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

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I present to this Hon. House the Motions of Condolence on the demise of five former Members of Parliament who represented this Hon. Parliament.

¶ 02 First, I move the Motion of Condolence on the demise of the late Hon. Indradasa Hettiarachchi, who, representing the United National Party, entered the National State Assembly in 1977 from the Horana electorate, and rendered service both to his district and the country as a Member of Parliament, as well as in ministerial office.

¶ 03 Hon. Speaker, to Don Pedric Hettiarachchi and Don Mary Nona Gunathilaka was born Indradasa Hettiarachchi in 1927 in Horana. Having received his education at Pokuṇuvita Sirimevan School and Nalanda College, Colombo, he then entered politics. Having won the confidence of the people, he entered the Village Council of Udugahapattuwa in his area and was thereafter appointed as its Chairman, becoming the youngest Chairman of a Village Council in the country. Subsequently, he served as the Kalutara District Minister, Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping, and Minister of Coconut Industries and Crop Diversification. He led the establishment of the Port Workers’ Bank and contributed significantly to launching the Horana Industrial Zone. He assisted in establishing Royal College, Horana, and Prajapathi Balika Vidyalaya, and initiated many uplifting projects in his area. He actively contributed to the development of the Sri Palee Campus affiliated to the University of Colombo, and helped make Horana a leading educational hub in Kalutara District.

¶ 04 Along with Mr. Cyril de Soysa, the founder of the Kalutara Bodhi Trust, he initiated religious activities through the Bodhi Trust and pioneered the novice monk sponsorship programme across temples in the district. In 1989 he established the Janasetha Foundation and initiated many projects including the Pradeepa Library. He married Sirimani Hettiarachchi in 1950 and was the beloved father of two sons and a daughter.

¶ 05 Hon. Speaker, in our time, during our school days and when we read about politics, we knew Hon. Indradasa Hettiarachchi as a former Minister from Kalutara District representing the United National Party. Together with Hon. Rajah Samarasinghe, he rendered a great service to the district through decent, principled politics. He served as District Minister and as Minister of Coconut Industries and Crop Diversification, and the people of Kalutara District yet remember the services rendered through those portfolios. At that time, he worked in a democratic and cooperative manner with other parties, which I wish to note in honour of him.

¶ 06 He served about ten years as a Member of Parliament and bid farewell to us on 11th January 2025 at the age of 96. We pray for the attainment of Nibbana for the late Hon. Indradasa Hettiarachchi and request that the profound sympathies of this august Assembly be conveyed to his beloved children and relatives.

¶ 07 Next, I move the Motion of Condolence on the late Hon. M. H. Cegu Isadean, who entered Parliament on the National List under the United National Party in 2000 and rendered service to his district and country.

¶ 08 Born in 1944 in Akkaraipattu to Mr. Mohamed Hasan and Mrs. Subaida Umma, he was educated at Akkaraipattu Zahira Vidyalaya, Vandaramoolai Central College, Batticaloa, and Zahira College, Colombo. After schooling, he entered the Palaly Government Teachers’ Training College and trained as an English teacher, and thereafter began his professional life as an attorney-at-law.

¶ 09 He served as the Leader of the Opposition of the North-Eastern Provincial Council in 1989, and from 1986 to 1992 as the Founding Chairman of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, rendering a significant service. In 1994, while leading the SLMC, he served as Deputy Minister of Mass Media and Information, Cabinet-rank Minister (non-Cabinet) for Export Development, and Deputy Minister of Rural Economic Development and Highways.

¶ 10 He travelled to international conferences to Libya, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, strengthening diplomatic relations. He married Nadhira in 1974 and was the beloved father of four sons and two daughters.

¶ 11 He served about eight years as a Member of Parliament and bid farewell to us on 28th November 2024 at the age of 80. We pray for paradise for the late Hon. M. H. Cegu Isadean and request that the sympathies of this Assembly be conveyed to his beloved wife, children and relatives.

