Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, under this Vote of Condolence, I primarily wish to speak about our late Rukman Senanayake. Descended from the D. S. Senanayake lineage, he was a great-grandson of D. S. and the beloved son of Robert Senanayake. He entered politics in a very difficult period and, with great popular support, won the Dedigama by-election in 1973 polling 23,306 votes, entering Parliament with significant popularity. There were a number of issues that arose with Hon. J. R. Jayewardene at that time; he himself related these matters to me.

¶ 02 When the Minneriya seat was given to contest against Hon. Anura Bandaranaike, Rukman Senanayake, along with Messrs. Suriyapperuma and Jinadasa Niyathapala, opposed it at the Working Committee. In response, all three were expelled from the party. He then formed the “Dudley Peramuna,” and thereafter the United Lanka People’s Party, attempting to re-enter politics, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

¶ 03 He also worked in a mediatory role with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. Hon. Bimal Rathnayake would recall how, in those days, the Woodland residence became a place JVP members frequented. During the 1968 BONS talks, Hon. Rukman Senanayake intervened. He discussed matters closely with President R. Premadasa as well, seeking to resolve issues and to stop the killings. Thus he worked closely both with JVP leaders and with leaders in government.

¶ 04 In 1990, he dissolved the United Lanka People’s Party and, together with Dr. Gamini Wijesekera, rejoined the United National Party. Thereafter, he served as MP for Polonnaruwa District, as Chairman of the UNP, and as Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, rendering a great service. He loved and respected our country’s flora and fauna.

¶ 05 I recall that after I entered Parliament in 2004, there was a meeting at Woodland against Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, to discuss the party leadership and its direction. Following those discussions, 35 of us signed a letter seeking to remove Mr. Wickremesinghe from the party leadership. Hon. Rukman Senanayake led that effort as well, thinking about how to strengthen democracy, strengthen the party, and build future leaders. He long desired to take the UNP in a new direction by changing its leadership—not for his own gain. Shortly before he passed away, he told me he still had that letter and would give me a copy. Sadly, I was abroad at the time of his death and could not attend his funeral. Today, the descendants of the Senanayake-Wijewardene lineage, Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene and Hon. Vasantha Senanayake, continue the family’s political engagement within the UNP.

¶ 06 Hon. Deputy Speaker, Rukman Senanayake was a true democrat I admired—always ready to rise against injustice and speak out. On behalf of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, we express our condolences and our respect to his family. May he attain the bliss of Nibbana.

¶ 07 Next, regarding Hon. A. A. Reginald Perera: he entered politics in 1983 through the Wattala–Mabole Urban Council and was so popular that in 1987 he became its Chairman uncontested. He entered Parliament in 1989 and again, as MP for Gampaha District in 1994, when I too got to know him. He served on the UNP Working Committee and rendered a great service to the Mahara electorate and the Wattala–Mabole Urban Council. We recall him with respect and pray he attains Nibbana; I extend condolences to his entire family on my own behalf and on behalf of the SLFP.

¶ 08 I also wish to speak about Hon. Sirinal de Mel. He was a stalwart of the UNP’s 1977 general election victory and contributed immensely to the trade union sphere. He organized and led the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) in 1977 and served for years as its General Secretary. Even during difficult times for the UNP and for the JSS—especially after 1994—he worked tirelessly to rebuild and strengthen the movement. He passed away at the age of 84. He was appointed as a National List MP in 2000 and served again during the Eighth Parliament in 2015 together with us. We remember him as an honest, humble trade union leader who carried out a monumental task for the unions when needed. His beloved son, Hon. Gayan de Mel, is today the principal SJB organizer for the Kesbewa seat, carrying his father’s political legacy forward. I express my condolences to him and the family and pray that Hon. Sirinal de Mel attains Nibbana.

¶ 09 I should also say a word about Hon. I. M. Ilyas. He was a medical doctor. When Muslims were expelled from Jaffna, he left Jaffna and served in Puttalam as a doctor. Later, he first entered Parliament from Jaffna District with 3,300 votes as a leader of the displaced Muslims. He tirelessly raised in Parliament and outside the hardships of the displaced and their resettlement. He also ran as a presidential candidate in 2010, 2015 and 2019. During the last presidential election period, in which 39 candidates contested, he sadly passed away. He also served from 1988 in the North Western Provincial Council, working for the province, for Puttalam, and for his beloved Muslim community. We pray for Allah’s blessings upon him and convey our condolences to his family.

¶ 10 Recalling all these leaders for whom today’s Votes of Condolence are moved, I conclude. Thank you.