The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake - Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House of Parliament

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, first, I move the Vote of Condolence on the demise of former Member of Parliament, Hon. Kumara Welgama. At your invitation, members of his family are present in the public gallery today; we acknowledge them with respect.

¶ 02 Representing the Kalutara District, Hon. Kumara Welgama first entered Parliament in 1994 under the People’s Alliance and served as an MP continuously until Parliament was dissolved in 2024, rendering service to his district and the country. Beloved by the people, he was affectionately known as the “Lion of Kalugantota.”

¶ 03 Born in 1950 to Mr. S. A. Welgama, a prominent entrepreneur in the transport sector, and Mrs. Beatrice Hiddellaarachchi, he was educated at St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, and then engaged in plantation and business. From a traditional business family, he began his political career as SLFP Organizer for the Agalawatta Electorate.

¶ 04 Elected to Parliament in 1994, he was re-elected at successive elections until 2024. Over his 42-year political journey, he aligned variously with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), People’s Alliance (1994), United People’s Freedom Alliance (2005) and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (2020), dedicating himself to public service. In 2021, under his own leadership, he established the New Lanka Freedom Party. He served as Deputy Minister of Transport, Deputy Minister of Power and Energy, Minister of Industrial Development, Minister of Tri-Forces Welfare, and Minister of Transport, known as a forthright politician who stood by his convictions.

¶ 05 He played a key role in implementing the Kukule Ganga Hydropower Project and improving electricity, roads, and transport access to difficult rural areas. He donated buses from personal funds to 24 leading schools in Kalutara District and initiated the construction of a Maternity and Children’s Ward at the Matugama Hospital. Married in 1981 to Mrs. Teja Hemamala Welgama, he was a loving father of two sons and two daughters.

¶ 06 Having served about 30 years in Parliament, he passed away on 28th September 2024 at the age of 74. We wish him the supreme bliss of Nibbana according to his faith and convey the profound condolences of this august Assembly to his beloved wife, children, and relatives.

¶ 07 Next, I move the Vote of Condolence on the demise of Hon. Tudor Gunasekera who, representing the Mahara Electorate of Gampaha District, was elected to Parliament in 1977 from the United National Party and served the public for nearly six years as an MP.

¶ 08 Born in 1935 to Mr. William Edward Ranasinghe Gunasekera, a wealthy landowner and planter of Biyagama/Heiyantuduwa, and Mrs. Eugine Seneviratne, he was educated at Ananda College, Colombo, and was a businessman by profession. Entering active politics in 1960 as UNP Chief Organizer for Mahara, he served as an MP from 1977 to 1983 and, during that period, as the first District Minister of Gampaha.

¶ 09 Married to Mrs. Chandra Nalinie Gunasekera, he was a loving father and later served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. He also contributed to the development of Buddhist sites in his area. He passed away on 29th August 2021 at the age of 86. We wish him peace according to his faith and convey the condolences of this House to his family.

¶ 10 Next, I move the Vote of Condolence on the demise of former MP Hon. H. Nandasena. Representing the Anuradhapura District, he was elected to Parliament in 2020 under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), rendering service to his district and the people.

¶ 11 Born in 1954 in Kidagalegama, Medawachchiya, to Mr. U. Hethuhami and Mrs. K. Pemachchati, he received primary education at Kidagalegama School and secondary education at Medawachchiya Central College, and joined service as a Cooperative Inspector. Entering politics at the 1991 Pradeshiya Sabha elections, he became Opposition Leader of that council, later elected to the North Central Provincial Council in 1998, serving as a member, Cooperative Minister and, in 2002, as Chairman of the Council. In 2010 he again won the Provincial Council elections and served as Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Cooperatives, Education and Health.

¶ 12 Elected to Parliament in 2019/2020 from SLPP for Anuradhapura, he chaired the District Coordinating Committee and several Divisional Coordinating Committees. Married in 2021 to Mrs. Lalani Weerakoon, he actively supported the upliftment of Buddhist religious sites in his area. He passed away on 4th April 2024 at the age of 71. We wish him peace according to his faith and convey the condolences of this august Assembly to his beloved wife and relatives.

¶ 13 Thank you.