Mahinda Nandimithra Ekanayake was born December 26, 1943, in Handala, Wattala. Nandimithra has devoted his entire adult life to public service with much of his public life prior being devoted to assisting some of Sri Lanka’s poorest citizens. Prior to entering politics in 1989, he held a number of responsible positions with the Rural Development Department. At the age of 21, he worked as a rural development officer.