Lanka always grateful to Dudley Senanayake - Dinesh
 

by Ariyaratne Ganegoda

Sri Lanka will always be grateful to late Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake for the revolution he brought about in the country's agriculture sector, said MEP Leader and Urban Development and Water Resource Minister and Acting Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Participating at the ceremony at the statue of the late Prime Minister at Borella to mark his 32nd death anniversary Gunawardena said the late Prime Minister was an exemplary politician, a leader and a man of simplicity."

"Politicians in Sri Lanka have a lot to learn from his simple way of life", the Minister said.

"A book has been written about him. If you read his diary you will find that as Prime Minister he opposed foreign troops coming here even to spend their holidays. He was such a great man who was forthright in expressing his views. We salute him for he was not a patriotic by mere words but by his very actions," Gunawardena said.

The Minister said Senanayake, Prime Minister four times, was a true democrat who always bowed his head to the will of the people.

"He introduced Poya holidays and laboured to create an environment for propagation of Buddhism as a leader who understood well how religion was well knit with our culture and did his best to promote our heritage.

He was also the leader who shun foreign advice and provided help to farmers to cultivate food needed to make the country self-sufficient instead of sending our resources out of the country to bring food. If we could have continued with his policies on agriculture, this would have helped lessen out debts," the Minister said.

UNP Deputy Leader and Gampaha district MP Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya said it was a good sign to see that all without religious, political or religious differences gathering to pay tribute to Senanayake, one of the greatest sons of the land and one of the best statesman of our times".

The late Prime Minister loved his country and his people from the depth of his heart. He never misused his powers. He did everything to make the country develop in every aspect. He was concerned about the development of agriculture and food."We are enjoying the fruits of his labour. The country needs leaders of his stature today", Jayasuriya said.

Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena garlanded the Dudley Senanayake statue. Religious observances were conducted by Ven. Pandit Welegammedde Sri Wimalajothi Nayaka Thera.

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, former Ministers Wijayapala Mendis, A. R. Mansoor, P. R. Ratnayake, former MP Buddhika Kurukularathne, former member of the Western Province Almon Peiris and former CMC member Hector Perera were also present.