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Gotabaya Rajapaksa Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth20 June 1949

Age73 Years

BirthplacePalatuwa, Matara, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)

ProfessionEx-Sri Lankan Army officer and Politician

SpouseIoma Rajapaksa

Gotabaya Rajapaksa Biography

Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a former Sri Lankan army officer and politician who served as Defence Secretary and as the 8th President of Sri Lanka. A career army‐

Early life and background

Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa was born on 20 June 1949 in Palatuwa, Matara, in what was then British Ceylon. He grew up in the southern coastal region of Sri Lanka and was educated at Ananda College before continuing higher studies at Madras University and the University of Colombo. He holds an M.Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies and a diploma in Information Technology. He follows Buddhism.

Military career

Rajapaksa began his military service in 1972 and spent nearly two decades in the Sri Lankan Army, rising through a sequence of ranks from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel. Across his service he was posted in several units including the Signal Corps, the Sinhala Regiment, the Rajarata Rifles and the Gajaba Regiment. He commanded the 1st Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment and later served as Deputy Commandant of the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy. His formal service record runs from 26 May 1972 to 1 November 1991.

During and after his active duty he received a number of Sri Lankan military decorations recognizing long service, operational participation and acts in combat. These honours listed in official records include awards such as the President’s Inauguration Medal, long service and campaign medals, and gallantry and campaign decorations conferred in the 1980s and 1990s.

Transition to public service and politics

After leaving the army, Rajapaksa moved into public service and politics. He served as Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary from 2005 until 2015. Later he stood for national office and was elected as the 8th President of Sri Lanka, serving from 18 November 2019 until 14 July 2022. He has been affiliated with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna political party.

Citizenship and residence

Rajapaksa’s citizenship history includes holding Sri Lankan citizenship from birth until 2003, when he renounced it and became a United States citizen. Ahead of assuming the presidency in 2019 he renounced U.S. citizenship and reacquired Sri Lankan citizenship.

Public profile

Rajapaksa is a prominent and polarizing public figure in Sri Lanka. During his career he acquired a nickname used by some segments of the public. He has been associated with strong national security positions and a forceful approach to defence matters. Physical details listed in public profiles describe him as approximately 177 cm tall with salt-and-pepper hair and dark brown eyes.

Controversies and legal matters

Rajapaksa’s tenure in senior security roles and political life attracted extensive scrutiny and controversy. Allegations and disputes reported in public records cover a range of issues tied to the country’s civil war years and their aftermath, including accusations of human rights violations during wartime operations and claims related to specific incidents involving journalists. He faced litigation abroad that was affected by his status as a foreign official after he became president; a United States appeals court decision noted that presidential office conferred certain immunities while also indicating that some claims could be revived if immunity ceased to apply.

A number of disputed episodes mentioned in public sources include contested claims about procurement and diplomatic matters, allegations surrounding attacks and kidnappings of journalists, and an exchange of public statements in which Rajapaksa defended military actions and criticized international organizations. These matters have been part of a broader and ongoing public debate about accountability for conduct during the conflict period.

Personal life

Gotabaya Rajapaksa is married to Ioma Rajapaksa. Public records list his hometown as Palatuwa, Matara, and give an address in Mirihana, Nugegoda. He was born under the Gemini sign. Aside from formal education and military training, his publicly noted professional background is as a career army officer who later entered national defence administration and electoral politics.

Latest updates

As of 2022 Rajapaksa is 73 years old. His most recent high-profile political roles were his decade-long period as Defence Secretary and his service as President of Sri Lanka from November 2019 through July 2022.
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Recent Work

Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka

Served as the country’s defence secretary from 2005 to 2015.

2005-2015
President of Sri Lanka

Served as the 8th President of Sri Lanka.

2019-2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Nearly two decades of service in the Sri Lankan Army, rising to Lieutenant Colonel.
  2. Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Gajaba Regiment.
  3. Deputy Commandant of the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy.
  4. Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka (2005–2015).
  5. 8th President of Sri Lanka (2019–2022).
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gotabaya Rajapaksa born?

20 June 1949

What is Gotabaya Rajapaksa known for?

Ex-Sri Lankan Army officer and Politician

Who is Gotabaya Rajapaksa married to?

Ioma Rajapaksa