Parliament

House moves condolence motion on Jayalath Jayawardena

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1.30 p.m. yesterday. After presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the vote of condolence on the late MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva:

I present the condolence motion on the late MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, who represented the House from the Gampaha District. He was born on August 16, 1953 in Negombo. He had one brother and five sisters. He obtained the MBBS Degree from the Medical Faculty of Colombo. He was a volunteer in the Red Cross Society and in many other NGOs. He held post graduation qualifications from the US and Russia. He was a father of two children.

Jayalath Jayawardena worked closely with the UNP at it Headquarters at ‘Sirikotha’ and entered into active politics during the period of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He was a renowned Western Doctor. He entered Parliament for the first time in 1994 as a National List MP. In the UNP regime of 2001 he was appointed as the Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees. He was much concerned of LTTE victims.

He always worked for the well-being of the people without any consideration of their political alignments whatsoever. Even though he was born a Catholic, he treated all other religions equally. He was also dedicated to the well-being of his Party as well as the working community. He held the position of Deputy Secretary General of the UNP. His name was entered into the Guinness Record book for presentation of his medical programme on the Television which continued for a long period.

He was awarded the title Sama Dutha Lanka Puthra in appreciation of his service to peace in Sri Lanka by the Ramagna Nikaya, and the Deshabimani title by the Sri Lanka Maha Sanga Sammelanaya for his services to the human race.

He was a life member of the Red Cross Society, the Sri Lanka Health Association and Organization of Professionals Association and an intimate friend of journalists. He passed away at the age of 59 at a hospital in Singapore.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe:

All MPs in Parliament knew Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena very well. Some appreciated his activities while some levelled criticisms against him. He was a dedicated politician. He used the media in political campaigns and his dealings with the media was a good example to other politicians.

He did not limit his affiliations to the media. He conducted medical programmes on the TNL channel and had a very good media network Dr. Jayawardena was a strong member of the UNP. He gave his full support to the party leadership. I have many shared-experiences with him. We could trust him always and also entrust any responsibility on him. Even personally, we maintained intimate relations. The best tribute we can offer him is to provide a long-lasting solution to the national crisis. Today the PSC was appointed.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena. We have given certain promises to the international community and we are committed to them. If we attempt to do less than what we promised we will again have to go before the international community to explain our position.

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena:

We respect Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena who was well aware of contemporary Parliamentary politics. He always upheld the views of the Party. He also supported the Trade Union movement of the UNP. He was a professional doctor who attempted to equip people with medical and health knowledge in a simple manner. He was able to raise a sharp voice in this House. We express our deepest sympathies to his family members over his demise.

Joseph Michael Perera (UNP) :

Dr. Jayawardena’s father passed away when he was 19 years old. Since then, while continuing his education, he also become a second-father to the family. Today, all the members of this family hold respectable positions in the country.

He is also a great father to a daughter and a son who lead successful lives. He came under heavy criticism at many times. However, he worked tirelessly for national harmony and unity of the country.

He made special efforts to enrich the lives of the under-privileged people. His demise was unexpected as he thought less seriously about his personal health.

Chandrakumar Murugesu (UPFA):

I knew Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena since the 1990s. He loved the Tamil people and won the hearts of the Tamil communiity. He raised his voice against misdeeds which happened against the Tamils. He was committed to finding a political solution to the ethnic problem. He worked to promote brotherhood among people. He was concerned about the people who were down-trodden and sidelined. He was of the policy that the rights of the marginalized should be respected.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne:

I first got to know Jayalath Jayawardena when he was at the Medical Faculty. Later on, he became an intimate friend of mine. He was a friendly and amiable person. He had to face many difficulties in life after the demise of his father. He loved his mother a lot and took great pain in caring for her.

He was also the personal doctor of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He had learnt to work closely with every religion. Even though he was born a Catholic, he was involved in activities of other religions as well. He was against racism which was a noble quality in him.

S. Sridharan (TNA):

Dr. Jayawardena was an honorable person who spoke for the deprived people in the country. He worked for the betterment of the human race, being a Sinhalese.

