Rohini Kumari Wijerathna

Rohini Kumari Wijeratne-Kavirathna (born December 12, 1971) is a Sri Lankan politician and academic, serving as a Member of Parliament for Matale District. She was first elected in the 2015 election as a member of the United National Party (UNP) and was re-elected in 2020 and 2024 as a representative of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).^[1]

She is the daughter of the late J.P. Wijeratne Banda, a former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and the widow of the late Sanjeeva Kaviratne, a former Member of Parliament and member of the Central Provincial Council. She pursued teacher training and worked as an educator before entering politics. She advocates for women's empowerment, LGBT rights, education reform, and human rights, and is recognized as one of the most active female MPs in the country.

Rohini Kumari Wijeratne was born on December 12, 1971, in Matale, Dominion of Ceylon. She studied at Laggala Pallegama Central College, Sri Sanghamiththa Girls College, and Swarnamali Girls College in Kandy.

Rohini Kavirathna entered national politics following the death of her husband, Sanjeeva Kaviratne, in 2014. She joined the United National Party (UNP) and contested the 2015 parliamentary election from the Matale District under the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG). She secured a seat in Parliament, ranking 8th in preferential votes for Matale, focusing on constituency development, women's issues, and rural education initiatives. During this period, she contributed to debates on agriculture, education, and rural development and pioneered initiatives such as the "Teacher Advisors Service" to support educators in remote areas.

In 2020, amid internal divisions within the UNP, Kavirathna joined the newly formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), a splinter faction led by Sajith Premadasa. She was re-elected as MP for Matale District under the SJB banner. During this transition, she emerged as a prominent advocate for women's and children's rights and was nominated by the SJB for Deputy Speaker in 2022. Although not elected, the nomination underscored her rising profile in national politics. She has been vocal on issues of governance and accountability, criticizing undue influence in government and defending opposition positions during key parliamentary debates. She also became the Matale District Chief Organizer for the SJB, leading party mobilization and development initiatives in her home electorate.

During the 2020–2024 parliamentary term, Kavirathna solidified her role as a highlighted figure in Parliament and the SJB. Her major contributions include:

• Committee Roles: Active membership in the Women Parliamentarians Caucus, House Committee of Parliament, and Ministerial Consultative Committees on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Women and Child Affairs, and Environment.
• Legislative Initiatives:
  • Introduced a Private Members' Bill to ban conversion therapy, advancing LGBT rights.
  • Advocated for gender equality, child welfare, and education reform, including scholarships, school safety, and youth programs.
• Constituency and Public Engagement: Addressed local concerns in Matale, engaged with rural communities on economic and agricultural issues, and maintained an active presence via media and social platforms.
• Accountability and Oversight: Raised historical political violence issues and challenged discriminatory government policies, emphasizing transparency and justice.
• Recognition: Awarded as Best Female MP for her contributions to parliamentary work and advocacy on social justice issues.

Her work during this period reinforced her reputation as an effective legislator and party spokesperson.

In the 2024 parliamentary election, Kavirathna was re-elected as MP for Matale District with 27,945 preferential votes, the highest among SJB candidates in the district.

Following the resignation of Thalatha Atukorale as Chairperson of the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya on 2024, Kavirathna was appointed as the new Chairperson, leading the women's wing and focusing on grassroots mobilization, provincial-level operations, and policy initiatives.

In May 2022, Rohini Kavirathna was nominated by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) as its candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker of Parliament following the resignation of Ranjith Siyambalapitiya amid the 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis.

The election was held on 17 May 2022 through a secret ballot among Members of Parliament. Kavirathna, representing the opposition, contested against the ruling party candidate Ajith Rajapakse of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). She secured 78 votes (41.7%) out of 187, while Rajapakse received 109 votes, winning by a margin of 31.

Although unsuccessful, Kavirathna's candidacy was considered a notable effort to strengthen women's representation and accountability in Parliament during a time of political instability.

She married Sanjeeva Kaviratne on May 27, 1994, and they had two children, Lakna and Kanishka. Her husband died on March 16, 2014, at the age of 44. She resides in the Matale District and remains active in political and community affairs.

• Awarded Parliamentarian of the Year (Female) in 2022 for exemplary service in the Parliament of Sri Lanka.^[2]

• Parliament of Sri Lanka - Member Profile
• EconomyNext - Preferential Votes 2024
• Official Parliament Directory