Naseer Ahamed (born 16 April 1961) is a Sri Lankan politician serving as the Governor[1] of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Naseer Ahamed has been active in Sri Lanka's political scene since 1994, having held various positions such as Cabinet Minister of Environment,[2] Member of Parliament from the Batticaloa district,[3] Chief Minister of the Eastern Province[4] and more.
Naseer Ahamed | |
|---|---|
| නසීර් අහමඩ් நஸீர் அஹமட் | |
 | |
| Governor - North Western Province | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2024 | |
| President | Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Prime Minister | Dinesh Gunawardena |
| Preceded by | Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena |
| Environment Minister | |
| In office April 2022 – October 2023 | |
| President | Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Prime Minister | Dinesh Gunawardena |
| 3rd Chief Minister of the Eastern Province | |
| In office 6 February 2015 – 30 September 2017 | |
| Governor | Austin Fernando |
| Preceded by | M. N. Abdul Majeed |
| Member of Parliament for Batticaloa District | |
| In office 20 August 2020 – 6 October 2023 | |
| Eastern Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Production, Rural Industrial Development, Fisheries and Tourism | |
| In office September 2012 – February 2015 | |
| Governor | Mohan Wijewickrama |
| Chief Minister | M. N. Abdul Majeed |
| Member of the Eastern Provincial Council | |
| In office September 2012 – September 2017 | |
| Constituency | Batticaloa District |
| Presidential Adviser | |
| In office 2007–2010 | |
| President | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 April 1961 |
| Political party | Independent (since 2023) |
| Other political affiliations | Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (until 2023) National Unity Alliance |
| Residence | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and education
editUniversity
editAhamed pursued a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Ahamed graduated with Honours from KFUPM in 1990, having completed his research on the analysis of tapered wave guide by splitting the non-uniform structure into uniform structures.[5]
Political career
editNaseer Ahamed entered politics in 1994 and began his political career as Director of international relations and Member of the High Command of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), under the leadership of SLMC leader M.H.M Ashraff.[6]
National Unity Alliance (NUA) (1999-2002)
editAhamed was also appointed as Director of international relations and Member of the High Command of NUA, Leader Ashraff's newest political party/alliance.[6]
Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) (2003-2012)
editFollowing the passing of Leader Ashraff, Naseer Ahamed exited the SLMC and NUA in 2003 and founded his own party, the Democratic Unity Alliance,[7] where he served as leader. Former Governor A. J. M Muzzamil was the first to contest under DUA, and secured a seat from the Colombo district at the 2004 Western Provincial Council election.[8]
Muslim National Alliance (MNA) (2004-2014)
editAlong with the Democratic Unity Alliance, Ahamed also formed the MNA,[9] and served as Secretary General.
Advisor to the President (2007-2010)
editAhamed served as the advisor to the then president,[6] Mahinda Rajapaksa, during the last stages of the Sri Lankan civil war.
Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) (2012-2017)
editAhamed secured a seat in the Eastern Provincial Council, contesting under the SLMC. Where he was then appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Animal Production & Development, Rural Industries Development, Fisheries and Tourism of the Eastern Provincial Council.[10][11]
In 2015 he was appointed as the Chief Minister[4] of Eastern Province and Minister of Finance and Planning, Law & Order, Local Government & Regional Administration, Rural Development, Tourism & Environment, Building & Construction, Transport, Rural Industries and Housing.
Parliament of Sri Lanka (2020-2023 Oct)
editAhamed contested the 2020 Parliamentary election under the SLMC and was elected from the Batticaloa district to the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka.[12]
Cabinet Minister of Environment (2022-2023 Oct)
editAhamed was appointed as Minister of Environment in 2022[13] and was also a part of the Cabinet of Sri Lanka.
Naseer Ahamed was also appointed as special envoy of the president for Middle Eastern affairs.[14] Ahamed conveyed messages from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to notable Arab leaders such as Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense[14] of Saudi Arabia and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan[15]
Naseer Ahamed was also elected as the President of the Sri Lanka-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship Association.[16]
References
edit- ^ "New Governors appointed to Southern, North Western Provinces". www.news.lk. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "Sri Lanka to launch the Climate Justice Forum (CJF) at COP 28 – Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka". Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "Parliament of Sri Lanka - Naseer Ahamed". parliament.lk. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ a b "New Chief Minister appointed for Eastern Province". news.lk. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "How Arab News article changed Sri Lankan minister's life". Arab News. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "|| News". archives.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Online edition of Daily News - Politics". 11 December 2004. Archived from the original on 11 December 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Election Commission". elections.gov.lk. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Parliament of Sri Lanka - Parliament of Sri Lanka". www.parliament.lk. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "PART IV (A) - PROVINCIAL COUNCILS Proclamations & c., by the Governors EASTERN PROVINCE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL Appointments made by the Governor of the Eastern Province" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1777/36. 28 September 2012.
- ^ "Agriculture plays major role in Eastern Province economy - Provincial Minister". archives.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "Parliament of Sri Lanka - Naseer Ahamed". www.parliament.lk. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Eight Cabinet Ministers of All-Party Government sworn in before President… – Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Minister Naseer Ahamed presents a special message from the Sri Lankan president to Saudi Crown Prince - Colombo Times". 29 August 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "UAE President receives written letter from Sri Lankan President". www.mofa.gov.ae. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Hon. Naseer Ahamed elected as the president of the Sri Lanka-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship Association". www.news.lk. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
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