The Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, on this day when condolence motions are presented for five former MPs, I pray that Hon. P. Dayaratna, Hon. Gamini Lokuge, and Hon. W. B. Ranatunga attain Nibbana, and that Hon. Cegu Isadean attains heavenly bliss. First, I wish to speak a few minutes about Deshabandu Indradasa Hettiarachchi, who lived 96 years.

¶ 02 We called him “Indradasa Seeya”. He was my wife’s grandfather’s younger brother. The family from Horana rendered great social service. No one in our family had been in politics in recent decades; after my marriage I am perhaps the first after Seeya. From the day I entered politics until his passing, he advised me: “Do politics with goodwill; do not draw family into politics; dedicate yourself to the people; work for the country with utmost effort.”

¶ 03 He contested the village council at a young age, was elected a member of the Kumbukpitiya Village Council, and, we understand, became Sri Lanka’s youngest Village Council Chairman at about 19, serving 18 years. In an interview with The Sunday Times he once said, “I am a planter by the day and politician after hours.” His siblings managed the Don Fredrick estate started by their father. The Don Fredrick Company helped the people of Horana greatly, undertook development, and social service. Seeing the need to compete with missionary schools, his father took on all responsibilities—at personal expense—for a Sinhala Buddhist school initiated by Kotalawala Swarnajothi Thero, until it was taken over by the State in 1960; in 1982, it was named Don Fredrick Maha Vidyalaya.

¶ 04 Beyond schools, under Hon. Hettiarachchi’s leadership many social services were done: 11 wards at the Kalutara Hospital, many temples, and libraries. In 1971, the Bandaranaike Government nationalized their prime estates—Hapugastenna, Deeside, etc.—totalling 1,977 acres; nevertheless, the family continued social service.

¶ 05 After 1977, he won a resounding victory, even defeating SLFP giant Ratnasiri Wickramanayake in Horana, and served continuously until retiring in 1994, working for Horana and all Sri Lankans. In 1995, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga conferred “Deshabandu” on him. He served as District Minister for Kalutara and later as Minister of Coconut Industry, accomplishing much.

¶ 06 At his funeral in January, many from both monastic fraternities praised him. Under his leadership, Horana Rajakeeya Vidyalaya, Prajapathi Balika Vidyalaya, and Sripali Primary were established; he was instrumental in establishing the Horana Sripali Hall. In 1978, he laid the groundwork for the Horana Industrial Zone under Minister Sunil Handunnetti’s Ministry at the time; it continues to create jobs and contribute to exports. With President Premadasa, he helped establish numerous Uda Gam projects in Kalutara.

¶ 07 The Hettiarachchi family lived close to religion; we, including myself, belong to an old line of devotees at the Gangaramaya Temple. He went further—on the invitation of Hon. Cyril Soysa, he served for decades as a Trustee of the Kalutara Bodhi, rendering immense service to Buddhism. He began the “Samanera Scholarship” project and greatly improved Dhamma school education. He lived in keeping with Buddhist philosophy and was widely admired. Under the Janasetha Foundation, he also strove to establish libraries.

¶ 08 Having dedicated his life to the people, he rendered vast service to this country. His wife, Mrs. Hettiarachchi, has predeceased him. I met their sons, Dasarath and Manthinda, during the lunch recess today; their daughter Malkanthi is overseas. They and their children are rightly proud of their father and grandfather. I, and my party, express our sorrow and pray that Seeya attains the supreme bliss of Nibbana. Thank you.