The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, today we express condolences on the passing of former Members: Hon. (Prof.) Tissa Vitarana, Hon. S. C. Muthukumarana, Hon. Chandradasa Galappaththi, Hon. Nandana Gunathilake, Hon. Janak Mahendra Adhikari and Hon. T. Kanagasabai. I, too, wish to begin with Prof. Upali Tissa Vitarana, whom I knew closely.

¶ 02 He was a distinguished physician and a leading Sri Lankan expert over decades on bacterial and viral diseases, and a leftist politician who later led the LSSP after Dr. N. M. Perera. He represented Parliament for over 15 years and served several terms as Minister of Science and Technology (2004–2010, 2010–2015). He also served briefly as Governor of the North Central Province (2019–2020).

¶ 03 Born on 30 August 1934 in Kandy, he passed away on 13 February 2026 at the age of 91. His father, Peiris Vitarana, was a government engineer; his mother, Maggie Perera, was a sister of Dr. N. M. Perera. He was married to Kaminie Middendeniya Vitarana and was the beloved father of two sons and a daughter. Educated at Trinity College, Kandy and Ananda College, Colombo, he captained his school cricket team and later represented the university. He earned his MBBS in 1959, a Diploma in Bacteriology (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 1965) and a PhD in Virology (University of London, 1968).

¶ 04 He served at the Colombo General Hospital (1959–1964), joined the Medical Research Institute (1972), headed its Virology Department (1983–1994) and was Director MRI, leading major upgrades including a new JICA-supported building and modernization. He also served in Edinburgh’s Regional Virus Laboratory and as Deputy Director at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne (1991–1993). After retirement, he was the founding Professor of Microbiology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (1995–2000). He mentored hundreds of doctors and scientists.

¶ 05 I first met him during the 1985 Japanese encephalitis outbreak in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, when I was the Regional Medical Officer and he guided our response. In 1986, under his supervision, I conducted my MSc research on JE in Anuradhapura. With his guidance, we undertook sero-surveys across several districts to prioritize limited JE vaccine supplies for children under 10 — a policy later emulated in Asia. He contributed to lab capacity for measles, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, JE, dengue hemorrhagic fever and hantavirus, and to eradication/control of smallpox and polio.

¶ 06 Politically, he engaged with the LSSP from university days, using the name “Tissa Peiris” while in executive public service. He worked on TB control among Bogala miners, helped shape Sri Lanka’s essential medicines policy with Prof. Carlo Fonseka and Prof. Senaka Bibile, and opposed privatization of medical education. Despite opportunities to remain abroad, he returned, saying free education obligated him to serve Sri Lanka, and later led the LSSP and held ministerial office. As Minister, he pioneered “Vidatha” centres to take science and technology to villages and helped establish SLINTEC, the Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology and the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board, strengthening innovation and industry linkages.

¶ 07 He also served as an expert/consultant to WHO, UNESCO, SAARC, TWAS and UNCTAD, bringing credit to Sri Lanka. We express condolences to his family. I thank those who shared information: his son Ranil Vitarana, Mr. Piyal Rajakaruna, Prof. Anuji Gamage, Prof. Sirimali Fernando and Dr. Geethani Galagoda.

¶ 08 I also convey condolences to the families of the late Hon. Chandradasa Galappaththi, Hon. Nandana Gunathilake, Hon. S. C. Muthukumarana, Hon. Janak Mahendra Adhikari and Hon. T. Kanagasabai.