
  43. ↑ "More Ministers appointed". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  44. ↑ "Cabinet balloons to 40 as 26 more SLFPers luck out". The Island (Sri Lanka). 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  45. ↑ Weerasinghe, Chamikara (23 March 2015). "SLFPers take oaths as ministers in National Govt". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
  46. ↑ Balachandran, P. K. (14 February 2016). "Sirisena Appoints Left-Liberal Reginald Cooray as Northern Province Governor". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  47. ↑ Karunarathne, Waruni (19 July 2015). "I Don't Have Money For Polls Campaign – Reginald Cooray". The Sunday Leader. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  48. ↑ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT, No. 1 OF 1981 List of Persons submitted under Article 99A of the Constitution" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1923/02. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
  49. ↑ "UPFA, UNP national lists announced". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  50. ↑ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION — 2015 Declaration under Article 99A of the Constitution" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1928/25. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
  51. ↑ "UPFA finalises National list". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  52. ↑ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1954/16. 17 February 2016.
  53. ↑ "Reginald Cooray sworn in as Northern Governor". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 14 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  54. ↑ Hannan, Rishan (14 February 2016). "Reginald Cooray appointed Northern Province Governor". News First. Archived from the original on 28 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  55. ↑ "Reginald appointed Northern Governor". The Island (Sri Lanka). 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  56. ↑ "New Governors take oaths before President Sirisena". The Sunday Times. sundaytimes.lk. 12 April 2018. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  57. ↑ "Reginald Cooray sworn in as NP Governor again". Daily Mirror. dailymirror.lk. 14 April 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  58. ↑ "Reginald Cooray reappointed as Northern Province Governor". Daily News. dailynews.lk. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  59. ↑ "Cooray reappointed as Northern governor". Hiru News. Asia Broadcasting Corporation. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  60. ↑ "P.B Dissanayaka appointed Central Province Governor". Daily News. dailynews.lk. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  61. ↑ "Acquiescence to oppression: Caste, the Sangha and theocracy". thesundayleader.lk. The Sunday Leader. 14 April 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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