Parliament

House takes up condolence vote on Wijayapala Mendis

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided when Parliament met at 1 p.m. Yesterday.

After presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the condolence motion of late Minister Wijayapala Mendis.

Nimal Siripala De Silva (Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister): I move the condolence motions of Minister Wijayapala Mendis to this House.

He was born on December 16,1928. He was married to Nanda de Silva and were parents of four children, Manon, Dilupa, Nadeeka and Davindra. His Son Davindra Mendis who was following his father's footsteps died in a tragic incident during an election period.

He initiated his education at Thimbirigaskatuwa College and continued at Maristella and Harischandra Maha Vidyalya in Negombo. He joined the UNP in 1946 and was elected Parliament from Katana electorate in March 1960 in 1965. He was appointed as posts and Telecommunication Deputy Minister. He was elected to Parliament in 1970, 1975, 1977 and in 1989 as well.

He was appointed as Transport and Highways Minister. He was elected to Parliament in 1994 and was appointed Chief Opposition Whip. He joined the government of the then President Chandrika Bandaranike Kumaratunga and elected to Parliament in 2000 again. He appreciated President Mahinda Rajapaksa's vision. He died on September 01,2012 at the age of 84.

Ranil Wickremesinghe (Opposition Leader):

Late MP Wijayapala Mendis entered Parliament representing the Katana electorate from the UNP in 1960. He was the youngest Mayor of Sri Lanka. In 1977, he was appointed as Textile Minister. The textile industry specially the handloom industry began to flourish during his tenure. During the previous regimes of late President J.R. Jayewardene and late President R. Premadasa, he did a great service to the country.

He generously donated his wealth to renovate and construct Buddhist temple in the area. As a former Highways Minister, he took measures to initiate the Colombo-Katunayake highway project.

John Amaratunga (UNP):

He was recognised by the people in Katana as a one of the genuine and humble politicians of Sri Lanka. He donated his personal wealth for the uplift of the UNP. He did unique service for the benefit of the Katana people.

He was instrumental and commencing many drinking water projects to provide water for the people of Negombo. He was an honest politician. He proved himself as a people's leader. He was very prudent and a good listener.

Rauff Hakeem (Justice Minister):

Late MP Wijayapala Mendis held several important ministerial portfolios during the previous UNP government. He contributed for the development of the country through politics. He rendered a yeoman service as a former Textile and Transport Minister.

Joseph Micheal Perera (UNP):

He was an exemplary politician. He was a devoted Buddhist. But he served the people irrespective of race, religion, party and colour. He loved the people in his electorate more than his family. He did both politics and social works together successfully.

Lasantha Alagiyawanna (Housing, Construction, Engineering Service and Common Amenities Minister):

Late MP Wijayapala Mendis did a great service to strengthen the UNP. He worked tirelessly to solve, people's problems in his electorate. As a former Transport Minister, he contributed much for the development of the country's transport sector.

Gayantha Karunathilake (UNP):

He was a humble and friendly person who illuminated this House for a long period. He served and loved the people equally. The people in Balapitiya area are still remember the service rendered by him in his capacity as Transport Minister.

UNP MP Gayantha Karunathilake takes the Chair.

Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa (Wildlife Conservation Minister):

Late MP Wijayapala Mendis was a well-known person in Negombo area who earned the love of the people. My family had a very cordial relationship with his family. He rendered a great service to the Balapitiya area. He was an honest and brave person. As a former Leader of the House, he rendered a yeoman service in Parliament.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP): If there was a programme that was for the people, Wijayapala Mendis played a leading role in each of them. He was a leader who took strict and honest decisions for the people in the country. He never hesitated to point out the flows in his own party. He was an exemplary politician.

Felix Perera (Social Services Minister): Late Wijayapala Mendis he pointed out very suttle changes to be made to earn profits by the government. He rendered a great service to develop the handloom industry. He was a devout Buddhist and later joined the Chandrika Bandaranaike government. He offered money and assets to the Buddha Sasana.

Naveen Dissanayake (Public Management Reforms Minister): My father and Wijayapala Mendis were very close friends. He was a mature politician. He rendered a great service to the country. He supported in peoplizing the transport service and setup CTB.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): His leadership and personality were supportive in the handloom industry to attract the international attention. I think we were very unfortunate that such a leading politician like Wijayapala Mendis leaving the UNP.

Jayalath Jayawardena (UNP): Wijayapala Mendis was the Chief Dayaka in two temples in Negombo. He was never an extremist. It is because that he might have studied Buddhism in depth. He always appreciated the harmony among the different communities.

Wijayapala Mendis was a fame for his family and the relatives. His son followed his footsteps and joined politics. But he died tragically.

The massive house he lived in was offered to Buddhasasana. Now it has been converted into an International Buddhist Education Centre.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA): I had a very cordial relationships with late Wijayapala Mendis. He loved the people and worked for the common man's grievances.

According to the Buddhist philosophy which he followed, he had strength to stand against all allegations and obstacles levelled against him. He always respected the religious sentiments of the Muslim community.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP): 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 has served the nation as a former Textile, Transport and Highways Minister. He was a common man's politician and a real patriot.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP): He did a yeoman service to take UNP forward. He worked tirelessly for the victory of the party. He won the love and affection from the common man as well. He worked in harmony with all political parties to develop the country.

Thalatha Athukorala (UNP): Late MP Wijayapala Mendis was a down to earth politician of the country.

He toiled hard to safeguard and strengthen the UNP.

He was a great personality in our era. He used his own wealth to help the people in his electorate and upgrade the services in the area.

Gayntha Karunathileke (UNP): 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 relations of the late MP Wijayapala Mendis. The House was adjourned until 1.30 p.m today.