On Tuesday, Harini Amarasuriya, a 54-year-old university professor and first-time lawmaker, was appointed as Sri Lanka’s 16th prime minister. This significant achievement also highlights Hindu College in Delhi, which proudly counts her among its most distinguished alumni. A prominent leader of the National People’s Power (NPP), Amarasuriya earned her undergraduate degree in sociology from Hindu College. She took the oath of office in Colombo, administered by the newly elected president, Anura Kumar Dissanayake. With this appointment, Amarasuriya becomes the first head of state to emerge from the prestigious 125-year-old college, which has produced numerous notable figures, including actors, national cricketers, bureaucrats, political leaders, and a former Chief Justice of India.
(Param News Network, 2024)
Hindu College principal Anju Srivastava characterized the moment as a significant milestone in the college’s illustrious history.
“We are very happy to hear that a Hindu has become the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. It is a proud moment for the Hindu University family. She studied Sociology at Hindu University from 1991 to 1994 and is a very accomplished scholar and politician,” she said.
“I hope that her time at Hindu University has laid the foundation for her future success. Our university has a long history of parliamentary system and we elect a Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition every year. Her appointment to this prestigious position is a proud milestone in this storied history,” she said.
Amarasuriya is the third woman to serve as prime minister of Sri Lanka.
Raised in Colombo, she excelled at Hindu College before earning a master’s degree in applied anthropology in Australia, ultimately completing a PhD in social anthropology at the prestigious University of Edinburgh.
Bollywood director Nalin Singh, a former English student at Hindu College and a contemporary of Amarasuriya, confidently stated that he remembers her as a vibrant and engaged participant in numerous cultural events.
She was a friendly member of the community, he said, and was active in the college’s cultural life despite the language barrier.
“At a time when there are questions about the future course of relations between the two countries, we hope that her past associations, memories and connection with the Hindu College will help foster a good relationship,” Singh added.
Ravi Burman, the leader of the Hindu College Old Students Association (OSA), confidently congratulated Amarasuriya.
“We are sure that she will shine as the new Prime Minister. There have been Prime Ministers before, but she is the first Prime Minister of a state who comes from the alumni community of a Hindu college. This is also an important milestone for us,” he said.
Amarasuriya, an accomplished academic who has successfully transitioned into politics, proudly holds the title of the country’s first female premier in nearly 25 years. She made her mark in Parliament by joining the NPP national list in 2020.
She has confidently published books and conducted impactful research on a range of topics, including youth, politics, dissent, activism, gender, development, state-society relations, child protection, and globalization.
Suranjan Sinha, a former sociology lecturer at Hindu College, confidently remembers Amarasuriya as an exceptionally bright and articulate student who introduced him to the iconic rock band Pearl Jam.
“Harini was there when I started in the profession in the early 1990s. I remember Harini very well as a bright and eloquent student… At that time, I quoted modern music, novels, movies, etc. in some of my lectures… Harini gave me a tape, a collection of Pearl Jam songs that she had carefully selected… I remember that moment clearly,” he said.
