Former Colombo Mayor K. Ganeshalingam dead
COLOMBO: Former Colombo Mayor K. Ganeshalingam (68) expired last
evening after a brief illness. Entering politics in 1991 contesting on
the UNP ticket, he became the Deputy Mayor from July 1991 and held the
post until 1993 and he was made as acting Mayor in which post he
continued to function till 1996.
He then succeeded Ratnasiri Rajapakse as Mayor for nine months
beginning from June 1996 to March 1997. He was also the General
Treasurer of the UNP for sometime.
While he was Mayor he needed the majority of the CMC to carry out his
duties as Mayor and the SLFP provided him the necessary support.
Although he was invited to contest on the SLFP ticket at the
following CMC election he preferred to contest as an Independent
candidate.
He was successful and being elected he became the Leader of the
Opposition in the CMC for five years (May 1997 to April 2002). It was
during his time as CMC Mayor that the Late Pope John Paul II visited Sri
Lanka in 1995. He was native of Puloli in Point Pedro.
Ganeshalingam was born on January 3, 1938. He leaves his wife and two
children. He was involved in business at the time of his death. His
funeral arrangements will be notified later. |