Maithripala Sirisena, Sri Lanka's new president

The newly elected President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena took oaths as the 6th Executive President of Sri Lanka at a ceremony held at Independence Square yesterday.

Maithripala Sirisena was born on 3 September 1951 in Pulathisipura, Polonnaruwa.

He was the son of World War II veteran Albert Sirisena. His mother was a school teacher.

When Maithripala was only 17 years old he was chosen as the secretary of the SLFP Youth Organization in Polonnaruwa
 
Sirisena obtained the SLFP membership in 1978 and started his long political carrier and yesterday he became the 6th Executive President of Sri Lanka.