The Hon. Mujibur Rahman

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I express condolences on the passing of the late Hon. R. Sampanthan, Hon. A. Pilapitiya, Hon. W. B. Ekanayake, Hon. Lucky Jayawardana, and Hon. Malani Fonseka.

¶ 02 I worked in this House with Hon. Lucky Jayawardana and Hon. Sampanthan. With Hon. Lucky Jayawardana, whom I knew through UNP activities, I worked for a long time. Representing Kandy District, he also served as a State Minister, working quietly but devotedly for his district and people. I extend condolences to his family.

¶ 03 Hon. R. Sampanthan entered politics through the ITAK/Federal Party and represented this Parliament for over 31 years from 1977, also serving as Leader of the Opposition. He worked meaningfully on the national question—the ethnic issue that led to a 30-year war—and after the war sought solutions by engaging southern leaders, despite resistance from some actors in the North and East who rejected such approaches. He consistently pursued a solution for coexistence within one country, engaging with southern party leaders. That it was not achieved in his lifetime is not his fault; responsibility lies with southern political parties which, at different times, blocked efforts. I recall at the 2016 Independence Day, as the anthem was sung in Tamil to conclude, tears welled in his eyes—a moment that deepened our respect. Such leaders are rare. I extend condolences to his family.