Percy Mahinda Rajapaksa is the 5th president of Sri Lanka and commander in chief of the Sri Lankan armed forces. He swore in as the fifth executive president on 29th November, 2005. Like many other presidents around the world, Rajapaksa possesses many leadership qualities that are worth noting. Rajapaksa practices visionary leadership, charismatic leadership, authentic leadership and moral leadership. “Mahinda Chinthana” (Mahinda Vision, 2005), a document that reflected his vision was welcomed by thousands of fellow citizens in 2005. This is an example of his visionary leadership style. “My dream is that of a free nation, a land in harmony with nature, a prosperous tomorrow, and a virtuous man”; these words of his was able to maintain high popularity and public approval as his vision appealed to the core values of the Sri Lankan public. Being a charismatic leader, Rajapaksa paid close attention to his image in the public. He portrayed an optimistic outlook and charismatic personality to draw the attention of the public. Moral leadership accompanied with high emotional intelligence was another dimension of Rajapaksa’s leadership. He placed strong trust in his team and prioritized morally correct decisions over presidential popularity. This biography about Mahinda Rajapaksa will highlight the practical use of relevant leadership concepts and theories.
Rajapaksa is a visionary leader. Awakening Sri Lanka from the challenges of 27 year civil war, he set out his vision for Sri Lankans in his very first presidential election speech. Harper (1991), characterizes visionary thinking as a process whereby executives are encouraged to extend their time horizons beyond the typical planning cycle. Rajapaksa’s speech appealed to the masses and presented
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