Jayaratne, D. M.

Jayaratne, D. M. (Disanayayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne), 1931–, Sri Lankan political leader. A cofounder of the Sri Lanka Freedom party (1951), he was a teacher and postmaster until becoming a member of the Sri Lankan parliament (1970–77, 1989–2001) and serving as minister of agriculture (1994–2001). After helping to organize the United People's Freedom Alliance (2004), he again served in parliament (2004–10), and was minister of post and telecommunications (2004–7), plantation industries (2007–10), and Buddha Sasana and religious affairs (2010–15). Jayaratne was prime minister (2010–15) under President Rajapaksa, succeeding Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.

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