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Ioma Rajapaksa (Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Wife)

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

Quick Info

Date of birthNovember 1957

Age65 (as of 2022)

BirthplaceSri Lanka

ProfessionFirst lady of Sri Lanka (2019-2022)

NationalitySri Lankan; Sri Lankan American (2003–present)

Marital statusMarried

SpouseGotabaya Rajapaksa

FamilySon - Manoj Rajapaksa; Mother - Padma Devi Peiris

Ioma Rajapaksa (Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Biography

Ioma Rajapaksa served as Sri Lanka’s first lady during her husband Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency from 2019 to 2022. Born in November 1957, she has lived,

Early life and background

Ioma Rajapaksa was born in Sri Lanka in November 1957. Her mother is Padma Devi Peiris. She later pursued postsecondary study in business, earning a diploma in business management from the National Institute of Business Management.

Ioma spent portions of her adult life in the United States and holds Sri Lankan American nationality from 2003 onward; she was Sri Lankan by nationality prior to 2003.

Career

Ioma Rajapaksa is best known for her role as the spouse of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who served as the eighth President of Sri Lanka. During his term she held the position commonly referred to as first lady of Sri Lanka from 2019 until 2022.

While living in the United States she worked as a medical coder. During her time as first lady she was appointed by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence to serve as chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit, a role that involved engagement with local communities and welfare activities.

Public profile

Ioma Rajapaksa is married to Gotabaya Rajapaksa; the couple wed in 1980. They have a son, Manoj Rajapaksa, who is an engineer. Physical details noted in public records list her eye color as dark brown and hair described as salt-and-pepper.

She has been associated with residences in both Sri Lanka and the United States. An address in San Dimas, California, appears in public information. Media reports have described a large collection of imported cars at a family property.

Events of 2022

In July 2022, amid widespread protests and a national crisis in Sri Lanka, Ioma Rajapaksa and her husband left the country. Reports indicate the couple traveled from Sri Lanka to the Maldives and then onward to Singapore and Thailand. After a period abroad, they returned to Sri Lanka on 3 September 2022.

During the unrest that accompanied those events, protestors searching the presidential residence discovered cash that was subsequently handed over to Sri Lankan police. Public reporting at the time indicated the sum found was reported in local currency and was taken into police custody.

Latest updates

After her return to Sri Lanka in September 2022, public coverage has continued to note her past role as first lady and her prior work in the United States as a medical coder. No further professional activities beyond those documented during her tenure as first lady and her earlier employment are detailed in the available records.
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Recent Work

Chairperson, Seva Vanitha Unit

Appointed by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence to lead the Seva Vanitha Unit during her time as first lady, engaging in welfare and community activities.

2019-2022
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Career Highlights

  1. First Lady of Sri Lanka (2019–2022)
  2. Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit
  3. Worked as a medical coder while living in the United States
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ioma Rajapaksa (Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s born?

November 1957

What is Ioma Rajapaksa (Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s known for?

First lady of Sri Lanka (2019-2022)

What is Ioma Rajapaksa (Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s’s marital status?

Married

Who is Ioma Rajapaksa (Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s married to?

Gotabaya Rajapaksa