The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, first I speak on the late Hon. J.R.P. Suriyapperuma, a prominent SLFP leader and former General Secretary. He studied at Hanwella Central, obtained his first degree at Peradeniya and a doctorate at Kelaniya, though he never brandished the title—worthy of respect when many do otherwise.

¶ 02 He began public life around 1958, teaching O/L and A/L students at Ananda College, later lecturing in Economics, and contributing a deep body of thought to the nation. He served as General Secretary of the National Liberation Front formed by K.L.M.P. Rajaratna after leaving the 1956 government. His seminal “Deshapalana Darshana Vigrahaya,” based on world history and Marxism-Leninism, greatly influenced the 1971 insurgents who avidly read it.

¶ 03 He led at many moments, contesting Colombo South against J.R. Jayewardene and Attanagalla against Mrs. Bandaranaike after policy differences. He began with the Communist Party, later joined Rajaratna’s party, and then Philip Gunawardena’s MEP as Vice Chairman. I met him after 1994; he advised me like a father, including on the limits of an SLFP General Secretary’s role vis-à-vis the party leader. His speeches in 1989 inspired me.

¶ 04 Appointed SLFP General Secretary in 1977, he left shortly thereafter for the reasons he himself explained. He served with us for five years and five months via the National List (2010–2015). Passing at 96, he is a towering figure we honour, and I convey SLFP’s condolences to his family.

¶ 05 I also recall Hon. Donald Dissanayake of Gampaha, whom I remember from the 1989 campaign—“Kawda ape nayaka? Donald Dissanayake!” He had earlier served as Municipal Councillor and achieved much in five years as MP, as Deputy Chief Government Whip, and Project Monitoring MP for Transport and Highways, initiating many playing fields in Gampaha. We pay respects and pray he attains peace.

¶ 06 Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah stands out among those we lost. Since the late 1960s, before the LTTE emerged, he led Tamil youth movements; the earliest Tamil youth organizations formed around 1964–65, and he was central. A Peradeniya alumnus with further study at Annamalai University, he later led ITAK. I have said in this House before that he set a rare precedent by stepping down from party leadership while in Parliament—a contrast to many who cling to office. He worked closely in many dialogues from 2001 with Prof. G.L. Peiris, Milinda Moragoda and others, engaging moderately yet firmly on Tamil concerns. The Hindu and other papers wrote extensively about him. He held that Tamils should unite under one policy and one organization, and that the struggle should be non-violent, even as he maintained close links with India while retaining an independent view of Sri Lanka’s state. Over 24 years and 7 months he served in this House. As a Buddhist, I pray he attains peace and convey condolences to his family.

¶ 07 Lastly, I say a few words on our late colleague Hon. Kosala Jayaweera of Ruwanwella, from a family with communist roots. A former President of the Open University main student union, he joined the JVP and then the NPP, giving great strength in Ruwanwella. A youth committed to fighting corruption, he worked collegially with us in COPE, asking precise, purposeful questions. We mourn this brave, dear colleague and pray he is spared such untimely ends in future births. May he attain peace.

¶ 08 Thank you.