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Late Minister Gamini Dissanayake dedicated his life, political career for this country: MS
View(s):Late Minister Gamini Dissanayake dedicated his life and political career for the improvement and betterment of the lives of the people of this country, while showcasing immense talent to discuss and answer questions that arose in Parliament, cordial nature, intelligence and knowledge, said President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya places a floral tribute in front of the statue of late Minister Gamini Dissanayake during the commemoration of his 21st death anniversary held at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7, yesterday
He made these remarks addressing the gathering at the 21st death anniversary commemoration ceremony of late Minister Dissanayake held yesterday evening at his statue at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7.
The respected member of the Sri Lanka Parliament served as the Minister of Lands, Land Development and Mahaweli Development, Minister of Plantation Industries, and also contested as a UNP presidential candidate in 1994.
“I got to know him when I first entered the Parliament in 1989 as an Opposition member.
I can remember he showcased a behaviour that was not normally seen in ministers from the ruling party- he was cordial and sociable even with Opposition members of Parliament,” the President said.
He added that the late minister would discuss books that he read, with fellow ministers in the Parliament lobby. President Sirisena recalled that, during his last conversation with the late minister, he discussed a book by artist George Keyt.
Late Minister Dissanayake was assassinated by an LTTE terrorist while he was campaigning as a candidate for the 1994 Presidential Election.
President Sirisena said he believes that, if late Ministers Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali, who was also assassinated, lived, the recent political movement in the country would have been different.
“During his political life he worked for the development and service of the people,” he added.
One of the major projects that he undertook, the President said, was the Mahaweli Development Project that changed the lives of Sri Lankans.
He recollected that, during the last period of his life, late minister Dissanayake wanted to take up the Moragahakanda-Kaluganga project to help people in the area who were suffering without access to water, which he did not get the chance to complete.
“I like the Mahaweli Development Ministry for several reasons. On one hand, I admire the Mahaweli civilisation and culture Minister Dissanayake made, and on the other, I want to complete the Moragahakanda-Kaluganga project he hoped to do,” President Sirisena said.
He added that, during the previous government, when he was the Minister of Mahaweli Development, under the patronage of the former President, a foundation was laid for the Moragahakanda-Kaluganga project, but for five years the project was stagnant.
“That was a record in Sri Lanka, where a foundation was laid but not a cent given for this major development project. If it was developed in 2013, people in Rajarata would have water,” he said, vowing to continue and complete the vision of late minister Dissanayake during this government.
Parliament Speaker- Karu Jayasuriya, Colombo Municipal Council Mayor- A.J.M. Muzammil, Opposition Leader- V.S. Sampanthan, late Minister Dissanayake’s wife- Srima and their children including Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake and Kandy District MP Mayantha Dissanayake participated in the event, along with a number of MPs who came to pay tribute to the late minister.