The Sri Lankan government has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's aunt Amari Wijewardena as the new Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. 

 

She is currently the Chairperson of the Swaeshi group which has interests in a wide range of businesses. Wijewardena is also known for her affiliation with Buddhism. She has sponsored the Aloka Pooja at Kelani Raja Maha Vihare and Kiriwehera Kataragama Devale, and the Maha Saman Devale in Ratnapura. 

 

Wijewardena, also sponsored the Aloka Pooja at Dambadeniya Raja Maha Vihare.She is the Pradana Dayikawa (main benefactor)  of the Kelaniya Rajamaha viharaya.

 

Amari Wijewardena is the ddaughter of Lious Wijewardena, a close relative of D.R. Wijewardena, the founder of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited commonly known as Lake House. 

 

D.R. Wijewardena is the maternal grandfather of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.

 

Amari Wijewardena is also an aunt of Ruwan Wijewardena, the State Minister of Defence. 

 

Highly placed government sources also stated that Wijewardena's name had already been sent to the Committee of High Post as the suitable candidate for the position which remained vacant for nearly two years.