He worked for the betterment of the Tamils. He also had a sound rapport with the LTTE. Time and again he attempted to free political prisoners who were languishing in prison. He raised his voice for the well-being of the people.

Social Welfare Senior Minister Milroy Fernando:

Jayalath Jayawardena worked tirelessly to regain peace and to develop unity and harmony among all communities of the people. He was a great politician in those terms.

He had much faith in the Madhu Church and attempted to facilitate a special Madhu feast for the devotees in Negombo. His demise was unexpected and it is a huge loss to our country. We lost him at a time when the country mostly needed him.

Tissa Attanayake (UNP) :

Both Dr. Jayawardena and I worked together for about 35 years. He did not hesitate to shoulder responsibilities and fulfilled all responsibilities and duties to the best of his capabilities.

He had built-up an international network. Nobody can fill the gap created by his demise. He was active in the human-rights sphere and worked to safeguard the human rights of the people with the support of the international community.

Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva:

Jayalath Jayawardena was a member who spoke of human rights in Sri Lanka as well as overseas. It was he who helped me to come to my present position. He took me to the then President D.B. Wijetunga and introduced me to him. I contested on the UNP ticket though I came from a SLFP family and I won. I have to pay my gratitude to him. As a doctor he took pains to care and cure his patients. He is one of the rare doctors in Sri Lanka who did not earn money through his profession.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP):

Jayalath Jayawardena was a devoted Catholic but never used it as a weapon. He at times was questioned for what he was doing, but could always prove his innocence.

He died at the young age of 59 years. He expressed his views direct and was committed to his duty as the UNP organizer in the Avissawella and Kaduwela electorates. He always maintained that all communities have the right to live in this land, equally.

Sudarshanee Fernandopulle (UPFA):

I came to know Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena when I was at the hospital as a medical student in the 1980s. He was a Doctor then at the Colombo General Hospital. I knew him as the family doctor of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa.

He was a gentleman who always came forward to support us when my husband was in a critical situation. He was bold enough to openly speak of his visions. He also was committed to develop the UNP despite his failing health conditions.

John Amaratunga (UNP):

I knew Jayalath Jayawardena’s parents before I came to know him. He did much service to the party as well as to the entire nation. He was a popular politician in the Gampaha District. As a doctor, he treated anybody who came to him.

He become more famous as he spoke much on human rights. He even took the issues of human rights to the international sphere. He never thought of his personal health but always of service to the people. Both of his children too were able to become doctors. He was a famous politician.

P. Harison (UNP):

I first met Jayalath Jayawardena at the UNP Youth Front. Since then he always was a sincere friend of mine. If we were in requirement of any medical assistance, he was always there to direct us to his close friends in the medical field. He never thought of himself but attempted to save the people from ill health. Though he was a Catholic, he was committed to Buddhist matters as well.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA):

I have argued with Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena intensely in this House but we did at hold any grudges outside Parliament.

I met him first at the ‘Sucharitha’. I was with him when D.B. Wijetunge was elected as the President of Sri Lanka. I went around the country with Jayalath Jayawardena and engaged in political activities. He first came to Parliament from the national list.

Sudarshani Fernandopulle takes the Chair

Gayantha Karunathilake (UNP):

We can class Dr. Jayalath Jayaardena as a doctor who had a great curative power. His demise is a great loss to the Gampaha District as well as to the UNP. He maintained close relationship with the media.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sumeda G. Jayasena:

Jayalath Jayawardena was a leader who always strove to serve the country. He was a good physician as well. He was also a good orator. His demise is a great loss to the country.

Karu Jayasuriya (UNP):

We saw rare qualities of humanity in the late Dr. Jayawardena. He worked closely with the UNP. He loved the country and had no ethnic or political divisions. He was active in the human rights sphere. He appeared for the rights of all ethnic groups and religious groups. As a result he earned appreciations from all ethnic and religious groups. He thought less about his personal health and considered serving people his first priority.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP):

I would like to join myself with the sentiments expressed by other speakers in this vote of condolence of our friend the late Dr. Jayawardena.

He wanted to see one Sri Lankan identity in our country. In India, the idea of oneness is strongly rooted, despite a large number of languages and religions but even though there is only a small population in Sri Lanka, we still have been unable to cultivate this practice.

