Rupa Karunathilake dies

Rupa Karunathilake

Former Galle district UNP Minister and Parliamentarian Rupa Karunathilake passed away at a private hospital yesterday morning. He was 79. Karunathilake made his debut appearance in politics by contesting the 1970 general election under the UNP ticket on an invitation by former Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake without success. He was elected to the Parliament in 1977 representing Bentara-Elpitiya electorate in Galle district contesting from the UNP and represented the Parliament for 23 years continuously.

He was the Ports and Shipping Minister and Plantation Minister during the late President R Premadasa’s government. He also held the portfolios of Minister and Deputy Minister in Provincial Council.

He was also the Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Netherlands since 2000 to 2004. He was the youngest son of late Muhandiram in Thalgaswala, L G A Karunathilake. He was married to Kethumathie Karunathilake. He studied at Nalanda College, Colombo. Karunathilake was the father of two sons and a daughter. He is also the uncle of Parliamentarian and UNP Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake.

His remains are lying at his residence at Elpitiya and the funeral will be held at the family cemetery at Niyagama at 3 pm on Thursday.