Tearful good-bye accorded to Bharatha

Irangika RANGE

Thousands of grief stricken mourners yesterday bid adieu to one of the country's premier trade union leaders and Presidential Director General on Trade Union Affairs Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, whose mortal remains were cremated at the Umagiliya grounds yesterday evening.

Tears welled-up in many an eye as the casket bearing the remains of Premachandra was taken out of his ancestral home at Kolonnawa.

The funeral of Presidential Director General on Trade Union Affairs Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra took place at Umagiliya grounds amidst thousands of mourners. Here Prime Minister D M Jayaratne with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa carrying the casket bearing the remains of Premachandra to the Umagiliya grounds. Picture by Chaminda Hittatiya

Crowds kept streaming into his house at Kolonnawa where the body lay since Monday to get a final glimpse of Bharatha Premachandra who was hailed as a remarkable politician and an outstanding Parliamentarian representing the cause of the working masses.

Mourners ranged from the mighty to the humblest who were nurtured and sustained by Premachandra, many of whom wept inconsolably reminiscing the past while religious leaders, leading lights of various professions and other fields, including artistes, were present in large numbers.

The casket bearing the remains of Premachandra was taken out of his residence to the Umagiliya grounds for religious rites.

Funeral proceedings started with the Panchaseelaya being administered by Kolonnawe Abeysingharamadhipathi Ven.Hakmana Vipulasara Thera. Ven.Poththewela Vineetha Thera,Kotte Nagaviharadhipathi Most.Ven Sobhitha Thera, Sri Lanka Pali and Buddhist University, Senior Lecturer, Ven. Shasthrapathi Pandith Pitigala Vijitha Thera and Maradana, Sri Lanka Vidyaladhipathi, Ven. Nagoda Amarawansha Thera conducted Anusasana. Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said that late MP Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was an exemplary leader who committed and dedicated himself to creating a society sans violence and social inequities.

"Late MP Premachandra had a very powerful ability, dedication and tolerance to solve problems connected to trade unions effectively. That is why, President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed him as Presidential Director General on Trade Union Affairs soon after he became the President of Sri Lanka.

"He was able to settle a number of cases pertaining to the working community by giving direct solutions after discussing with President Mahinda Rajapaksa," the Premier said. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said late Mr. Premachandra is a true representative of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which was built on the aspirations and hopes of the common people.

'He was a prominent social worker and brave trade union leader who tried to create a better political culture. He fulfilled his duties accurately providing effective and impartial solutions for problems of the working community.'