The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we remember three late Members—Kumara Welgama of Kalutara, H. Nandaseena of Anuradhapura, and Tudor Gunasekara of Gampaha. The days they spent with us here, and we with them, are important. Particularly, Hon. Kumara Welgama was a good friend who moved very closely with us. His conduct in this Parliament, his fraternal dealings with everyone, and a political journey that began from left-of-centre ideas were notable. It is important to remember him here today.

¶ 02 All three served their people well in their districts and in this House. Additionally, late Hon. Tudor Gunasekara also served as an Ambassador. We convey our deep condolences to the families present here.

¶ 03 Today is also a very significant day for our country. Fifty-one years ago, at the time of the World Tamil Research Conference in Jaffna, nine people were killed and 50 injured. Those killed included 14-year-old Sinnathambi Nandakumar, 15-year-old Sinnathambi Saravanabhavan, 26-year-old Paramesothy Veluppillai Kesavarajan, 32-year-old Vaithiyanathan Yoganathan, 52-year-old John Bedelees Sigmarinham, 53-year-old Pulendran Arulappu, 21-year-old Rasathurai Sivanandam, 26-year-old Rajan Devaratnam, and 56-year-old Siddhanturai Ponnuthurai, an Ayurvedic physician—unjustly massacred in Jaffna during the mayoralty of Alfred Duraiappah. Today marks the 51st anniversary of that massacre. I remember them here and convey condolences to their families as I conclude.