The Hon. Chaminda Lalith Kumara

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, on this occasion of speaking on the condolence motions, I consider it an honour to express condolences regarding the late Hon. Kumara Welgama, the late Hon. H. Nandaseena, and, as a representative of the Gampaha District, the late former MP Hon. Tudor Gunasekara.

¶ 02 Especially, today happens to be my maiden speech in this Parliament. Yet, I am compelled to make it under a condolence motion—an inauspicious beginning. As someone who lives in the Gampaha District, I speak with deep feeling and respect in paying tribute to the late former MP Hon. Tudor Gunasekara.

¶ 03 He was elected from the Gampaha District to this Parliament and served from 1977 to 1983. We all knew him simply as “Tudor Gunasekara,” though his full name was Ranasinghe Hettiaarachchige Tudor Edward Ranasinghe Gunasekara. Previous Hon. Members have already spoken about the three late Members and expressed their sorrow. We learned many details about how Hon. Tudor Gunasekara served while representing the Mahara seat. Many of us did not know him personally, but when we look at his political conduct, the commitment of his next generation to the country, and his humble political disposition and humaneness, we understand the kind of life he led.

¶ 04 He won the 1977 General Election representing the United National Party and entered Parliament. He was born on 23 January 1935 and was 83 at the time of his passing. He is recorded as the first District Minister for Gampaha. His modesty, refusal to profiteer from politics, and forbearance left a powerful message as he departed from among us. He served not only as an MP and Minister in our country, but also as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in countries such as Romania and Hungary during President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s tenure, bringing repute to Sri Lanka, introducing our tea to foreign markets, and actively promoting it—contributions well known to all.

¶ 05 Before engaging in politics, we are all human—regardless of race, caste, or religion—shaped by our social structures. The true measure of a person goes beyond party lines and lies in their humanity. It is not rank, wealth, or power that chiefly measures a person, but character, and above all, service rendered to others. In politics, we value selfless service without expectation of personal gain. He exemplified that virtue. Although I live in Meerigama, in the Mahara area too, many elders speak of Hon. Tudor Gunasekara with great respect and gratitude.

¶ 06 He travelled widely, wished to see our country advance, and made sacrifices towards that end, starting as a young man developing his talents and later continuing a long professional life in politics as a senior citizen. The Gampaha District is often regarded as relatively developed, yet today’s indicators—of children and even elders—show declines. One wonders what conditions were like then. He worked for a better country and society, but relatively speaking, the country has not reached all he hoped for. Still, we must carry his aspirations forward by conducting our politics correctly and honouring him through our deeds, passing those hopes to the next generation.

¶ 07 Many Hon. Members spoke of his personal details. I spoke yesterday evening with Hasitha Gunasekara, his grandson, a young politician who now serves as organizer for Mahara. I learned that our Secretary-General had invited him to attend today, but due to prior unavoidable engagements he could not come, though he tried his best.

¶ 08 His wife, Ms. Chandra Perera, passed away thereafter as well. Whether or not his relatives are present here today, I trust that this House’s collective message of condolence will reach his family.

¶ 09 We all hope for a peaceful end to life. But do all obtain a fair and peaceful death? We attend many funerals. Too many do not receive a fair or humane end, especially given the breakdowns in the health sector. Many young, middle-aged, and elderly persons die in unsettling ways—perhaps linked to longstanding weaknesses in the health system. We learned that he succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which came to our country from abroad. It was a most unjust end. Despite our island’s advantages, we often have not realized them; amidst an inability to properly manage COVID-19, a statesman who travelled the world to uplift this country and prayed for the next generation’s welfare—Hon. Tudor Gunasekara—was taken by that very pandemic. He passed away on 2021.08.29.

¶ 10 Madam Presiding Member, I came across a Hansard report about the hardships he faced as an MP during his tenure. I will not read it now, but we know that many face repression in politics; he too faced various pressures in that era—1977—which are recorded in Hansard. We cannot absorb everything from the lives of our elders, but we must take to heart their worthy qualities. Though people differ, we should glean and carry forward their virtues.

¶ 11 In Gampaha’s Mahara and across Sri Lanka, many knew the former MP and Ambassador Hon. Tudor Gunasekara. We bear a responsibility to take his good qualities forward to future generations. On behalf of all speaking today, I extend our condolences to his family. Thank you for the opportunity; I resume my seat, Madam Presiding Member.