The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we express condolences on several departed politicians who rendered great service to Parliament and the country.

¶ 02 First, as an SLFP Member, I speak about the late Hon. Lohan Ratwatte of Kandy, son of Hon. Anuruddha Ratwatte. From a prominent political lineage close to Sirimavo Bandaranaike and the Ratwatte family, and a relative of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, he worked closely for years with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He is irreplaceable in Kandy politics — forthright, decisive, fearless, loyal to party and leadership. I attended his funeral rites and convey party and personal condolences to his family.

¶ 03 I also speak on the late Hon. Heenmahattmaya Liyanage of Ratnapura. His son Hon. Waruna Liyanage now serves in this House. In 1989, among the SLFP Members elected — a small number then — he was a senior figure, and in 1994 he served as a Deputy Minister delivering much to Ratnapura. Today Waruna Liyanage upholds his father’s legacy. We extend our condolences.

¶ 04 On the late Hon. Dixson J. Perera: Colombo District was once unfavourable terrain for the left, yet in 1989 he entered Parliament, representing Kesbewa. He had chaired the SLFP Youth Organisation during Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s Government and remained loyal to the party to the end. I joined his funeral in Dehiwala and extend condolences.

¶ 05 On the late Hon. Y.G. Padmasiri: from Ruwanwella, Kegalle, of the LSSP, he bravely contested the 1988 Provincial Council election amidst severe intimidation when candidates even faced death warrants; his own brother, Y.G. Leslie, was assassinated by armed groups in that turbulent period. Hon. Padmasiri survived and served long in the Provincial Council, later as Provincial Minister and, from 2010, as MP and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, delivering to difficult areas like Ruwanwella, Yatiyantota and Deraniyagala. His daughter Chatsala Janadari later served as a Provincial Councillor, working to carry forward his service. We wish her strength and extend condolences to the family.

¶ 06 On the late Hon. R.M.R. Chula Bandara: from Panduwasnuwara, Kurunegala, son of the late Kalubanda Ratnayake (MP elected in 1977), and brother of Nimal Bandara, former Chief Minister of the North Western Province. The family rendered great service to Kurunegala, including in agriculture and infrastructure. I extend condolences to his family, including grandson Sidath Bandara.

¶ 07 On the late Hon. (Dr.) Mervyn D. de Silva: a highly educated National List MP who had served as a senior public official, including as a Ministry Secretary; we express condolences.

¶ 08 On the late Hon. Manicavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan of ITAK, appointed via the National List during a turbulent period, he advocated peace, understanding and working beyond ethnic divisions. Though he served briefly, he did his utmost for his people. We extend condolences to all seven families remembered today.