The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I move the Votes of Condolence on the passing of seven former Members of this august Parliament.

¶ 02 First, I move the Vote of Condolence on the demise of the late Hon. Lohan Ratwatte who entered Parliament in 2010 representing the Kandy District from the United People’s Freedom Alliance.

¶ 03 Born in 1968 in Kandy to former Deputy Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, and Mrs. Kamani Ratwatte, Hon. Lohan Ratwatte received his education at Trinity College, Kandy. Before entering politics, he served as a company director. Beginning politics in 2009 as a Member of the Central Provincial Council, he later became Chairman of the Kandy District Coordinating Committee in 2013 representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He served as State Minister of Plantation, State Minister of Prison Reforms, and State Minister of Gems and Jewellery. He was also a Member of advisory boards of the Ministries of Defence, National Languages and Social Integration, Parliamentary Affairs, Disaster Management, and Plantation Industries. He was a loving father to two daughters and a son. Having served almost 14 years as a Member of Parliament, he passed away on 15 August 2025 at the age of 57. We wish him the supreme bliss of peace and request that this august Assembly convey its condolences to his beloved wife, children and relatives.

¶ 04 Next, I move the Vote of Condolence on the demise of the late Hon. Heenmahatmaya Liyanage who was elected to Parliament in 1989 from the Ratnapura District representing the United National Party.

¶ 05 Born in 1942 and educated at Gankanda Vidyalaya, Pelmadulla, he joined the Government teaching service in 1967 and served as a teacher for 13 years. Due to participation in the July 1980 strike, he was dismissed from service. Entering politics in 1982, he became chief organizer for the SLFP in Rakwana and Pelmadulla electorates. He served as Deputy Minister of Estate Infrastructure and Animal Resources and also as Chairman of the Lanka Cashew Corporation. Married to Mrs. Sirima Indrani, he was a loving father of two sons and a daughter. His elder son, Hon. Waruna Liyanage, is a current MP. He served nearly 13 years as a Member of Parliament and passed away on 14 October 2024 at the age of 82. We wish him peace and convey our condolences to his wife, children and relatives.

¶ 06 Next, I move the Vote of Condolence on the late Hon. Dixon J. Perera, elected in 1989 from the Colombo District representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

¶ 07 Born in 1946 in Piliyandala to K.G. Douglas Justus Perera and L. Mullin Perera, he studied at Maharagama Science College and obtained a Diploma in Agriculture from Aquinas College, and a degree from the University of Peradeniya. Entering politics as a Member of the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, he served as SLFP Chief Organizer for Kesbewa from 1974 to 2001. He chaired the Colombo District Young MPs’ Association, attended the World Youth Conference in Berlin in 1974, and pioneered the first Buddhist center in Canberra, Australia. He served as First Secretary at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Australia and as Ambassador to Nepal, rendering notable service to Sri Lankans. He married Mrs. Nalini Abeydeera Jayawickrama Perera and was a loving father of a son and a daughter. Having served about eight years as an MP, he passed away on 4 October 2025 at the age of 79. We wish him peace and convey condolences to his children and relatives.

¶ 08 Next, I move the Vote of Condolence on the late Hon. (Dr.) Mervyn D. de Silva, who was appointed via the National List in 1989 representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

¶ 09 Born in 1930 in Kandy to George Leonard de Silva and Mabel Theresa de Silva, he studied at St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy and St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, and obtained a BSc from the University of Ceylon. He completed postgraduate and doctoral studies at the University of California on a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship. He served in various posts for the development of agriculture in Sri Lanka and was an active Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Married in 1957 to Dr. Rita Antoinette de Silva, he was a loving father of a son. Having served about five years in Parliament, he passed away on 30 August 2024 at the age of 95. We wish him peace and convey condolences to his wife, children and relatives.

¶ 10 Next, I move the Vote of Condolence on the late Hon. Y.G. Padmasiri, elected to Parliament in 2010 from the Kegalle District representing the United People’s Freedom Alliance.

¶ 11 Born in 1950 in Ruwanwella to Y.G. William Singho and K.A.H. Asilin, he studied at Ruwanwella Central College and Dehiowita Rajasinghe Central College, and by profession was a Notary Public. From his school days, he was involved in politics with Dr. N.M. Perera. He held several posts in the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) including Youth League Secretary and President in Ruwanwella, Central Committee member, Political Bureau member and National Organizer. He won the first Provincial Council election in 1988 and served continuously for 22 years in the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, including as Minister for Rural Development and Cottage Industries (1999) and for Agriculture and Lands (2004). Elected to Parliament in 2010, he served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Married to Mrs. K.G. Sumanawathi Manike, he was a loving father of one daughter. Having served about five years as an MP, he passed away on 26 September 2025 at the age of 75. We wish him peace and convey condolences to his wife, daughter and relatives.

¶ 12 Next, I move the Vote of Condolence on the late Hon. R.M.R. Chula Bandara, elected in 1991 from the Kurunegala District representing the United National Party.

¶ 13 Born in 1949 in Kurunegala to R.M. Kalubandara Ratnayake and C.M.M. Chandrasekara, he studied at St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia and obtained a BSc from the University of Peradeniya before qualifying as an Attorney-at-Law at the Sri Lanka Law College. First elected in 1991 and re-elected in 1998, he later served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Poland (2003-2005), rendering valuable service both to the public and to Sri Lankans in Poland. Married in 1979 to Mrs. W.M. Rogini Pushpa Bandara, he was a loving father of two daughters and a son. He passed away on 22 December 2024 at the age of 75. We wish him peace and convey condolences to his wife, children and relatives.

¶ 14 Hon. Deputy Speaker, now, with a sense of profound loss, I move the Vote of Condolence on the death of the late Hon. M. K. Eelaventhan, former Member of Parliament who represented the National List of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) from 2004 to 2007.

¶ 15 The late Hon. Eelaventhan was born in Jaffna in 1932 to Mr. Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy and Mrs. Sivayogam. He studied at St. John’s College, Jaffna and Wesley College, Colombo. He served as a senior translator and economic analyst at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. He developed a keen interest in politics in his late teens and joined the ITAK in 1952. In the 1970s he joined the TULF and was appointed President of its Colombo branch. In 1986, he married Mrs. K. Arulambigai and was a loving father of two daughters. He served in Parliament with dedication for nearly four years and passed away on 28 April 2024 at the age of 91. We pray he attain the state he aspired to according to his faith, and request that this Assembly convey its condolences to his wife, children and relatives.