Dudley a role model for all, says PM at portrait unveiling ceremony

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Rajmi Manatunga

KOTTE: A portrait of the second Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dudley Senanayake was unveiled at the Parliament premises yesterday.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake unveiled the portrait amidst a gathering of Ministers, Members of Parliament and family members of the late Premier, after Parliamentary proceedings were suspended at 11 a.m.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Wickremanayake said the late Prime Minister was a role model not only for politicians, but also for ordinary people.

"He was a modest human being with a kind heart who fostered the path of his noble father D. S. Senanayake. It was during his tenure that the agricultural sector of this country reached new heights," he said.

He pointed out that the late Prime Minister also pioneered the setting up of a large number of local industries, thus contributing to the country's industrial development.

"During his term as Prime Minister, Sri Lanka was an active member of the Commonwealth. He also took several steps to create an understanding among the different communities of Sri Lanka. Therefore, he will always be a most memorable leader of our country," he said.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in his address said the late Premier stood tall in the history of Sri Lanka as a people-centered politician who made the country self-sufficient in rice.

"When Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake came to power, only 20 per cent of Sri Lanka's rice demand was provided locally. Therefore, he started major agricultural projects like Gal Oya. His son Dudley took this forward by making the best use of existing paddy lands. As a result, Sri Lanka could become self-sufficient in rice by 2003," he said.

Wickremesinghe noted that it was during the last tenure of Premier Senanayake that the Mahaweli project, which caused an agricultural revolution in Sri Lanka, was finalised.

"He was also one of the best speakers in Parliament along the ranks of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, N. M. Perera and T. B. Illangaratne."

Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara said late Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake was a leader who dedicated his life for parliamentary democracy.

"He was a true Buddhist and appreciated Sri Lankan values. The people of Sri Lanka will never forget the service rendered by him," Lokubandara said.