Harini Amarasuriya – New Sri Lankan PM

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, recently appointed as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, is the first woman to hold the position in 24 years and only the third woman in the country’s history. Her appointment represents a shift toward gender and ethnic inclusivity in politics. A sociologist by training with a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, she transitioned from academia to politics in 2021, joining the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). As an advocate for women's rights and ethnic reconciliation, her leadership is seen as a step toward addressing long-standing social inequalities, especially for Tamil minorities.