President of Srilanka completes 42 years in politics

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday was 42 years since becoming an MP, having first entered Parliament in its youngest member in 1970. President Rajapaksa was elected Member of Parliament for the electorate to Beliatta May 27, 1970 general elections.

He succeeded his father DA Rajapaksa to Parliament and represented the same electorate that his father made ​​his first election in 1947. He was the Training and Labour and Minister of Fisheries in the Cabinet from 1994 to 2001.He also held the portfolio of ports and transportation, in addition to fishing for three months. He was the leader of the opposition from 2002 to 2004.

He was selected as the 13th Prime Minister in April 2004.

He then moved to the position of Senior Vice President of SLFP.

From the time he was chosen prime minister in April 2004 to his election as President, he also held the portfolio of Highways.

He became the fifth Executive President of the country in 2005.

He was elected to a second term on January 26, 2010 Presidential Election with Sri Lanka recognizing him as a national leader who liberated the country from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and put the country on the path to peace and rapid economic development.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President of Sri Lanka in 2005 on a policy of large-scale and largely people-oriented as specified in the Mahinda Chintana.

He now leads the country towards post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation.