Samantha Vidyaratna

Samantha Vidyaratna (or K.V.Samantha Vidyaratne) is a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka who has served as the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure since November 2024.^[1][2] A member of National People's Power and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Badulla Electoral District in 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. He was formerly member of the parliament for Anuradhapura District from 2004 to 2010. He fought over the Uma Oya issue and the transfer of 65,000 acres of land to a Singaporean company.

Hon. Samantha Vidyaratna MP
සමන්ත විද්‍යාරත්න சமந்தா வித்யாரத்னா
Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 November 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Member of Parliament for Badulla District
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 November 2024
Majority	208,247 preferential votes
In office 2004–2010
Personal details
Born	Badulla
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Political party	Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Other political affiliations	National People's Power
Residence	Ridimaliyadda
Education	University of Kelaniya

Biography

Lives in Ridimaliyadda, Badulla. He is a graduate of the University of Kelaniya. In 2004, is appointed deputy minister by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.^[3] Despite his MP position, he lived for 6 years in a house without electricity.^[4] In April 2015, he publicly criticized the Uma Oya Hydropower Complex and the heavy ecologic catastrophy it resulted in for the Uma Oya region.^[5] He is fighting against the forcible acquisition of lands in Uva Wellassa by a Singaporean company in the year 2022.