The Hon. Sunil Rajapaksha

¶ 01 [1.15 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I begin by expressing condolences on the passing of Hon. J.R.P. Suriyapperuma—more than a politician: a philosopher, thinker, teacher, writer and scholar. Born to Don Edmund Peiris Suriyapperuma and Don Yashodhara Rajapaksa, he lived 96 impactful years. Educated at Dompe and Hanwella, he graduated from Peradeniya and earned a doctorate from Kelaniya, but never wore it as ornament.

¶ 03 He served the nation with conviction—as a teacher at Ananda (1954–1965), then as Acting Director at the Ministry of Industries and Small Industries (1965–1970), and later as university academic. A practical thinker and patriot, he advanced domestic industry—famously championing local potato cultivation, the seed programme and the Navinna Ayurvedic Research Institute.

¶ 04 Best known to many as a thinker, his 1963 “Deshapalana Darshana Vigrahaya” offered a major platform for progressive thought, followed by some 23 more books. On television programmes like “Doramadala,” he fused indigenous thought with Buddhist philosophy, leaving listeners enriched—hence his demand as a guest lecturer across Buddhist, cultural and political fora.

¶ 05 Though his parliamentary tenure (2010–2015, National List) was short, he previously contested Attanagalla (1970), Colombo South (1975) and Minuwangoda (1977), and served the SLFP as General Secretary, Vice Chairman and Central Committee member. In an age when politics is often devalued by conduct, he fulfilled Plato’s ideal of the philosopher-king. We express condolences to his family and pray for his liberation.

¶ 06 I also speak of our late colleague Hon. Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, who sought to steer chaotic politics onto the right path, serving bravely on COPE—focused, well-prepared and principled. His loss is a great blow at a time we need collective effort to set the country right. We convey condolences to his family and pray he attains the supreme peace.

¶ 07 We also express condolences on the passing of Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah and Hon. Donald Dissanayake, and fall silent in respect.