The Hon. (Mrs.) Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I consider it a privilege to join in expressing condolences on the passing of former Members of Parliament: Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, Hon. Lucky Jayawardana, Hon. W. B. Ekanayake, Hon. A. Pilapitiya and Hon. Malini Fonseka.

¶ 02 In particular, I wish to express condolences on the passing of former MP Hon. Lucky Jayawardana, who represented the Kandy District, which I too represent. Hon. Lucky Jayawardana, from the United National Party, was first elected to Parliament in 1994 from Kandy. I too have a personal recollection of him. When I was practicing as an attorney, I first met him at the old court complex near the Kandy Maligawa. My senior in the profession, Hon. Attorney-at-Law Lal Wijenayake, introduced me to him. That is when I came to know him, who was already then engaged in politics.

¶ 03 I learned that he was first elected in 1987 to the Uda Nuwara Pradeshiya Sabha. With the invitation and blessings of former President Hon. D. B. Wijetunga, he was again elected in 1993 to the Central Provincial Council and served there as Minister of Transport, Highways, Electricity and Power. Stepping down from that position, he contested the 1994 General Election and entered Parliament for the first time. He returned to Parliament in 2001 and served as a Non-Cabinet Minister for State Lands and Land Development. From 2004 to 2015, he was again elected to the Central Provincial Council and served as the Chief Organizer of the Opposition there. In the 2015 General Election, he returned to Parliament and served as State Minister of Urban Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education. He also functioned as the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Organizer for the Uda Nuwara electorate. Thus, representing the Kandy District and engaging in politics for a long period, upon his demise, I convey condolences to his beloved wife, children and family members and pray that he attains the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

¶ 04 Thank you very much.