Tilak Marapana

Hon.
Tilak Marapana
PC, MP
තිලක් මාරපන
திலக் மரபனா
Marapana in 2019
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
15 August 2017 – 22 November 2019
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Preceded byRavi Karunanayake
Succeeded byDinesh Gunawardena
Minister of Development Assignments
In office
23 May 2017 – 22 November 2019
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms
In office
4 September 2015 – 9 November 2015
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Preceded byJohn Amaratunga
Succeeded bySagala Ratnayaka
Minister of Transport, Highways and Aviation
In office
2002 – April 2004
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Preceded byGamini Atukorale
Succeeded byFelix Perera
Minister of Defence
In office
12 December 2001 – November 2003
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Preceded byChandrika Kumaratunga
Succeeded byChandrika Kumaratunga
36th Attorney General of Sri Lanka
In office
July 1992 – 1995
PresidentRanasinghe Premadasa
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Preceded byPandikoralalage Sunil Chandra De Silva
Succeeded byShibly Aziz
34th Solicitor General of Sri Lanka
In office
1991–1992
PresidentRanasinghe Premadasa
Preceded byS. W. B Wadugodapitiya
Succeeded byShibly Aziz
Member of Parliament
for National List
In office
2000–2004
In office
2015–2020
Personal details
Born
Tilak Janaka Marapana

August 1942 (age 82)
Political partyUnited National Party
SpouseStella Marapana
Children2
Residence(s)13, Pelawatta Road,
Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Alma materSt Thomas' College

Tilak Janaka Marapana PC (born August 1942) is a Sri Lankan lawyer. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs[1] and Development Assignments. He is a Member of Parliament appointed from the national list and had served as Minister of Law and Order, Prison Reforms from September 2015 to November 2015 and Minister of Defence (2001–2003) and Minister of Transport, Highways and Aviation (2002–2004). As Minister of Defence, he was the only non Presidential or Prime Ministerial holder of the portfolio. A lawyer by profession and a President's Counsel, he had served as a government prosecutor in the Attorney General's Department for twenty six years, serving as Solicitor General and Attorney General.[2]

Early life and education

Marapana hails from Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa, he is the second son of former District Judge P. Marapana and has one brother Gamini Marapana, PC. He is an alumnus of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. He has a degree in chemistry and maths as well as a law degree.[3]

Marapana joined the Attorney General's Department as a Crown Counsel in 1968.[3] In 1988 he was made a President's Counsel.[3] In 1990 he was appointed Solicitor General and thereafter was promoted to Attorney General in 1992. He retired as Attorney General in 1995, following the change of the United National Party Government, reverting to the Unofficial Bar.[4]

Political career

In 2000 he was appointed a Member of Parliament from the national list by the UNP. In 2001 he was made Minister of Defence. In 2002 he was made Minister of Transport, Highways, and Aviation in addition to the portfolio of Minister of Defence. In 2015, he was reappointed Member of Parliament from the national list and was appointed Cabinet Minister of Law and Order, Prison Reforms in September 2015.[2] He resigned from the post in November 2015 after a speech he made in Parliament regarding the legal position of the Avant Garde controversy. In May 2017, following a cabinet reshuffle he was appointed Minister of Development Assignments. He was also appointed for the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs on August 15, 2017 after the resignation of Ravi Karunanayake.[1]

Family

Marapana is married to Stella, they have two sons, Janaka and Chamith both practicing lawyers.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Tilak Marapana sworn in as new Foreign Minister".
  2. ^ a b c Malalasekera, Sarath. "Another 'gem' new Defence Minister". Daily News. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Another 'gem' new Defence Minister
  4. ^ Wimalasurendre, Cyril. "Cases against Diyawadane Nilame stayed". the island.lk. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
Political offices
Preceded by
 Minister of Development Assignments
2017–present 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Law and Order and Prison Reforms
2015–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Defence
2001–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Transport, Highways and Aviation
2002–2004 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by Attorney General of Sri Lanka
1992–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Solicitor General of Sri Lanka
1990–1992 		Succeeded by