The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today is set aside to express condolences for national leaders who served our country in Parliament and Provincial Councils, with their families present as we recall and honour their service.

¶ 02 First, Hon. R. Sampanthan—the leader of the Tamil National Alliance—who stood for the people of the North and East and worked to understand their problems during the war. I extend condolences to his family.

¶ 03 Next, Hon. W. B. Ekanayake of Anuradhapura, who served both at Provincial Council and in Parliament for the Rajarata people. Though departed, we honour his service and extend condolences.

¶ 04 Hon. Abeyratne Pilapitiya represented Kalawana as MP, Deputy Minister, Provincial Minister and Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa, and Governor of Uva. We pray he attains eternal peace and extend condolences to his family.

¶ 05 On Hon. Lucky Jayawardana: he rendered great service to Udunuwara and Yatinuwara in Kandy, continuing from the era of President D. B. Wijetunga. I extend condolences to his family present today.

¶ 06 Finally, Hon. Malani Fonseka: from a young age she became the country’s most popular actress and later represented this House under the national list of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Though her parliamentary tenure was brief, her cultural service was immense. I extend condolences to her family.

¶ 07 Thank you for the opportunity.