Minister

Vijitha Herath was sworn in as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism on 18 November 2024.

A seasoned politician, Minister Herath has been serving as a Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for the Gampaha District since 2000. At the 2024 General Election, he was re-elected with the highest number of preferential votes ever recorded in Sri Lankan parliamentary election history.

Minister Herath plays a key leadership role in the National People’s Power (NPP) movement, serving as the Leader of the Gampaha District and a Member of the National Executive Committee.

In his previous ministerial roles, he served as the Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage from 2004 to 2005, and most recently, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs prior to his reappointment in 2024. During his tenures as Minister and Member of Parliament, he has made significant contributions to advancing public interest by serving on parliamentary committees relating, among others, to Public Finance, Public Accounts, Constitutional Affairs, Agriculture, and Energy. He has also served as a member of the Constitutional Council. Moreover, he has represented Sri Lanka internationally through active involvement in more than twenty Parliamentary Friendship Associations.

Minister Herath holds a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Kelaniya, one of Sri Lanka’s leading state universities. In his political career spanning 26 years, Minister Herath has remained a committed advocate for democratic governance, social equity, anti-corruption, and sustainable national development, both domestically and on the global stage.