Parliament condoles late Anura Bandaranaike

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka told Parliament yesterday that the late Minister Anura Bandaranaike was a good-hearted human being.

Participating in the vote of condolence on the late Minister, the Prime Minister said Anura Bandaranaike was a mature political leader who played a commendable role as Speaker of the House, and Opposition Leader.

He was not much concerned about his health and spent a very easy going life, he said.

I first came to know him after he joined the SLFP under the stewardship of his mother, the late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

However he had the highest respect and regard for parliamentary democracy.

He became popular by his historic speech on Parliamentary power. As Speaker, he had taken bold decisions in maintaining the supremacy of Parliament.

He asserted that outsiders cannot interfere with the functions of the legislature. Anura Bandaranaike always studied the subject well before making a decision on an issue.

Therefore we have lost a true Parliamentarian. He was however misled by certain political leaders during his career as a Parliamentarian.

Finally the country lost one of the greatest political leaders, good debater and a brilliant speaker the country has produced. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Leader of the House, Nimal Siripala de Silva said: Anura was a very remarkable character in Parliament. Representing both Nuwara Eliya/Maskeliya and Gampaha electorates, he rendered yeoman service to the people. As Speaker, he played a vital role in the defence of Parliamentary democracy.

Anura Bandaranaike studied at Royal College and subsequently obtained a degree from the Oxford University.

Returning to the country he joined the youth wing of the SLFP. He had tremendous experience and knowledge on international affairs and became internationally respected politician.

He was an eloquent speaker who held the audience spell-bound.

May he attain Nibbana.

Senior Presidential Advisor, MP Basil Rajapaksa said: We had a very cordial friendship between our two families since D. A. Rajapaksa and S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike worked together during the State Council days. Though Anura had lots of expectations in his political career, he could not fulfil some of his dreams when he was alive.

It is a coincident that both my father and Anura’s father crossed over to the Opposition at the same time. This step created a landmark change in the local political history. Anura was always sincere to his colleagues.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Anura had upheld the rights and sovereignty of the Parliament.

As a speaker, he made a great contribution to protect Parliamentary traditions. He had lots of ambitions. As a son of the well-known political family in Sri Lanka, he always stood to protect the rights of the people and the legislature.

May he attain Nibbana.