Jeyaraj had a political vision and mission - President

Rohan Mathes

The untimely death and the loss of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle will be profoundly felt at this time, when his terrorist assassins have been defeated in toto and his services are best required and demanded for the country, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he addressed the first year commemoration ceremony of the late Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Addressing a distinguished gathering of Ministers, Parliamentarians, religious dignitaries, close relatives of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle’s family and well wishers, President Rajapaksa noted that just after one year the late Minister Jeyaraj was assassinated, every inch of land has been captured from the terrorists now. If Jeyaraj lived today, he would have been the most happiest being.

Reminiscing his longtime comrade, from the time he was a young Parliamentarian and a law student, the President said ”Jeyaraj had a political vision and a mission to take the country forward.

He had that great ability to confront any challenge with confidence and work together with one and all. Having the ability and the proficiency to articulate in all three languages, hiis voice expressed a great personality par excellence. He was a great asset and a tower of strength to his party, his Parliamentary colleagues and the people who loved him”, he said.

President Rajapaksa asserted that when there were internal strifes conspiracies to weaken or dilute the party, Jeyaraj with his astute leadership, decision-making capability, wisdom, commitment and dedication, always stood by him and the party. He averted crises situations and kept the party together and intact.

A devout Catholic, he displayed his sensitivity and tolerance towards all religions. This was amply demonstrated by the masses and clergy of all faiths who mourned his death.

Speaker V.J.M. Lokubandara stated that the late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was undoubtedly an eloquent speaker who had the ability to present his facts clearly and logically to the admiration of all in Parliament. “He was an unwavering man who always stood for the cause of justice for all,” he added.

Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter the Most Venerable Udugama Buddharakkhitha Thera also spoke.

A book containing the speeches made by the late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle in Parliament and compiled by himself prior to his death, was presented to President Rajapaksa by Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle.

A commemorative stamp was also issued to mark the first death anniversary of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

Scholarships and compensation was granted to the kith and kin of the victims who succumbed to their injuries together with Jeyaraj Fernandopulle in the blast, by the Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Foundation.