D. M. Swaminathan | |
|---|---|
தே. ம. சுவாமிநாதன் | |
 | |
| Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs[a] | |
| In office 12 January 2015 – 18 November 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament forNational List | |
| In office 2010–2020 | |
| 2nd Governor of Western Province | |
| In office 11 July 1994 – 1 December 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Suppiah Sharvananda |
| Succeeded by | K. Vignarajah |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Deva Manoharan Swaminathan (1945-04-30)30 April 1945 (age 80) |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Other political affiliations | United National Front for Good Governance |
| Spouse(s) | Gayathri Swaminathan (née Carthigesan) |
| Children | Shobana, Prakash |
| Residence(s) | 125 Rosmead Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. |
| Alma mater | Ceylon Law College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Ethnicity | Sri Lankan Tamil |
| Religion | Hindu |
Deva Manoharan Swaminathan (Tamil:தேவ மனோகரன் சுவாமிநாதன்,Sinhala:දේවා මනෝහරන් ස්වාමිනාදන්; born 30 April 1945) is aSri Lankan Tamil lawyer, politician and ex cabinet minister.
Swaminathan was born on 30 April 1945.[1] He is the son of M. Swaminathan and Lalithambikai (daughter ofS. Pararajasingam and grand daughter ofP. Arunachalam).[2] He was educated atRoyal College, Colombo.[2] After school he joinedCeylon Law College, qualifying as an advocate of theSupreme Court.[2]
After qualifying Swaminathan startedpractising law inColombo, taking over thechambers of proctor Ratnakaram which were renamed D. M. Swaminathan Associates in 1971.[3]
Swaminathan was appointedGovernor of Western Province in June 1994 after the controversial dismissal ofSuppiah Sharvananda byPresidentD. B. Wijetunga.[4] He was appointed chairman of theNational Savings Bank in March 2002, serving until 2004.[5][6]
Swaminathan was appointed as one of theUnited National Party's (UNP)National List MPs in theSri Lankan Parliament following the2010 parliamentary election.[7][8] In October 2010 he was appointed to theParliamentary Council which was established by the controversial 18th Amendment to make non-binding recommendations the president on the membership of various national commissions.[9][10][11] After the2015 presidential election he was appointedMinister of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs by newly elected PresidentMaithripala Sirisena.[12][13]
Swaminathan was re-appointed as a National List MP following the2015 parliamentary election.[14][15] He was appointed Minister of Rehabilitation and Resettlement on 24 August 2015.[16][17] He was given the additional portfolio of Hindu Affairs on 4 September 2015.[18][19] He was given the additional portfolio of Prison Reforms on 11 November 2015.[20][21]
Swaminathan has been a member of the Rotary Club of Colombo since 1971.[22] He is a trustee of the Sri Ponnambala Vaneswara Temple at Sea Street in Kochchikade, Colombo which was founded by his great-great-grand fatherA. Ponnambalam.[23] He is one of the UNP's vice-chairmen.[24][25] He was also treasurer of the UNP.[26][27]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Governor of Western Province 1994 | Succeeded by |
| Central (25) |
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| Eastern (16) |
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| Northern (13) |
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| North Central (14) |
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| North Western (23) |
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| Sabaragamuwa (20) |
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| Southern (25) |
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| Uva (13) |
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| Western (47) |
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| National List (29) |
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