The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we hold condolence motions for five former Members: the late R. Sampanthan, Abeyratne Pilapitiya, Lucky Jayawardana, Malani Fonseka, and W. B. Ekanayake. We carry their memories and pay homage.

¶ 02 First, as to our party’s senior and great leader, R. Sampanthan. He represented Trincomalee under the Tamil United Liberation Front and then through evolving alliances culminating in the Tamil National Alliance. A first-class graduate of Sri Lanka Law College, he was a highly qualified lawyer who, despite having around 800 cases, set aside his practice to contest the 1977 Election and dedicate himself to politics for the Tamil people. His political life spanned about 47 years, with 31 years in Parliament.

¶ 03 Had Tamil people enjoyed equality, he might have risen as a President’s Counsel and beyond. Instead, he chose the “single case” of Tamil political rights. Across decades, he engaged with leaders—J. R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe—seeking a solution for Tamils to live as equal citizens. He laboured intensely, including during the “Good Governance” period when Parliament functioned as a Constitutional Assembly with about 83 meetings, yet a final solution eluded him. At 91, he passed away with that unfulfilled hope.

¶ 04 Like S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, who was disappointed after pacts were abrogated, Mr. Sampanthan too was let down by ruling leaderships despite his bridge-building between Tamil and Sinhala leaders and his moderate, principled approach. Even under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he presented proposals without losing hope, insisting, “If you do not give us a solution, some solution will emerge nonetheless.”

¶ 05 He acted not merely as MP for Trincomalee but as an influential national statesman, eschewing animosity, embracing dialogue, and seeking to win hearts to secure a solution. Tamil leaders have often been deceived despite their efforts; perhaps as a result, the country has also declined economically. Mr. Sampanthan never pursued moneyed politics; he thought of all people, including the up-country Tamils deprived of citizenship and franchise in 1948–49, which spurred the rise of the Federal Party. He worked with an open and accommodative mind; the solution did not come.

¶ 06 Hon. Abeyratne Pilapitiya served not only his district but the nation, leaving indelible memories through national service. Likewise, W. B. Ekanayake and Lucky Jayawardana fulfilled their duties for their people and are remembered in their hearts. Hon. Malani Fonseka shone as a great actress, including in the India–Sri Lanka collaboration “Pilot Premnath” alongside Sivaji Ganesan, earning many awards.