The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I rise with sorrow to remember the late former MP Donald Dissanayake, a long-serving public representative of Gampaha, who passed away a few months ago. Born on 9 July 1941, he rendered dedicated service over decades.

¶ 02 He received his schooling at Holy Cross College Gampaha, Sri Siddhartha Vidyalaya Gampaha, St. Joseph’s College Colombo, and Central College Veyangoda. After specialized training in agricultural machinery and equipment in the United Kingdom, he returned and married Mrs. Indra Ranasinghe Dissanayake on 6 March 1968, and thereafter entered politics.

¶ 03 - In 1965, he first entered public office as a Municipal Councillor of Gampaha and became its Deputy Mayor in 1970. - In 1988, during a very difficult time, he was elected to the Western Provincial Council, diligently representing Gampaha District. - In 1989, he entered Parliament on the Government side, served as Deputy Chief Organizer, and as Project Monitoring MP at the Ministry of Transport and Highways. - He contributed to COPE and the Defence Committee and was an active parliamentarian for the people.

¶ 04 In Gampaha, he engaged closely with the public on education, electrification, roads, health, village upliftment, and rural infrastructure. Enjoying strong support as a UNP representative, he expanded and developed urban roads such as Sri Bodhi Mawatha near the Kachcheri complex, despite public resistance at the time. He helped establish Gampaha Takshila Vidyalaya near the Sri Bodhi Sports Ground, and founded the “Donald Dissanayake Foundation,” through which he renovated temples and implemented a scholarship scheme for novice monks.

¶ 05 With donations, he supported the construction of a maternity complex and an ICU at Gampaha Base Hospital and provided medical equipment, addressing critical needs during a difficult period. He helped establish the NESEC Foundation affiliated with Ranmutugala Maha Viharaya, under which child development centres were started at several temples.

¶ 06 In 1974, as a young man, he drove a “504” vehicle he purchased at his own expense from the UK over 9,300 miles to arrive at Talaimannar Jetty, an accomplishment recorded at the time. Representing the Government, he undertook diplomatic missions to Germany, India, the USA, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore.

¶ 07 On behalf of Gampaha District, I express deep condolences to his family and loved ones, and to all Members of this House who knew him.