Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 [1.58 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, it is an honour to speak on condolence motions for five former Members and Ministers who worked with us and rendered great service.

¶ 03 First, Hon. Gamini Lokuge. He served in the last (new) Parliament with us and was loved by the people. During my time with the UNP, he worked closely with us. After the opening of this new Parliamentary Complex, he represented Kesbewa. He started politics in the 1960s with the UNP, worked at the Petroleum Corporation, and entered Parliament in 1983. He served with successive Presidents — J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa, D.B. Wijetunga, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In 2006, when 17 of us left the Opposition, he too joined, and even the UNP Leader acknowledged his calibre. He was a people’s man — meeting constituents from 5 to 7 a.m., then exercising, then again meeting people, never sending anyone away without advice or help. I also recall his effective work in the Public Petitions Committee; he knew labour law, public administration, gazettes and institutional rules in detail. He served in Sports and Tourism, and as MP for Kesbewa was inseparable from that seat. His passing is a great loss; on behalf of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, I pray he attains eternal peace.

¶ 04 Next, Hon. P. Dayaratna. From 2004, when we were in Opposition, he worked with us. Educated at Waithara MV and Ananda, he taught mathematics, studied at the Maradana Technical College and Brighton University, and began as an engineer at Gal Oya in 1965. He told me he came to Ampara with that project and then entered politics there. He was pivotal in land distribution in Ampara, a difficult district, and in developing it. He first contested in 1970, lost to Somaratne Senarat, then defeated him in 1977, and from 1970 to 2015 held several ministerial posts — District Minister, Deputy Minister of Power and Energy, then Minister of Power and Energy, taking electricity to remote villages; as Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Mahaweli he brought Mahaweli development to Ampara; and as Minister of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Social Welfare, and later Health, Nutrition and Welfare, he was among the most effective. Likely beginning with the Second National State Assembly, he served Sri Lanka and Ampara greatly. We pray he attains Nibbana.

¶ 05 Hon. Indradasa Hettiarachchi, from Horana, Kalutara, educated at Nalanda, followed his father Don Pedrick Hettiarachchi as a planter and estate superintendent. With his brothers, he formed Don Pedrick Estate Company, creating livelihoods for many. Under the 1971 nationalisation, over 1,800 acres of family land went to the State Plantations Corporation, with no quid pro quo. He started in local government — becoming one of the youngest Gam Sabha chairmen — and, at J.R. Jayewardene’s invitation, won Horana in 1977, served as District Minister, in Shipping and Naval Affairs, and later in Coconut Development and Diversification. He promoted coconut industry development in Kurunegala, established the Workers’ Bank at the Port, and led industrial zones like Wavulagala Bodiline and many factories in Horana including Aramana Golla, creating jobs for youth. He started Horana Royal College, Prajapathi Balika, Sri Pali Vidyalaya, and the Horana Sri Pali University premises affiliated to the University of Colombo, helping it grow into a prominent university. Together with Sir Cyril de Zoysa, he supported the Kalutara Bodhi Trust and religious work. He launched the Janasetha Foundation in 1989 and many projects like the Pradeepa Library. We remember him with love and respect and pray he attains Nibbana.

¶ 06 On Hon. Sehu Iszadeen: he was a founding Chairman of the SLMC in 1986, the first Opposition Leader of the merged North-Eastern Provincial Council, and held portfolios in Export Development, Information and Mass Media, and Rural Economic Development and Highways. He served in Parliament across several Parliaments for over eight years and worked significantly for Ampara. We respect his service.

¶ 07 Hon. W.B. Ranatunga contested as an independent in 1977 from Kotmale, polling 7,536 votes, and entered Parliament in 1989, serving until 1994. He worked for Kotmale and Nuwara Eliya, often hand-in-hand with Gamini Dissanayake. I extend respects and prayers for all departed Members remembered today.