Hunais Farook (UNFA): The late Dr. Jayawardena was very interested in providing better lines for the people. He worked tirelessly towards this end, He was presented with many international and local awards for his yeoman service to the country. He raised voice for all Sri Lankans. He even guided me on certain occasions. He participated in debates in Parliament with substantial proof. He had facts and figures to prove his claims.

Ajith Mannapperuma (UNP): I was appointed to the seat vacated by Dr. Jayawardena. He spent his personal wealth to serve people. People were well familiar with his social service. He did not limit his service to the Gampaha District, but served all.

He provided free spectacles for the needy under the ‘Neth Pahana’ programme, he fought for the human rights of people and when he could not achieve justice for them he even went before the international community.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP):

Dr. Jayawardena was a close associate of the Ranasinghe Premadasa family. He had many talents and used all of them to heal people and provide their well being. Many had faith in his medical knowledge and sought his treatment. He looked after every patient with equal care. He treated almost all of our family members on needy occasions, but was careless about his own health.

He initiated many ‘Suwa Sevana’ programmes for the common people. Once I received 100 eye lenses from him as a birthday gift.

His message was clear. He encouraged me in social service work.
Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair
Rehabilitations and Prison Reforms Minister Chandraisri Gajadeera:

I knew Dr. Jayawardena from the 1970s. In certain aspects, we shared similar views and therefore I had pleasant impressions of him. I had met him at many local and international events.

He had leadership qualities. At times we also had different news. I let Dr. Jayawardena meet LTTE prisoners at his request. But when he wanted outside persons to meet them, we had to decline it.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP):

There had been no condolence vote in the recent time that extended for this long and in which so many sentiments were expressed. This shows how Jayalath Jayawardena was loved by members of both sides.

He had a unique professional image in society. I also learnt lessons from his life and he was my teacher in building up my political image by participating in television programmes.

R. Yogarajan (UNP):

He was a person who was accepted and appreciated by all persons in this country and a person who never considered anybody as a Sinhalese, or a Catholic but only as a Sri Lankan. That was a unique feature in him. He was accepted as a leader and loved by the minority groups in the country.

During the ceasefire as well as in the reconciliation process he did a great job to develop the North. He was always committed to the policies of the UNP.

The last occasion I saw him was in Negombo. He was conducting a membership drive there. He died at 59 which is a young age for a politician. I convey my condolence to the family members of Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena on behalf of the UNP.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Murugesu Chandrakumar:

I join the sentiments and also order the Secretary General of Parliament to send copies of the condolence motion to the family members of Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena.

The House was adjourned until 1 pm on July 9.

Committee to study constitutional facts

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday appointed a special committee to study political and constitutional facts needed to unite all Sri Lankans as one nation, in Parliament.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resource Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was appointed as the Chairman of the committee which comprises 19 Parliamentarians.

The UNP has not nominated members to the Special Committee. Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga stated that the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had sent a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in this connection, including several conditions.

He added that as soon as response is received to that letter, the UNP will take a decision related to nominating UNP members to this special committee.

Overall no shortage of drugs

Overall, there is no shortage of drugs in national hospitals, Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake said in Parliament yesterday.

He said that the government has taken measures to provide a quality health service to the people in the country. He noted that even though a shortage of certain drugs was experienced from time to time, the government has taken adequate measures to meet the shortage as soon as possible.

He made these comments in response to a question by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. He said that the government had spent Rs. 53 billion in 2011 and Rs. 59 billion in 2012 to provide drugs free of charge to patients.

Govt provided compensation to fisher families

It was for the first time in the history that the government paid compensation of Rs. 100,000 to the next of kin of deceased fishermen who lost their lives due to the inclement weather which prevailed early this month, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said in Parliament yesterday. The minister said that the fishing community highly appreciated this act which they expressed, during the National Fisheries Conference held recently.

He also said that the government will also compensate owners of the missing fishing boats while providing Rs. 50,000 for each partially damaged boat. The Minister was responding to a question by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

He also said that the target of annual production in the canned-fish factory in Galle, is 2.4 million tins and that 6,250 kgs of fish is necessary for canned fish production daily.