Harindra Corea

The Hon. Harindra Corea
Ex Deputy Foreign Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament
for Chilaw
Minister of Telecommunications
Personal details
Born Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died March 2008
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan
Spouse(s) Rochelle Corea
Children Sheonie Corea, Harindrini Corea
Occupation politician
Religion Christian

Harindra Corea Barrister-at-Law, Attorney-at-Law, was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament, who represented Chilaw, he was member of the United National Party of Sri Lanka. Harindra Corea was born in Colombo. His father was the illustrious politician and diplomat, Sir Claude Corea and his mother was Lady Karmini Corea. Sir Claude was Minister of Labour in the State Council of Ceylon led by DS Senanayake. He was appointed the first ever Representative of Ceylon in the UK (before Independence) and was also Ceylon's first Ambassador in the United States.[1] Harindra Corea was the brother of Nihal Corea and Chandra Corea. The family home was situated in Alfred House Gardens in Colombo.

Education

Harindra Corea grew up in the UK and attended St Paul's School, London. He went on to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford.

He was then called to the Bar by the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple.

Political career

Harindra Corea was Deputy Foreign Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka – his office was located in the World Trade Center in Colombo in 2000.
Harindra Mawatha in Chilaw, Sri Lanka – the road was named after Harindra Corea M.P.

He won the Chilaw seat in the 1977 General Elections on the U.N.P. ticket. He was following in the footsteps of his uncle, Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea who won the parliamentary seat of Chilaw in 1952.[2]

The Coat of Arms of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Harindra Corea represented Chilaw in parliament – first with the United National Party and later on with the People's Alliance.

Harindra Corea was appointed Minister of Telecommunications by President Ranasinghe Premadasa in the 1990s. After a disagreement with the UNP he crossed over to the People's Alliance Government under President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 2000. The Sunday Times of Sri Lanka noted 'the parliamentary debate on the draft constitution saw cross-overs from Dixon J. Perera, Harindra Corea and Mervyn Silva.[3] He was selected as a People's Alliance national list candidate.[4]

Harindra Corea was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and travelled around the world representing Sri Lanka. Among the many duties undertaken as Deputy Foreign Minister, he opened the office of the Hony. Consulate General for Cyprus in Colombo, Sri Lanka in December 2000.[5]

Descendant of King Dominicus Corea (Edirille Rala)

Harindra Corea took a keen interest in the wider Corea Family. He headed the Edirimanne Corea Family Union in Sri Lanka in 2000. He was a descendant of King Dominicus Corea, also known as Edirille Rala.

Jazz Music

Corea was an accomplished jazz musician and he was a fan of some of the 'greats' in jazz music, among them Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington (who visited Sri Lanka in 1963). Chamikara Weerasinghe writing in the Daily News in Sri Lanka, observed that 'Among those who promoted jazz music in Sri Lanka are Tommy Perera, Tita Nathaniez, Mahes Perera, former Minister Harindra Corea and Bala Namasvayam.'[6]

Death

Harindra Corea died in Colombo in October 2005. Parliamentarians held a Vote of Condolence when he died, speaking about his achievements in the Parliament of Sri Lanka in Kotte.[7] The citizens of Chilaw have named a sports ground in the town, in memory of their Member of Parliament who served them since 1977.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links