¶ 12 Next, I move the Motion of Condolence on the late Hon. P. Dayaratna, who, representing the United National Party, was elected to Parliament in 1977 from Ampara District, now the Digamadulla Electoral District, and rendered service to his district and country.

¶ 13 Born in 1936 in Hengoda to P. Wimalasena and S. Dona Robartina Gunawardena, he studied at Waetara Maha Vidyalaya and Ananda College, Colombo, and later served as a science and mathematics teacher. In 1961 he entered Brighton University in the United Kingdom and read for electrical engineering. In 1965 he joined State service as an electrical engineer at the Gal Oya Development Board.

¶ 14 In the 1977 General Election he contested the Ampara seat and won, recording the first UNP victory in that seat. Thereafter in 1978 he was appointed Ampara District Minister, marking a rise in his political career. He served as Deputy Minister of Power and Energy in 1981, and as Cabinet Minister of the same subject in 1987. In 1989 he was Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development; in 1991 Minister of Reforms, Rehabilitation and Social Welfare.

¶ 15 He represented Parliament in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2010, and during that time held the portfolios of Minister of Health, Nutrition and Welfare; Minister of Plan Implementation; Minister of State Resources and Enterprise Development; and Minister of Food Security. He chaired the Ampara Buddhist Association and the Deeghavapi Restoration Association and led the development of Buddhist religious sites in the Digamadulla District. He married Deepthika Priyadarshani in 1971 and was the beloved father of two sons and a daughter.

¶ 16 He served nearly 37 years as a Member of Parliament and passed away on 25th July 2025 at the age of 87. We pray for the attainment of Nibbana for the late Hon. P. Dayaratna and request that the sympathies of this Assembly be conveyed to his beloved wife, children and relatives.

¶ 17 Next, I move the Motion of Condolence on the late Hon. Vijayasundara Bandara Ranatunga, who, representing the United National Party, was elected to Parliament in 1989 from Nuwara Eliya District, and rendered service to his district and the country.

¶ 18 Born in 1950 in Kotmale to Punchibanda Ranatunga and Vijayasundara Manike, he studied at Dharmaraja College, Kandy, and later entered the Advanced Technical Institute, thereafter serving as an assistant teacher. He initiated the largest garment factory in the Kotmale area and, as a people’s representative deeply understanding the hearts and minds of the people, he worked with great dedication for the educational, health, social and cultural development of his district. He married Nilmini Sandhya Kumarie Kotakadeniya in 1987 and was the beloved father of two sons.

¶ 19 He served about five years as a Member of Parliament and passed away on 26th June 2025 at the age of 75. We pray for the attainment of Nibbana for the late Hon. Vijayasundara Bandara Ranatunga and request that the sympathies of this Assembly be conveyed to his beloved wife, children and relatives.

¶ 20 Next, I move the Motion of Condolence on the late Hon. Gamini Lokuge, who, representing the United National Party, was elected to Parliament in 1983 from Colombo District.

¶ 21 Born in 1943 in Piliyandala to Mr. Lokuge and Mrs. Karunawathi Perera, he was educated at Stafford School and Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte, and then entered politics. Joining the UNP in 1960, he became Chairman of the UNP Youth Movement in Kesbewa in 1964, and in 1972 he was appointed to the National Youth Front Executive Committee.

¶ 22 In 1983, appointed as the organizer for Kesbewa, he contested the by-election that year and was elected to Parliament for the first time. From 1989 to 2024, he served in many positions including Deputy Minister of Tourism, Minister of Tourism, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation, Minister of Urban Development (State), Minister of Transport, and Minister of Power and Energy. From 1983 to 2024 he continuously served as a Member of Parliament and was a member of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, the Committee on Selection, the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and various Ministry Advisory Committees. He married Mrs. Daya Srimathi Gunaratne in 1974 and was the beloved father of two daughters.

¶ 23 He represented Parliament for about 40 years and passed away on 30th June 2025 at the age of 82. We pray for the attainment of Nibbana for the late Hon. Gamini Lokuge and request that the sympathies of this Assembly be conveyed to his beloved daughters and relatives.

¶ 24 Thank you.