Manashimaya
In a groundbreaking moment for Sri Lanka and Hindu College, Hindu College alumna Harini Amarasuriya has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 2024. At 54, she becomes the first female prime minister of Sri Lanka in nearly 25 years and the first ever from Delhi’s prestigious Hindu College. This remarkable achievement has not only brought pride to her alma mater but has also signalled a new era of leadership in the island nation.
Hindu College alumna Harini Amarasuriya appointed as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka has made history by becoming the 16th prime minister of her country. As an academic and first-time lawmaker, her rise to the top post marks a significant turning point in Sri Lanka’s political landscape. Harini, who completed her undergraduate degree in sociology from Hindu College between 1991 and 1994, has been a leader within the National People’s Power (NPP) party, and her appointment signals a shift towards a more inclusive and progressive leadership.
Hindu College, which has turned forth artists, cricket players, bureaucrats, and even a former Chief Justice of India, is experiencing a historic time. Harini Amarasuriya, a former student of Hindu College, was named the country’s new prime minister, highlighting the college’s long history of leadership and distinction. In her statement, Principal Anju Srivastava conveyed her delight in the college’s 125-year history, referring to it as a “proud milestone” that demonstrated its influence on the development of future leaders.
It is remarkable and inspirational to see Harini’s path from a university professor and researcher to Sri Lanka’s top governmental position. The newly chosen Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Harini Amarasuriya, is a graduate of Hindu College and possesses extensive expertise and a profound understanding of social anthropology. Following her stint at Hindu College, she completed a PhD program in social anthropology at the University of Edinburgh and a master’s program in applied anthropology in Australia. Her political career has been profoundly impacted by her academic background, which has led her to campaign for topics including gender, development, and youth politics.
Peers and mentors have praised Hindu College alumnus Harini Amarasuriya for being the first of their alumni to be appointed as the new prime minister of Sri Lanka. She was an intelligent, articulate, and culturally involved student, according to former classmates and faculty. Bollywood director Nalin Singh, who studied at Hindu student with her, recalls that she participated actively in student events despite linguistic obstacles, while her sociology lecturer Suranjan Sinha remembers that she loved music and even introduced him to Pearl Jam.
Her appointment as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Harini Amarasuriya, an alumna of Hindu College who spent her formative years at one of Delhi’s most prestigious institutions, has sparked hopes of further strengthening ties between India and Sri Lanka. Her leadership is expected to have a beneficial and long-lasting effect on the area, as the Hindu College Old Students Association (OSA) has expressed its delight in her accomplishment and congratulated her on it.
In conclusion, the appointment of Hindu College alumnus Harini Amarasuriya as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister is a historic development that has elevated both her alma mater and her nation. The world waits anxiously for her to start this new chapter in her career, expecting that under her direction, Sri Lanka will have a better future.
