Condolence Motion on Amarasiri Dodangoda:

He fired first salvo in PA victory - Chief Whip

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Chief Government Whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene described late Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda as an unassuming, honest and exemplary politician who fired the first salvo in the 1994 PA victory by winning the Southern Provincial Council election the year before.

Speaking on the condolence Motion on Minister Dodangoda, the Chief Government Whip said Amarasiri Dodangoda gave leadership to the 1993 Southern Provincial Council election that was to become the forerunner to the resounding victory of the PA in 1994 creating a significant change the Sri Lankan political sphere after 17 years.

He said the most dynamic leadership given by Minister Dodangoda to the Southern Provincial Council election created the environment conducive for the PA to achieve the landslide victory in the 1994 General election.

The Minister successfully mobilised the people under the PA banner at the Southern Provincial Council election which paved the way for the PA to make a revolutionary change within the Sri Lankan political structure, Minister Gunawardena said.

The Minister said: "We should pay our tribute to the service rendered to the Nation by Minister Dodangoda. In an era where human rights were violated with impunity, he came forward to safeguard human rights and played a leading role to make the PA victorious at the Southern Provincial Council election in 1993.

He stared his political career from a rural area in the Galle district. He contested as the Southern Province Chief Ministerial candidate and successfully motivated the people and did his utmost to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. When the Opposition was confined to eight Members, he bravely raised his voice successfully facing to the challenges.

The Minister was also committed to the cause of farmers and raised his voice in Parliament to safeguard their rights. A new political leadership similar to Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda should be produced from Galle.