1924- . Sri Lankan politician, a United
National Party member of Parliament from
1960, prime minister from 1978, and president
from 1988, having gained popularity through
overseeing a major house-building and
poverty-alleviation programme. He has sought
peace talks with the Tamil Tigers. From a
slum background and a member of the dhobi
(laundryworkers') caste, Premadasa was
elected deputy mayor of Colombo 1955. He
served successively as minister of local
government from 1968, UNP Chief Whip from
1970, and leader of the House from 1977,
before being appointed prime minister. He was
elected president Dec 1988. He opposed the
1987 Indo-Sri Lankan peace-keeping agreement
aimed at solving the Tamil crisis, and in
1990 secured the withdrawal of the Indian
forces.