The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, being one of the youngest Members in this House, I cannot say that I have had the privilege and honour to work with the late Hon. Lucky Jayawardana, the late Hon. Malani Fonseka, the late Hon. W. B. Ekanayake, and the late Hon. R. Sampanthan. However, let me extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to their families.

¶ 02 I am aware that my late father shared a friendship based on mutual respect with the late Hon. Lucky Jayawardana. From what we have learned about our predecessors, we heard he was a man of sharp intellect and discipline who brought a sense of quiet competence to this House. To say he merely inherited the name “Jayawardana” would be an injustice; he earned it and carried it as a responsibility. In this House, we honour not only his lineage, but his life of service, humility and consistency.

¶ 03 We also mourn the loss of a giant from our cultural life, the Hon. (Mrs.) Malani Fonseka. To call her merely an actress would diminish what she meant to the nation; she was the Queen of Sinhala Cinema. She even acted with the late Sivaji Ganesan in “Pilot Premnath.” She was loved and trusted. People felt a sense of reflection around her and her legacy will continue to inspire artistes, especially women.

¶ 04 We remember the late Hon. W. B. Ekanayake, a public servant in the truest sense who represented the people of Anuradhapura with sincerity and dedication. Rooted in his soil, faith and people, he believed politics was not a means to power, but to serve. Whether as State Minister or grassroots representative, his politics was about people.

¶ 05 I also offer my deepest condolences to the family of the late R. Sampanthan. On my first day in Parliament in 2020, at the Speaker’s reception, a senior colleague told me I must pay my respects to Mr. Sampanthan. I met him. Though there was a large age gap, the first thing he told me was: “People have voted with trust; you must serve them.” He also said, “I am the oldest Member and you are the youngest, but our goal must be the same—service to the people.” Though I did not have a close personal relationship with him, I held great respect for him—not just as a Tamil leader, but a leader for us all. He was one of the senior-most leaders in this country. There may be differing narratives, but the truth is: he was the architect of national engagement on the Tamil question. He believed no race stands above another; we are all Sri Lankans and we long for a shared country.

¶ 06 Once again, I extend condolences on behalf of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, the United National Party, and the up-country community. Thank you.