born to a middle-class family in the suburbs of colombo he received his initial school education at vidyawardana vidyalaya, wellampitiya before being admitted to siddhartha central college, wellampitiya. h. d. karunaratne is married to anuradha ruwanmali karunaratne. he has two daughters, h. d. sakura lakshika karunaratne and h. d. midori tharuka karunaratne.