QMU Graduate Appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
In 2024, a graduate from our Institute for Global Health and Development was appointed as Sri Lanka’s first female prime minister in 24 years.
Dr Harini Amarasuriya, who completed a joint PhD programme with QMU and the University of Edinburgh, is only the third woman in the country’s history to hold this top leadership position.
Dr Amarasuriya graduated from QMU’s Institute for Global Health and Development in 2011, following several years of research in the field of international health. She was sworn into office as the 16th Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 24 September 2024 by the country’s president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Prior to her career in politics, Dr Amarasuriya worked as a lecturer at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Our Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) is a multi-disciplinary centre for cutting-edge research and postgraduate education that addresses contemporary health and development challenges in low- and middle-income countries and their connection to global systems and trends. At the time of Dr Amarasuriya’s appointment as Prime Minister, Dr Vera-Espinoza of IGHD said: “Harini’s rise from academia to politics reflects a critical shift toward qualified and inclusive governance, which is pivotal in a nation navigating economic and social challenges.
“Her focus on justice, education, and labour reform, coupled with her progressive vision, is expected to set a new tone for Sri Lanka’s political landscape. This achievement is not only a testament to her academic and activist background, but also a step forward for gender inclusivity in South Asian politics.”
