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Hon.
Bandula Gunawardana
Hon. Bandula Gunawardana
බන්දුල ගුණවර්ධන ; பந்துல குணவர்தனே
Minister of Transport and Highways
	In office; 23 May 2022 – 23 September 2024
President	Gotabaya Rajapaksa ; Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe ; Dinesh Gunawardena
Preceded by	Dilum Amunugama; Kanaka Herath
Succeeded by	Vijitha Herath
Minister of Mass Media
	In office; 23 May 2022 – 23 September 2024
President	Gotabaya Rajapaksa ; Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe ; Dinesh Gunawardena
Preceded by	Nalaka Godahewa
Succeeded by	Vijitha Herath
	In office; 17 January 2020 – 12 August 2020
President	Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded by	Mangala Samaraweera
Succeeded by	Keheliya Rambukwella
Minister of Trade
	In office; 12 August 2020 – 18 April 2022
President	Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded by	Dullas Alahapperuma
Succeeded by	Shehan Semasinghe
	In office; 28 January 2007 – 23 April 2010
President	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
Preceded by	Jeyaraj Fernandopulle
Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation
	In office; 22 November 2019 – 12 August 2020
President	Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded by	Rauff Hakeem
Succeeded by	Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Minister of Information and Communication Technology
	In office; 22 November 2019 – 17 January 2020
President	Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Minister of Education
	In office; 23 April 2010 – 12 January 2015
President	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister	D. M. Jayaratne
Minister of Rural Economy
	In office; 12 December 2001 – 2 April 2004
President	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Deputy Minister of Finance
	In office; 2001–2004
President	Chandrika Kumaratunga
Prime Minister	Ranil Wickremesinghe
Member of Parliament; for Colombo District
	In office; 2000 – 24 September 2024
	In office; 1989–1994
Personal details
Born	March 15, 1953 (age 71)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Sri Lanka Freedom Party (2007 - Present) ; United National Party (2001- 2007) ; Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (1989 - 2001)
Other political; affiliations	Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance (2019 - Present) ; United People's Freedom Alliance (2007 - 2019) ; United National Front (2001- 2007) ; People's Alliance (Sri Lanka) (2000 - 2001)
Residence(s)	142 Jaugasmulla Mw,; Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.

Sumithra Arachchige Don Bandula Chandrasiri Gunawardane (born 15 March 1953^[1]) is a Sri Lankan politician, teacher, and film producer, who was a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka for Colombo District, and a former government minister.

Early life

He was born in Mabula village, in Avisasalwella Electorate, Colombo District, Sri Lanka. His primary education was at Roman Catholic School in Mabula and for secondary education he entered Rajasinghe Central College. He entered Lumbini College for his Advanced Level studies and entered University of Sri Jayewardenepura after passing A/Ls in commerce stream.

Career

He was a tutor in the city which he started as a hobby while he was still in the university. He successfully contested the 1989 parliamentary election as a candidate for the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna party, and entered parliament. He was defeated in the subsequent 1994 parliamentary election.

Gunawardena was the producer of the film, Suddilage Kathaawa, which won Sarasaviya Awards.

Personal life

He is married and has four children: a son, Sahan, and three daughters. In 2021, his daughter Randula was appointed Third Secretary to the Sri Lankan Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.^[2]