The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, through these condolence motions we speak today of Hon. Kumara Welgama, Hon. H. Nandaseena, and Hon. Tudor Gunasekara. Hon. Welgama was elected in 1989 as one of 66 new MPs, representing Kalutara from the SLFP—the party I represent. When the SLFP separated from the SLPP in 2015, he went to Badulla to strengthen our party organization. He spoke plainly, stood up directly, and said what needed to be said.

¶ 02 He had foresight—repeatedly saying Gotabaya Rajapaksa should not be made the SLPP presidential candidate. We saw the outcomes in 2021–2023. He contested under the SJB and entered Parliament from Kalutara. When Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa was made a presidential candidate earlier, he asked why someone who had not even held local office should be a presidential nominee. What he said took root and proved true. He served long as Minister and Deputy Minister, contributing much to Kalutara and the country. His son, Senal Welgama, is now in politics; I wish him success in following his father’s path.

¶ 03 Hon. H. Nandaseena entered Parliament from Anuradhapura for the SLPP. During the Aragalaya, he was warded at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital. At that time there were around a hundred Government MPs. I must say without fear: Though he called several, not a single MP or Minister responded to bring him home. Finally he found my number and called from hospital; I went, did the needful, and brought him to his home in Madivela, and then arranged transport to Medawachchiya—even finding diesel was difficult then. I criticized the SLPP for failing him, though he had represented them.

¶ 04 In the previous Parliament, a group of MPs formed the “Madivela Friends’ Forum,” contributing Rs. 20,000 each from our salaries to help those in need. From that, we gave Rs. 2 million to the family of the late MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala. We also helped Hon. Nandaseena when he was ill. The forum was initiated by former Deputy Speaker Hon. Ajith Rajapakse. Many backbenchers face dire straits after leaving office; in time, current backbenchers will feel it too. At Hon. Nandaseena’s funeral in Medawachchiya, only about ten MPs attended; later, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and I also went. He suffered much and was very helpless—a cooperative inspector, then provincial councillor, and finally MP after much struggle.

¶ 05 Likewise, when Hon. Amarakeerthi Athukorala was killed in Nittambuwa, none of the 150 MPs from Polonnaruwa attended his funeral home; only I went. Hon. H. Nandaseena too was such a vulnerable backbencher. We express our strong condolences to his family, and to the family of former UNP MP Hon. Tudor Gunasekara.