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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Friday, 24 October 2025

10th Parliament· 24 debates· 204 speeches· 56 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 22644 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  23. 23 Adjournment Votes of Condolence: Seven Former Members of Parliament 29 speeches
    • The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition SJB

      AI summary Hon. Sajith Premadasa paid tribute during Votes of Condolence to several late Members of Parliament, recalling their educational backgrounds, political careers, ministerial or public offices, and contributions to their constituencies and national life. He highlighted the services of Heenmahatmaya Liyanage, R.M.R. Chula Bandara, Dixon J. Perera, Dr. Mervyn D. de Silva, Y.G. Padmasiri, Lohan Ratwatte, and Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan across education, provincial and parliamentary service, agriculture, estate infrastructure, rights advocacy, and community development. He extended condolences to their families and acknowledged their respective roles in public service.

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    • The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan ITAK

      AI summary Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan paid tribute to former MP M.K. Eelaventhan during the Vote of Condolence, recalling his long involvement in Tamil nationalist politics, his service as a National List MP from 2004 to 2007, and his work as a writer, speaker, and activist. He outlined Eelaventhan’s role in ITAK, TULF, the Vaddukoddai Resolution period, the Tamil Self-Rule Party, and later Tamil diaspora politics, while noting his career in the Central Bank and personal background. He described Eelaventhan as a major figure in articulating the demand for a separate Tamil State in the North and East and conveyed condolences to his family and to the families of all former Members being remembered.

      Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran JJB

      AI summary Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran supported the Votes of Condolence for several late former Members of Parliament and conveyed condolences to their families. He gave particular attention to the late M.K. Eelaventhan, outlining his origins in Jaffna, service at the Central Bank, 2004 National List appointment, writings, overseas activism, asylum history, and advocacy for Tamil rights. He described Eelaventhan’s long public life as combining politics, literature and national consciousness, and extended condolences to his children and family.

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    • The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP

      AI summary Namal Rajapaksa spoke during the condolence vote for seven former Members of Parliament, conveying condolences on behalf of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and recalling their public service. He referred to the contributions of Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan, R.M.R. Chula Bandara, Y.G. Padmasiri, Dr. Mervyn D. de Silva, Dixon J. Perera, Heenmahatmaya Liyanage, and Lohan Ratwatte, noting their roles in Parliament, political movements, districts, and parties. He also highlighted personal and family associations with several of them and extended sympathies to their families.

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    • The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB

      AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka joined the vote of condolence for several former Members, recalling Hon. Heenmahatmaya Liyanage’s service as a teacher, Ratnapura MP, advocate for MP accommodation, and contributor to the Rakwana National College of Education. He paid tribute to Hon. Dixon J. Perera as an incorrupt public figure, orator and diplomat who served across party lines, and to Hon. R.M.R. Chula Bandara for his legal, educational and parliamentary background rooted in Kurunegala. He also began acknowledging the late Hon. Lohan Ratwatte’s education, rugby career, business role and service in several State ministerial portfolios, while conveying condolences to the families of the deceased.

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    • The Hon. Deputy Speaker procedural
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    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB

      AI summary Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara supported the condolence motions for seven former Members of Parliament and conveyed the Government’s condolences to their families. He specifically paid tribute to former Kurunegala District MP R.M.R. Chula Bandara, noting his education, legal and teaching careers, parliamentary service with the United National Party, later role as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Poland, and family background in public service. He stated that Chula Bandara had served both his district and Sri Lankans abroad with dedication, and recorded condolences to his wife, children and relatives following his death on 22 December 2024.

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    • The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam ACTC

      AI summary Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam associated himself with the condolence references for former Members of Parliament and paid particular tribute to the late Hon. Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan, a former TNA National List MP. He recalled Eelaventhan’s education, Central Bank service, long involvement in Tamil nationalist politics, and his consistent commitment to principle across the ITAK, TULF and TNA periods. He highlighted Eelaventhan’s role in Tamil political unity, his willingness to speak his conscience, and his continued activism in the Tamil diaspora after seeking asylum in Canada, while conveying respects to his family.

