SDB still held in high esteem - President

Rasika SOMARATHNA

A felicitation ceremony in honour of former Gampaha district MP cum General Secretary of SLFP S. D. Bandaranaike who turned 96, was held at Temple Trees yesterday under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President speaking on the occasion identified S. D. Bandaranaike as a honest and hardworking politician.

"The respect with which the people hold him has not diminished over the years", he added. The President also said that SD had been a tower of strength to the party and its leaders during his long career in politics. "He was a politician who was very popular with the youth. Always he tried to lead the young generation in the correct path.

Even during the troubled times of 89-90 he tried his best to help the youth" he added.

President Rajapaksa also said that SD had built a close rapport with the Chinese political leaders during the time and added that later this factor had helped strengthen relations between the two countries.

SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister, Maithripala Siresena paying a glowing tribute to the veteran politician said, that during his entire political career SD had an innate ability to move forward along with the aspirations of the common man.

"His political career has been legendary, and his name will be remembered for his political episodes, which made him a visionary and a truly peoples politician" he said.

Minister Sirisena said that all budding politicians could take a leaf out of S. D. Bandaranaike's political life and urged them to study the veteran's career.

Dr. J. R. P. Suriyapperuma MP delivered a special lecture containing vivid and moving details of the veteran politician's career and the impact he made on local politics.

The President on the occasion presented a special memento to S. D. Bandaranaike. The veteran politician presented his autobiography to President Rajapaksa. Several other mementos too were presented to S. D. Bandaranaike.

S. D. Bandaranaike's son, Indegenous Medicine Deputy Minister, Pandu Bandaranayake and family were present on the occasion.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha, Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana, Gampaha district politicians and a large number of people from the district, religious dignitaries were present.