The Hon. (Dr.) Nandana Millagala

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, today we express the condolences of this House on the late Hon. Lohan Ratwatte, Hon. Heenmahattmaya Liyanage, Hon. Dixson J. Perera, Hon. (Dr.) Mervyn D. de Silva, Hon. Y.G. Padmasiri, Hon. R.M.R. Chula Bandara and Hon. Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan. At various times, representing various districts and parties, they served as Ministers, Deputies and people’s representatives for their districts and for the nation. We appreciate their meritorious services and express this House’s gratitude, praying for peace according to their respective religions, and extend heartfelt condolences to their families present today.

¶ 02 As a Member for Kegalle District, I first wish to speak about our late former MP and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Y.G. Padmasiri, who represented Ruwanwella. Born in 1950 at Karawanella Base Hospital, he studied at Ruwanwella Maha Vidyalaya, Sri Wickrama Junior School and Rajasinghe Central College, and later served as a notary. From youth he was in left politics with Dr. N.M. Perera, serving as Secretary and later President of the Ruwanwella LSSP Youth League, and moving through district and central organs to become a National Organiser of the LSSP.

¶ 03 He entered electoral politics successfully at the inaugural 1988 Provincial Council election and served until 2010 — about 22 years — as Member and Minister in Sabaragamuwa, delivering to the Province and especially Kegalle. A true public servant must have a creative vision; he did. In a media interview he said, “My most significant achievement is the Jana Sabha concept. The pre-school teachers’ charter is another concept I introduced in Sabaragamuwa.” He introduced village-level people’s assemblies to organise development, and brought policy for pre-schools to strengthen early childhood development.

¶ 04 Understanding the terrain of the “Three Korales” region, he advanced projects like “Lightning against lightning” to mitigate lightning disasters with proper conductors in that hill-and-gorge terrain. He prioritised bridges to overcome water barriers — notably the 550-foot suspension bridge over the Gurugoda Oya from Ruwanwella to Nikawalamulla/Palangamuwa, one of the country’s longest of its type — and many similar suspension and cable bridges. In Parliament (2010–2015), he served on advisory committees on highways, agriculture, environment and renewable energy, applying his provincial experience to national issues. He consistently stood with the majority view of his coalition fearlessly, while remaining within the LSSP through various alliances. He lived honourably and earned an honourable passing. As a village-friendly leader and a devout Buddhist who supported temples and dhamma schools, we wish him Nirvana, and convey condolences to his wife, daughter and family.