Monty Gopallawa dies

by Kandy Staff Reporters

The death of Central Province Governor Monty Gopallawa has drawn large crowds to pay their last respects to the former Parliamentarian, Minister and Governor from the hill country.

The Governor of the Central Province Gopallawa (64) died yesterday while he was being treated at a private hospital in Colombo.

Late Monty Gopallawa, was the only son of late President William Gopallawa, the first ceremonial President of this country. When his body was brought to the Official Residence of the Governor, around 4.00 pm yesterday, people from all walks of life and all parts of the country came in large numbers to pay their last respects.

The body was accepted by Sarath Ekanayake, the Chief Minister of the Central Province, Ministers, Members of the Provincial Council and Secretaries of the Province. The wife, children and close relatives were also present to receive the body and place it for public respect.

The Maha Sangha of the Three Nikayas, other religious Clergy arrived at the Official Residence of the Governor to pay their last respects. Members of different political parties paid their respects. Among those who paid their last respects were Local Government and Provincial Council Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon and Kandy Mayor Kesara Senanayake.

Late Governor Gopallawa, an Honours graduate of the Peradeniya University, was the father of two and was first elected to the Parliament in 1970 and was a Member until 2001, representing the Matale district. He was Minister and also the SLFP's chief organiser for the Matale district.

He was a Deputy Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1997 and from 1997 to 2000 he was the Deputy Minister for Public Administration and was elevated to the Ministerial post and held the Post of Cultural Minister for a brief period from 2000 to 2001. He assumed the Governor's post on June 6, 2001.

The cremation will take place in Kandy on Thursday.