Reggie Ranatunga's demise great loss to SLFP, country - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday expressed his deepest sympathies on the demise of UPFA Gampaha District MP Reggie Ranatunga.

It is an honour to say Ranatunga who joined the SLFP under the guidance of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike rendered an immense service to the SLFP. He was fully bound with the SLFP the way a son is attached to his mother, the President said in a condolence message.

The political policy of SLFP was Ranatunga's political policy since the day he joined the SLFP until his demise. He was a true public representative of the people of Gampaha electorate which is one of the most important electorates to the SLFP.

Ranatunga tolerated threats and harassments. He proved the SLFP's capability of tolerating any such threats by facing various threats levelled against him after the SLFP's defeat in 1977.

He imparted dignity to the SLFP after the SLFP's victory by completely eliminating the culture of responding to the political opponents through violence, the message said.

The late MP through his acts rejected provincial political divisions and always proved that unity is power. Therefore we placed our firm confidence in him as the Chief Government Whip.

He also acted as a MP, Deputy Minister, Cabinet Minister and a Governor. As a veteran politician, he made all these sacrifices for the well-being of the country.

To see his children receive international fame is a great fortune that a father can achieve during his lifetime. He could achieve that luck through his sons Arjuna, Dhammika, Nishantha, Prasanna, Sanjeewa and Ruwan.

His demise is an irreparable loss to our party. But the only relief for us is that his son Prassna Ranatunga as the Western Province Health Minister and Minuwangoda SLFP Chief Organiser is attempting to fill his father's loss by following his policies."