Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi was born on 10 November 1964, as the eldest daughter ofDharmadasa Wanniarachchi and Podi Menike Weerasekera Wanniarachchi. Her father was a senior politician who served as the 7th Governor of theNorth Western Province from 2004 until his death in 2007 and a member of Parliament from 1967 to 1977 and from 2000 to 2001. She has one sister, Prasanna Devi Wanniarachchi, who is a lawyer.
Wanniarachchi attended the Pelmadulla Mahinda Vidyalaya for her primary education. She then entered Gankanda Central College and Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda for her secondary education. She was the Head Prefect, leader of the debating team, president of the Buddhist Association, Member of the Western band and the Captain of the 1st Volleyball Team of Anula Vidyalaya. She then enteredSri Lanka Law College in 1985 and took oaths as an attorney of law of theSupreme Court of Sri Lanka five years later.
In 1990 she entered politics on the invitation of the former Prime MinisterSirimavo Bandaranaike. In 1991 she was appointed as the chief organizer forKalawana. She then became a member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council in 1993 and in 1994 she entered Parliament as an MP representing the Ratnapura District.
After entering politics, she has held many posts both in the local and central governments. In 1994 she held the post of Deputy Minister of Health, Highways, Social Services and Welfare and in 1998 the post of Deputy Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine. In the year 2000 she was elected as the Deputy Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Leader of the Women's wing of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Minister of Plan and Implementation.
In 2002, while she was serving as the organiser of the Eheliyagoda seat for SLFP in 2008, she was appointed as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Convention and also served as the Minister for Youth Affairs.
Between 2004 and 2015 she held many posts while the SLFP lead coalition was in power. In 2004 she was appointed Minister of Samurdhi & Poverty Alleviation, in 2007 Minister of Youth Affairs, 2010 she was appointed as the Minister of Cultural and National Heritage and later that year as the Minister of Technology and Atomic Research.
In the periods between 2001–2004 and 2015–2019 she was an active member of the opposition of the Parliament.
From 2019 she was appointed as the Minister of Women & Child Affairs, Social Security, Health & Indigenous Medicine in government headed by the new President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
Pavithra Wanniarachchi's husband is Kanchana Jayaratne, who is the Chairman of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and also serves as her Private Secretary. She has two daughters.
In March 2021, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi dismissed five members of theSri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), including its President, Prof.Harendra De Silva. This action followed allegations from theGovernment Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) regarding issues within the council. The move sparked division within the medical community, with debates over the legality and implications of the dismissals.[1]
Approval of COVID-19 Vaccines Without Sufficient Data
Minister Wanniarachchi faced criticism for approvingCOVID-19 vaccines, particularly the ChineseSinopharm vaccine, without comprehensive efficacy and safety data. In April 2021, Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Lakkumar Fernando, a board member of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), was dismissed after opposing the approval due to the lack of data. This decision raised concerns about vaccine safety and the transparency of approval processes.[2]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Wanniarachchi's administration promoted traditional remedies, such as the "Dhammika Paniya" herbal concoction, as cures for COVID-19. This approach faced ridicule, with critics labeling it as pseudoscience and expressing concerns over its efficacy. The promotion of such remedies, alongside government-endorsed vaccination efforts, highlighted a blend of traditional and modern medical practices in the public health response.[3]
In March 2022, upon assuming duties as theMinister of Power and Energy, Pavithra Wanniarachchi emphasized that public servants should not evade crises or assign blame. She advocated for collaborative efforts to address challenges, referencing her previous tenure where she transformed thePetroleum Corporation from a loss-incurring entity to a profitable one.[4]
In May 2024, as Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Pavithra Wanniarachchi controversially decided to remove the protected status of certain areas within theVidattaltivu Nature Reserve. This action was perceived as paving the way for aquaculture development, raising environmental concerns due to potential ecological degradation.[5]
