Parliamentarians pay tribute to President D.B. Wijetunga

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Kotte: A large number of politicians, diplomats and religious dignitaries yesterday gathered at the Parliament complex to pay their last respects to former President D.B.Wijetunga who turned a new leaf in Sri Lanka's political culture.

The remains were brought to the Parliament complex at 9.00 a.m. yesterday in a motorcade from his Pilimathalawa residence.

A large number of Government and opposition politicians had gathered at the Parliament complex to pay their last respects to the former President, who earned name as a true democrat who created an environment all citizens of the country to live with honour and dignity.

The remains of the former President were received at the Parliament premises by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara, amidst a large number of politicians.

Thereafter the remains were conveyed to the Parliament complex where they lay-in-State for Members, Parliament staff and visitors to pay their respects from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.

The politicians and religious dignitaries who paid their last respects to the former President described him as a true democratic leader who always extended his hand of friendship to all irrespective of political differences.

They also claimed the former President was an exemplary politician who always identified the correct political path for the betterment of the country.

Government Ministers said the late President would go down in Sri Lanka's political history as a genuine political leader who took every possible measure to safeguard peace and country's unitary state after accepting the Presidency at a decisive phase in the country's history.

They said the former President through his actions always demonstrated his honesty to the whole world.

After politicians and other dignitaries paid their respects, the remains of the former President were taken from the Parliament complex to the Kandy Municipal Grounds in Getambe in a motorcade for a state funeral at 3.00 p.m.

An exemplary leader - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a special condolence message on the passing away of former President D. B. Wijetunga described the late President as a leader who enthroned democracy in the country at a time people had lost hope.

The message read out at the funeral by Plantation Industries Minister, D. M. Jayaratne said.

“I am saddened by the demise of former President D. B. Wijetunga at a time when he had pinned his hopes on the imminent liberation of the motherland from terrorism.

Former President D. B. Wijetunga was an exemplary leader endowed with excellent qualities. At a time when the people had lost their confidence in democracy, his role helped great deal to reinvent democracy in this country.

Honesty, justice and genuineness were the quintessence of his political vision.

Having realised the futility of retaining power by fair or foul means, he bowed down to the public opinion in dissolving Parliament after the defeat at the Southern Provincial Council elections. Former President, D. B. Wijetunga won the accolades of the Nation as a true leader who always paid due respect to the public opinion.

He was firmly determined that terrorism should be eradicated. Even during his brief tenure, his crusade against terrorism received the highest encomiums of the people.

Independence of the nation was his forte which we clearly observed during each time we visited him.

Former President, D. B. Wijetunga bore the imprint of a true, Sinhala Buddhist peasant. His style of accession to power and later its renunciation demonstrated to the world that the Sri Lankan leaders need be endowed with Bodhisatwa qualities. Therefore, I always had my respect and love for simplicity and humanity in him.

I share my grief with all my citizens at this moment though I am prevented from being with you due to my departure to UN Assembly. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.