Death of Mallika De Mel

Mallika de Mel, former Member of Parliament passed away after a brief illness yesterday in a private Nursing Home in Colombo.

She was a leading Social Worker in the South and in Kalutara District, where she spent a whole life time of service to the poor and dispossessed for over 40 years.

Without utilizing any government funds, she spent from her own vast fortune to build hundreds of houses for the homeless, to give scholarships to large numbers of fatherless children at school and university level, to find employment for thousands and to do everything possible to uplift and ameliorate the conditions of living of the poorest of the poor in the South. As a reward for her long service to the people when her husband former Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel ceased to contest a seat and went on the National List to Parliament, there was a unanimous demand from the people of Matara district that she contests the seat vacated by her husband.

Very reluctantly she consented to the demand of the people and was returned as a Member of Parliament for Matara district with a handsome majority.

She however, remained in Parliament only for one term and refused nomination which was offered to her next time because of her illness.

She was the daughter of Sir Leo Fernando, M.P., one of Sri Lanka's richest men in the last century.

She used this vast wealth in the service of the poor and the destitute.

She leaves behind a lasting memory among the people of the South. She was also a religious worker, helping all temples and places of religious worship in her area.

Numerous buildings and additions to buildings in places of religious worship in Matara and Kalutara district stand as last testimony to her generosity and munificence.

The Ruhuna University Trust of which she is a principal trustee has also helped many university students to become Doctors, Engineers and Public Servants from the South by giving them scholarships.

Remains will lie at No. 5, Charles Drive, Colombo 3 on October 13 and 14 till 1.00 p.m. and will leave for Devinuwara.

The remains will lie at the Devinuwara residence from 5.00 p.m. on October 15 upto 16.10.2009. Cortege leaves residence after funeral rites at 4.00 p.m. on October 16 for cremation at the Public Playground, Devinuwara.