The Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I extend my condolences on the passing of four former MPs: Hon. Kosala Nuwan Jayawira, Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah, Hon. Donald Dissanayake, and Hon. J. R. P. Suriyapperuma.

¶ 02 I especially wish to remember our late colleague Hon. Kosala Nuwan Jayawira, with whom I worked closely both before and during my short time in Parliament. We are of the same generation, having begun politics together as student leaders over 10–15 years ago. He served as President of the Open University Students’ Union around 2014–2015, in a repressive period when student activists faced threats, surveillance, and detention. He worked fearlessly for students’ educational and broader rights.

¶ 03 His goal—as ours—was to secure people’s rights and a better life for the ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka. Not from a traditional elite background, he came from among the common people, understanding their hardships first-hand.

¶ 04 Though his life and parliamentary tenure were brief, he demonstrated the capacity to deliver much more for his society and constituency. In Ruwanwella and elsewhere in Kegalle—Deraniyagala, Dehiowita—he provided exceptional leadership: on environmental issues, youth mobilization as district leader of the Youth Union, agrarian concerns, and more. He worked long hours, without complaint, with clarity and determination.

¶ 05 He helped bring a new political hope to areas long bound to traditional elite politics, transforming the Three Korales of Kegalle with progressive energy. In the last election, among seven MPs elected from Kegalle, he placed second in preferences, reflecting district-wide recognition.

¶ 06 His untimely passing at 38, after just about five months in office, remains hard to accept. Yet his name will be written high when the political changes we strive for are realized and a better society is secured. We carry that responsibility forward to fulfil the dream he pursued from his youth.