Who Was Sanath Nishantha? Wife, Children, Age, Family, Biography, Wiki, Death & Accident
Sanath Nishantha (born 3 May 1975 – died 25 January 2024, Aged: 48 years old) was a Sri Lankan politician and member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He served as the Minister of State for Water Supply from 8 September 2022 until his tragic death in a car accident on 25 January 2024.
He was also a former Minister of State for Fisheries and Inland Fisheries Industry and a Provincial Minister of Fisheries, Highways, and Power in the North Western Province. He was a loyal member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and a close ally of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
Early Life and Education
Sanath was born on 3 May 1975 in the city of Chillaw in the North Western Province. He was the son of a fisherman and a housewife. He had a brother named Jagath Samantha, who was also involved in politics.
He received his primary education at St. Mary’s Boys College in Chillaw, where he excelled in sports and extracurricular activities. He was a popular student and a leader among his peers.+
Sanath Nishantha Wiki/Bio
| Name | Sanath Nishantha Perera |
| Date of Birth | May 3, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | Chillaw, Sri Lanka |
| Date of Death | January 25, 2024 |
| Place of Death | Ragama, Sri Lanka |
| Cause of Death | Car accident |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Ethnicity | Likely Sinhalese |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Political Party | Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) |
| Portfolio | State Minister of Water Supply |
| Electoral District | Puttalam |
| Education | G.C.E. (A/L); G.C.E. (O/L); St. Mary’s Boys College, Chillaw |
| Spouse | Chamari Perera (Attorney-at-Law) |
| Children | Three daughters and one son |
| Net Worth | $5 million (approx.) |
| Controversies | Assaults, wetland destruction, contempt of court |
| sanathnishanthaofficial | |
| Wikipedia | Sanath_Nishantha |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Political Career
Nishantha entered politics at a young age, inspired by his father’s involvement in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He contested the 1997 local elections for the Arachchikattuwa Divisional Council under the SLFP banner but failed to get elected. However, following the assassination of the Chairman-elect Saman Premachandra, he was appointed to the council. He soon became a prominent figure in local politics and a vocal critic of the United National Party (UNP) government.
In 2004, he contested the Provincial Council election for the North Western Province and won a seat with a high number of preferential votes. He was appointed as the Provincial Minister of Fisheries, Highways, and Power by the then Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe. He held this position until 2015 when he decided to run for the Parliament from the Puttalam District. He was elected to the Parliament with the second-highest number of preferential votes in the district, representing the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
In 2019, he joined the newly formed SLPP, which was led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He supported Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential campaign and was rewarded with the portfolio of Minister of State for Fisheries and Inland Fisheries Industry in the new government. He was also re-elected to the Parliament in 2020 with the highest number of preferential votes in the Puttalam District.
In 2022, he was appointed as the Minister of State for Water Supply, a position he held until his death. He was responsible for overseeing the rural and divisional drinking water supply projects and the development of the water sector in the country. He was known for his dedication, efficiency, and hard work in his ministry. He was also a vocal defender of the government’s policies and initiatives in the Parliament and the media.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Sanath was married to Chamari Perera, a professional attorney & lawyer. They had four children, three daughters and one son. He was a devoted husband and a loving father, who always prioritized his family over his political career. He was also a devout Buddhist and a generous philanthropist, who supported many social and religious causes in his constituency and beyond.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Religion
Sanath Nishantha was a Sri Lankan politician and member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was elected to the parliament from the Puttalam District in 2015 and 2020, and served until his death in 2024. He was a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) political party.
According to the Parliament of Sri Lanka website, his religion was Roman Catholicism. His ethnicity is not explicitly stated, but he was likely of Sinhalese descent, as he had a Sinhala name and attended a Sinhala-medium school.
Net worth
According to an estimate, Sanath Nishantha has a net worth of $5 million (approx.). He was a successful politician.
Accident
Sanath died in a tragic car crash on the Katunayake Expressway on January 25, 2024. He was traveling in a jeep with his security officer and driver, when they collided with a container vehicle and then rammed into the road fence.
The state minister and the security officer died on admission to the Ragama hospital, while the driver was receiving medical attention. Nishantha was returning from a wedding ceremony that was held at a hotel in Bandarawatta, Chilaw the previous night.
Controversies
Sanath Nishantha was involved in several legal issues and controversies during his political career. He and his brother Jagath Samantha were arrested several times for assault. In 2008, they assaulted and obstructed the duties of the then Arachchikattuwa Divisional Secretary. In 2015, Sanath and his supporters attacked the office of Candidate Maithripala Sirisena and assaulted his supporters during the presidential election.
On October 22, 2022, a warrant was issued by the Court of Appeal to arrest Sanath Nishantha after it was found that he directed the destruction of the Ramsar wetland in Anawilundawa in Puttalam. He was also facing three contempt of court cases for making a statement that allegedly interfered with the administration of justice. The cases were fixed for inquiry on October 27, 2022.
Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (approx.) |
| Weight | 165 lbs (75 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Death and Legacy
On 25 January 2024, Sanath Nishantha met with a fatal accident on the Katunayake Expressway, while he was travelling from Katunayake to Colombo. His SUV collided with a container truck and crashed into the road fence, resulting in severe injuries to him and his security officer. They were rushed to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama, where they succumbed to their injuries. His driver survived the accident and was hospitalized with serious injuries.
His death shocked and saddened the entire nation, especially his family, friends, colleagues, and supporters. He was mourned by the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Cabinet, the Parliament, the SLPP, the UPFA, the SLFP, the opposition parties, the provincial and local authorities, the civil society, the media and the public. He was hailed as a patriot, a visionary, a leader, a reformer, a friend, and a hero by many. He was also praised for his contributions to the development of the country, especially in the fields of water supply and fisheries.
His funeral was held on 28 January 2024, with full state honors, at his hometown in Chillaw. Thousands of people attended the funeral to pay their last respects to him. He was cremated according to the Buddhist rites, amid tears and prayers.
