Uduwatuwage Janath Priya Thilanga Sumathipala MP (born 3 May 1964) (known as Thilanga Sumathipala) is a Sri Lankan politician who was the former deputy speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 2015 and former President of Sri Lanka Cricket (2016–2019).^[1]

Previously he served as deputy minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training.^[2] He is a member of parliament representing the Colombo District. He served as a member of the Western Provincial Council and was the Sri Lanka Freedom Party chief organiser for the Borella Electorate in Colombo District.

He is also the chairman of the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Development Coordination Committee and the managing director of one of the largest private corporate groups of companies in Sri Lanka.

Early life and education

Thilanga Sumathipala is the fifth child out of a family of seven children (Sandya Alahendra, Ramani Gunadasa, Jagath Sumathipala, Anoja Chandrathilake, Anusha Dharmadasa and Shanika Edirisinghe), the son of U. W. Sumathipala and Dr. Milina Sumathipala. His father worked in a number of industries, including construction, logistics, film and as a turf accountant. In 1979, when Sumathipala was fifteen, his father died of heart failure, at the age of 55 years, with his mother being solely responsible for managing the family's business activities and raising her children.

Sumathipala was born on 3 May 1964, and raised in his family home in Colombo with his faith in Buddhism. He was educated at Nalanda College, Colombo.^[3] At school, having studied the commerce stream, Sumathipala also actively participated in cricket and was the vice-captain of the school's first XI cricket team in 1982. In 1983, he went onto further studies in Photolithography and Printing Techniques at the London College of Printing, (United Kingdom), during his time in London he played for the Blackheath Cricket Club in the Kent.

Upon graduating in the field of printing, Sumathipala returned to Sri Lanka in 1985 to assist in his family business with his primary focus on the printing operations at Sumathi Printers. Subsequently he focused on expansion and diversification, establishing various enterprises under the Sumathi brand, including Sumathi Book Printing, Sumathi Publishers, Sumathi Trading.^[4]

In 1992, Sumathipala married Samadara Wimalarathne, daughter of Victor Wimalarathne and Chandra who managed Sri Lanka’s Premium Confectionery Ice cream, Alerics. They had three sons Suhantha (1993), Dulantha (1997) and Sajantha (1999), all whom attended Royal College.

Sumathipala has an extensive educational background, which include the following: Following his studies in printing in London, he pursued his Postgraduate Studies in Public Management at the University of Colombo. Subsequently he earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the same institution.

Sumathipala completed Executive Education Programs at the Harvard Business School in 2005 and again in 2006 at the Harvard J.F.K School of Government.

In recognition of his expertise, Sumathipala was appointed as a distinguished Professor in Strategic Management by the University of Keiymung in 2014. Presently Sumathipala is pursuing a Ph.D at the Beijing University of Foreign Studies.

Career

Sumathipala is serving as the General Secretary of the United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA),^[5] and Freedom Peoples Alliance (FPA) which consists of more than twelve political parties. He is also currently serving as the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Sumathipala was the Colombo District leader of the SLFP, however he had to take a step down when he was appointed as the General Secretary of the UPFA.

Sumathipala gained recognition for his contributions to the Sri Lankan cricket board, initially as vice president in 1995 and later as the president of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board on multiple occasions.^[6] Sumathipala entered politics in 2009, when he was elected as a member to the Western Provincial Council and then later to the Sri Lanka Parliament in 2010.^[7]

Sumathipala had been the chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC and Mobitel (PVT) LTD ^[8] and served as the president of Sri Lanka Cricket, Asian Cricket Council and International Advertising Association. In the political realm, he served as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka (2015-2018),^[9] State Minister of Technology and Innovation (2019 - 2020), and Deputy Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training (2015).

It was his initiative to recognise the television industry in 1995 by launching National TV Awards to recognise the nascent potential of the television industry.^[10] Simultaneously he launched the national newspaper, Lakbima, and a suite of other tabloids including, Sarasi, Rajina, Araliya, Samudura and Sathsara.

Sumathipala has also played a prominent role in the corporate world, serving as the chairman of Sumathi Ventures ^[11] and Asia Capital PLC,^[12] whilst also serving in various organizations and companies in the capacity of chairman / director.^[13]

Sumathipala is also a philanthropist, providing back to the community through the Thilanga Sumathipala Foundation, a charitable foundation which he had established to combat poverty and to foster social development.^[14]

References

• By Lakmal Welabada "'He is unique, that's why I love him'". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2008.

• "About Thilanga". vote4thilanga.lk. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
• "Sumathi Group of Companies". sumathi.lk. Retrieved 2 July 2009.

• By Panchamee Hewavisenti "Biz Buzz for Tomorrow's Leaders". Sunday Observer. 23 November 2008. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.

• "Beliatte battles stump Thilanga". The Sunday Leader. 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
• Thilanga Sumathipala on ‘HOT SEAT’ Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) Video.