LSSP stalwart Cholomondeley Goonewardene's funeral today

COLOMBO: Cholomondeley Goonewardene, the LSSP stalwart and the longest living politician from the First Parliament of 1947 passed away on Saturday at the age of 89. Educated at Holy Cross College Kalutara and S. Thomas's College, Mt. Lavinia he represented the Kalutara electorate throughout his political career that spanned nearly five decades.

He was the Minister of Communications in 1964. Goonewardene dedicated his life to serve the common masses almost giving up a lucrative legal practice and breaking away from his aristocratic family background.

Hailing from a muhandiram mansion known as the 'Burlington Home', Kalutara, he dedicated him self to local politics.

His remains were at the Colombo Art Gallery yesterday and will be removed to the Town Hall, Kalutara for the public to pay their respects today before the funeral this evening.