The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, as our Chief Organizer stated, representing four parties we express condolences on four departed Members. I first speak of the late Hon. Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, a newcomer to Parliament who left us in youth, leaving a notable impression in a short time. His father was a craftsman and a veteran standard-bearer in the Three Korales for the LSSP, a stronghold of that party. The son later joined the JVP/NPP—another left tradition. Although he died young from a cardiac event, his short parliamentary service was significant. In a short time he delivered great electoral victories across Ruwanwella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyantota for his party. We express our condolences to his family and pray he attains peace.

¶ 02 We also express condolences on late Hon. Donald Dissanayake of Gampaha—Municipal Councillor, Provincial Councillor, Deputy Chief Government Whip—who served his district well. We pray he attains peace and convey sympathies to his family and friends.

¶ 03 Regarding the late Hon. J.R.P. Suriyapperuma: he was among the foremost orators and politicians of our time. In the 1970s he was a powerful standard-bearer whose speeches drew crowds. Beyond oratory, he taught via radio, television, stage and Parliament on many subjects, wrote “Deshapalana Darshana Vigrahaya” on political philosophy, and influenced a generation. He later joined the Communist Party and contested major constituencies. We mourn his passing and note that collecting and republishing his articles would enrich our intellectual tradition. We extend SLMC’s condolences to his family.

¶ 04 Lastly, I pay tribute to the late Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah, a towering Tamil leader who worked with Thanthai Selva, Amirthalingam and Sivasithamparam over six decades, shaping Tamil national politics. The twin 1960 elections saw major TULF gains due to the “Sinhala Only” policy and sparked mass Tamil mobilization. As a youth leader, he endured over ten imprisonments. Though first entering Parliament via the National List (1989, and again 1999 after Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam’s death), his party’s choice for him reflects his stature. He was close to our late leader M.H.M. Ashraff; we often met to discuss Tamil-Muslim relations and national issues, serving together in select committees.

¶ 05 He engaged with leaders across Tamil politics, including Uma Maheswaran, Sivasithamparam, and in early times even with LTTE leaders, before violence claimed many TULF leaders. We often recalled the assassinations of Amirthalingam and Yogeswaran, and Siva’s narrow survival. After the July 1983 pogrom, he worked from India, maintaining the TULF’s office. I could not attend his funeral but visited his home the next day to convey condolences. We pray at his beloved Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple for divine grace upon his soul. May he attain peace.