PARLIAMENT

House takes up condolence motion on Ananda Dassanayake

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided when Parliament met at 1 p.m. yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the condolence motion of ex-MP Ananda Dassanayake.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister:

I present the condolence motion of ex-MP Ananda Dassanayake. Born on April 16, 1920, he represented the Kothmale electorate. He was the son of D.M. Heen Appuhami and K.K. Balamenike in Kadadora. He got married to Nanda Dassanayake. He was a father of six.

He worked for the development of his seat – Kothmale. He was a well-known person in the area who earned the love of the people. He mingled with the people and was always sporting a smiling face. He was a very humble and friendly person, who contributed much for the development of the country. Dassanayake was an SLFP stalwart for over 50 years.

Dassanayake was a former trade union leader and a senior Assistant Secretary of the SLFP. He has served the nation as a Senator, a Parliamentarian and a Governor of the Uva and Southern Provinces.

He was appointed to the Senate in 1950 and later elected to Parliament in 1970 to represent the Kothmale electorate. He remained an MP for 17 years. He was one of the eight SLFP MPs selected to Parliament in the 1977 General Election. He served as the Governor of the Uva Province from January 1995 to 1999 and from 1999 to January 31, 2002, served as the Southern Province Governor. He functioned as the President of the Sri Lanka Independent Trade Union for several years before entering Parliament. He is an alumnus of the Peradeniya University and began his career as a teacher. He was a common man’s politician and a real patriot. I am sure his fragrance would linger on. The good deeds commenced by him would be continued by his family especially his son, Central Provincial Council Member Shantha Kumara Dassanayake.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader:

Late MP Ananda Dassanayake was one of the most Senior Members of the SLFP. He did yeoman service to take SLFP forward. We had a very cordial relationship with him. He loved the people and worked for the common man’s grievances.

M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister:

Late MP Ananda Dassanayake was an SLFP Stalwart for over 50 years. He worked tirelessly for the victory of the party. He was the SLFP organiser for the Kotmale electorate.

He maintained cordial relations with politicians of all parties.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP):

He was a former trade union leader and one of the senior politicians of the country. He was a very humble and kind person. He mingled with the people and was always with a smiling face. He was a good social worker who always listened to the grievances of the people and worked for their benefit.

C.B. Ratnayake (Private Transport Services Minister):

He was a planter and teacher before entering politics. He was a well-known person who earned the love of the people. The SLFP will never forget his services for the well-being of the party.

Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa (Wildlife Conservation Minister):

Late MP Ananda Dassanayake rendered a yeoman service on behalf of the SLFP. He won the love and affection from the common man as well as members of the SLFP. He worked in harmony with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to develop the country.

Dinesh Gunawardene (Water Supply and Drainage Minister): He was a common man’s politician. He was an exemplary politician. He was a former trade union leader and a senior Assistant Secretary of the SLFP. He has served the nation irrespective of religion, caste, party and colour. He rendered a unique service to the country as a Governor of Uva and Southern Provinces.

S.B. Dissanayake (Hinger Education Minister): He was the last living Senator in Sri Lanka. He was an honest politician. He was able to win the respect of late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was behind the victories of the SLFP during the elections. UPFA MP Udith Lokubandara takes the Chair.

Piyasena Gamage (National Resources Senior Minister): He functioned as the President of the Sri Lanka Independent Trade Union for several years before entering Parliament. He was a strong stalwart of the UPFA. He was entrusted with many responsibilities when the UPFA government came to power in 2004.

Radha Krishnan (UPFA): Late MP Ananda Dassanayake was a very humble and senior politician. He rendered a great service to develop the Nuwara Eliya district including his seat Kotmale. His demise was a great loss for the people in the Kotmale area. His loss cannot be replaced.

John Amaratunga (UNP): He was a real trade union leader who pioneered in winning the rights of the upcountry estate workers. He represented all the qualities required of a politician. We can never forget his service to the country.

Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka (Good Governance and Infrastructure Senior Minister): Late MP Ananda Dassanayake was one of the senior members of the SLFP and a former Mp and Provincial Governor. His demise was a great loss to the SLFP and to the country. He was able to win the love and confidence of the people. He was recognized by the people as a one of the genuine and humble politicians of Sri Lanka.

Sumedha G. Jayasena (Parliamentary Affairs Minister): He was the only surviving member of the Senate. A graduate of Peradneiya University, he started off as a teacher, and was elected to the Senate in the 1950s. He had cordial relationship with MPs of all parties. The dimise of such a person is a great loss to the party as well as the country.

Nandimithra Ekanayake (Higher Education Deputy Minister): Late MP Ananda Dassanayake started his career as a teacher. He also functioned as the President of the Sri Lanka Independent Trade Union for several years before entering Parliament. He was a genuine politician.

Kamala Ranatunga (UPFA): Late MP Ananda Dassanayake was engaged in politics for the last 60 years. He listented to the people and provided solutions for them. He rendered great service to the country as Senator, MP and Governor. He was a very modest character.

Maithripala Sirisena (Health Minister): I first met late MP Ananda Dassanayake in 1966. He was a genuine member of the SLFP and always worked as an exemplary politician.

His life was dedicated for the SLFP and was a common man of the country. I can call him a humane politician due to his great qualities.

Prof. Tissa Vitharana (Scientific Affairs Senior Minister): We highly appreciated his service rendered on behalf of the working class. He had a special consideration and sympathy for the working class. He struggled hard to win their rights. We can all him a genuine trade union leader of Sri Lanka.

UPFA Mp Shriyani Wijewickrama takes this Chair.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA):

He was a down to earth politician of the country. He was a farther of six including the Central Provincial Councils member Shantha Kumara Dassanayake. He was a close associated of the late MP D.A. Rajapaksa. He always respect the religious sentiments of the Muslim community.

R. Yogarajan (UNP): He was a person with simple habits. He was also a person who served the people very devoted. His services were appreciated evon today and valued by the people of Nuwara Eliya. We all salute him for his great service rendered as a people’s leader.

Sarana Gunawardene (Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister): He was a very good orater. He became a Senator in 1950. He tried to develop the country irrespective of party politics. He was instrumental in creating capable young leaders to the SLFP.

D.E.W. Gunasekera (Human Resources Senior Minister) Late MP Ananda Dassanayake was a humble politician, He had a very close relationships with the Bandaranaike family. He had a great honour and respect for them. He rendered great service for the social and economic development of the country.

Shriyani Wijewickrama (UPFA): Copies of Hanzard containing the speeches made by the members of both parties of the Well during the condolence vote would be sent to the family members and relating of the late MP Ananda Dassanayake.

The Parliament was adjourned until 1.30 p.m today.