[4][5] He was elected to the legislature in 1960, from Horana for the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (then a part of the People's United Front alliance).

[4] In the general elections of 1994, Wickremanayake won the Kalutara District seat and then became Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Plantation Industries in the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

[5][6] Wickremanayake first served as Prime Minister from August 2000 to December 2001,[1] succeeding Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who resigned from the position at the age of 84.

[12] During Presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, he held the Public Administration, Home Affairs and Plantation Industries portfolios.

[14] During his first tenure as Prime Minister, he refused to consider talks with the LTTE separatist group, and renounced terrorism.

"[18] On 5 February 2010, he told the Parliament that his government offered the LTTE group amnesty in exchange for surrendering themselves, refused ceasefire appeals from international bodies, and "vowed to crush those who fight on.