AMERICAN RECOVERY AND INVESTMENT ACT SUMMARY

Anura Priyadarshi Solomon Dias Bandaranaike (February 15, 1949 – March 16, 2008) was a Sri Lankan politician, last served as a member of parliament from the opposition. He previously served as Speaker of the 11th Parliament, which lasted from 2000 to 2001, and as minister of several cabinet departments, including as minister of tourism from April 2004 to January 2007 and as Foreign Minister briefly in 2005.

He was the son of former Prime Ministers Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike and the brother of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Sunethra Bandaranaike, philanthropist. His father, Solomon, while serving as prime minister, was assassinated when Bandaranaike was 10 years old.

His family has a long history in the socio-political arena of the country. His grandfather, Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranike was the Maha Mudaliyar (the chief native interpreter and advisor to the Governor) during British colonial rule. Despite these family connections, Bandaranaike missed the chance of becoming the President of Sri Lanka on several occasions.

He attended the Royal College, Colombo and proceeded to London,to read for a degree in History at UCL
Bandaranaike was elected to Parliament in 1977 and has been a member since then. He led the opposition from 1983 to 1988, served as minister of higher education from 1993 to 1994, and as the Speaker of Parliament from 2000 to 2001. He left his family's party in 1993 to join the opposing United National Party rejoined the SLFP in 2001.

He was in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party founded by his father for much of his political life, although he was an MP for the rival United National Party headed by his childhood friend when it was in the opposition. When the SLFP led alliance won the elections in 2004, Bandaranaike became minister of tourism, industry and investment.

Following the assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in August 2005, Bandaranaike was appointed as foreign minister, amidst increased tension throughout the country. He dropped his position as minister of industry and investment, but remained tourism minister. He was later chosen as the running mate of Mahinda Rajapakse for the presidential campaign after the party rejected Bandaranaike's own ambitions of becoming the candidate.[1] [2]

Following Rajapakse's election victory it had been widely predicted that Bandaranaike would be appointed premier or foreign minister. However he was accused of playing a "negative role" in the campaign and was offered only the tourism ministry instead.[3] In a cabinet reshuffle in January 2007, Anura lost the tourism ministry. On 9 February 2007, he was sacked as the minister of national heritage, together with Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi after falling out with Sri Lanka's president. [4] Less than two weeks later, Bandaranaike agreed to come back into the government, again being sworn in as Minister of National Heritage. [5] [6]

On 14 December 2007 he crossed over to the opposition benches thus leaving his ministerial po
He died on 16 March 2008 in Colombo following a period of chronic illness.

Mr. Bandaranaike passed away peacefully on the 16th March 2008 evening at his official residence, Visumpaya after a prolonged illness for which he was hospitalised for several months.

Wikipedia.org

It is interesting to go through a foreign country as a designer, noticing all the little differences. This one makes a lot of sense, using the green-red/go-stop training we get as drivers to tell when pedestrians should go-stop as well. In America, it's a white light.