      Ethnic Reconciliation & Devolution Full speech →
    • The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara SJB

      AI summary R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara supported condolence motions for seven former Members of Parliament, recalling their public service, political careers, and personal associations with them. He paid tribute to Heenmahattmaya Liyanage, Chula Bandara, Lohan Ratwatte, Dixson J. Perera, Mervyn D. de Silva, Y.G. Padmasiri, and Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan, noting their parliamentary, ministerial, local government, professional, diplomatic, leftist, or reconciliation-related contributions. He conveyed condolences to their families and prayed for peace for the deceased Members.

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    • The Hon. Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Government, condolences were conveyed to the families of seven late former Members, with particular reference to Hon. Y.G. Padmasiri of Ruwanwella. The Minister recalled Padmasiri’s service as a Member of Parliament from 2010, as Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 2013, and as an LSSP Central Committee member committed to left and progressive politics. He highlighted Padmasiri’s modest background, grassroots political work, writings, and stated commitment to building a just and egalitarian society, and extended condolences to his wife and daughter.

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    • The Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law NDF

      AI summary Anuradha Jayaratne paid tribute during the condolence debate to several former Members, highlighting Heenmahattmaya Liyanage’s service in Ratnapura and stating that his work is being continued by Waruna Liyanage. He recalled Lohan Ratwatte’s political service in the Central Provincial Council and Parliament, his contributions to Kandy, his family’s long public role, and offered condolences to Ratwatte’s family. He also joined in expressing sympathy for the families of Dixson J. Perera, Dr. Mervyn D. de Silva, Y.G. Padmasiri, R.M.R. Chula Bandara and Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan.

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    • The Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan ITAK

      AI summary Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan paid tribute during a condolence debate to seven former Members of Parliament, with detailed remarks on the late M.K. Eelaventhan, a former TNA National List MP and long-time Tamil political activist. He recounted Eelaventhan’s education, Central Bank service, involvement in ITAK, TULF and later Tamil nationalist politics, exile in Tamil Nadu after 1983, return to Sri Lanka, parliamentary service, writings, speeches and advocacy for Tamil language, homeland and self-rule. He extended condolences to Eelaventhan’s family, the people of Trincomalee and ITAK, and also conveyed sympathy to the families of the other former Members being commemorated.

      Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionReligion & Culture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Presiding Member procedural
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    • The Hon. B. Ariyawansha SJB

      AI summary B. Ariyawansha supported the condolence motions for seven former Members of Parliament, with particular reference to former Ratnapura District MP and Deputy Minister Heenmahattmaya Liyanage. He recalled Liyanage’s background as a teacher, his political work from the 1980s, contributions to roads, electrification, the Ratnapura National College of Education, and public institutions, and extended condolences to his family and the people of Ratnapura. He also paid tribute to former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councillor and Provincial Minister Y.G. Padmasiri for his long service in local and provincial government, especially in agriculture, and conveyed condolences to Padmasiri’s family and the families of the other former Members named in the motions.

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    • The Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala JJB

      AI summary Condolences were offered on behalf of the House for several former Members of Parliament and public representatives, with gratitude for their service and sympathies to their families. The speech focused particularly on the late Hon. Y.G. Padmasiri of Kegalle District, recalling his role in the LSSP, his service in the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and Parliament, and his contributions as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. His initiatives were cited as including the Jana Sabha concept, a pre-school teachers’ charter, lightning mitigation measures, and bridge-building projects in the Ruwanwella and Three Korales areas. The speech also noted his work on parliamentary advisory committees and his support for Buddhist institutions, concluding with condolences to his family.

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    • The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF

      AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake offered condolences for seven former Members of Parliament, highlighting their political service, party loyalty, and contributions to their districts and communities. He paid particular tribute to Lohan Ratwatte, Heenmahattmaya Liyanage, Dixson J. Perera, Y.G. Padmasiri, R.M.R. Chula Bandara, Dr. Mervyn D. de Silva, and Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan, noting their roles in the SLFP, LSSP, ITAK, government service, provincial politics, and national representation. He also referred to the continuation of several political legacies through family members and extended condolences to all bereaved families.

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    • The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB

      AI summary K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera paid tribute to seven former Ministers and MPs, highlighting their public service, constituency work, and contributions in areas such as labour rights, infrastructure, agriculture, administration, and peace-building. He gave particular attention to Heenmahattmaya Liyanage’s service in Ratnapura and Y.G. Padmasiri’s work in Kegalle, while also noting the records of Lohan Ratwatte, Dixson J. Perera, R.M.R. Chula Bandara, Dr. Mervyn D. de Silva, and Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan. He conveyed the condolences of the House to their families and acknowledged relatives who have continued their political and social service.

