The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa celebrates his 64th birthday on Wednesday. His political career started in 1970 after he was elected from the Beliatta constituency of the Hambantota district. Mr. Rajapaksa was sworn in as the fifth Executive President on November 19, 2005. He was the Prime Minister of the island nation when he contested the Presidential election that year. His first term in Parliament was in the United Front Government led by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. <br/>