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    • The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan ITAK

      AI summary Gnanamuththu Srineshan paid condolences to the families of seven late former Members of Parliament and highlighted their service to their electorates. He focused on Hon. Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan, describing his long association with ITAK, the TULF and the TNA, his role as a Tamil nationalist activist, writer and orator, and his service as a National List MP from 2004. Srineshan noted Eelaventhan’s involvement in Tamil political struggles from the period of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam through the years of conflict, and said he continued to speak for affected Tamil people until his death in Canada at the age of 91.

      Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionParliamentary Procedure Full speech →
    • The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi JJB

      AI summary On behalf of the Government, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi conveyed condolences for seven former Members of Parliament. He paid particular tribute to Hon. Dixson J. Perera, recalling his personal warmth, simplicity, non-violent political style, and genuine public affection in areas such as Kesbewa and Dehiwala. He noted Perera’s ability to serve and connect with people despite political and personal pressures, including before taking up an overseas Deputy High Commissioner appointment.

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    • The Hon. Ajith P. Perera SJB

      AI summary Ajith P. Perera conveyed condolences to the families of seven former Members of Parliament and paid particular tribute to Heenmahatmaya Liyanage, Dr. Merwyn D. de Silva, Y.G. Padmasiri, and R.M.R. Chula Bandara. He highlighted Liyanage’s service as a teacher, Deputy Minister, and representative of Ratnapura; Dr. de Silva’s contribution as a National List MP and public intellectual; Padmasiri’s long involvement in left politics and provincial representation; and Chula Bandara’s legal, parliamentary, and diplomatic service. He also referred to personal associations with some of them and extended sympathy to their families, including current MP Waruna Liyanage and Padmasiri’s daughter Vathsala Janadari.

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    • The Hon. D.V. Chanaka SLPP

      AI summary D.V. Chanaka expressed condolences on behalf of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and personally for several deceased former parliamentarians and political figures. He highlighted the service of Lohan Ratwatte, Heenmahatmaya Liyanage, Dixon J. Perera, Dr. Merwyn D. de Silva, Y.G. Padmasiri, R.M.R. Chula Bandara and Manikkavasagar Kanagasabapathy Ilanchelvendhan, noting their party roles, parliamentary or provincial service, and contributions to their electorates and the country. He extended sympathies to their families, including current and former public representatives related to some of the deceased.

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    • The Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala SJB

      AI summary J.C. Alawathuwala joined the condolence motions for several former Members of Parliament, highlighting in particular the public service of Heenmahatmaya Liyanage in Ratnapura and R.M.R. Chula Bandara in Kurunegala. He noted their family traditions of political service and contributions to their districts, and also acknowledged the service of Lohan Ratwatte, Dixon J. Perera, Y.G. Padmasiri, and Manikkavasagar Kanagasabapathy Ilanchelvendhan. He extended condolences to their families and constituents and offered religious wishes for the deceased.

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    • The Hon. Upul Kithsiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Upul Kithsiri joined the condolence motions for seven former Members of Parliament, focusing on the late Hon. Heenmahatmaya Liyanage of Ratnapura. He recalled Liyanage’s political career after losing his job in the 1980 strike, his repeated election to Parliament, his assistance to others during the 1988–1989 repression, and his humble service across party lines. He conveyed Parliament’s condolences to Liyanage’s family, including Opposition MP Hon. Waruna Liyanage, and also paid respects to the other former Members being commemorated.

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    • The Hon. Waruna Liyanage SJB

      AI summary Waruna Liyanage paid tribute during condolence motions for seven former MPs, recalling their public service and extending condolences to their families. He highlighted Lohan Ratwatte’s political work in Kandy and loyalty within the SLPP, Y.G. Padmasiri’s contribution to agriculture and irrigation, including the Ranwala tank repair, and the service of Dixon J. Perera, Merwyn D. de Silva, R.M.R. Chula Bandara and Manikkavasagar Kanagasabapathy Ilanchelvendhan. He also reflected on his father, Heenmahatmaya Liyanage, describing him as a quiet SLFP politician who avoided publicity while serving the Rakwana electorate and maintaining close political relationships across party leadership.

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