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Kumara Welgama funeral on Monday at Matugama
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Kumara Welgama
Senior parliamentarian and former minister Kumara Welgama passed away yesterday at the age of 74.
Hailing from a well-known family in Matugama, Mr Welgama was the son of transport sector businessman S A Welgama and Beatrice Welgama. He was born on April 5, 1950 and schooled at St Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.
He started out as a planter and later became a businessman.
He began his political career as the organiser of the Agalawatta constituency in 1982 following his appointment to the post by leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Mr Welgama, who became a Member of Parliament in 1994, represented the Kalutara District undefeated for 30 consecutive years until the time of his demise.
He also held several ministerial positions including Deputy Minister of Transport, Deputy Minister of Power and Energy, Minister of Industries and Minister of Transport.
He remained staunchly loyal to the SLFP throughout his political career, but differences within the party led him to join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya briefly.
In 2021, he launched the New Lanka Freedom Party as the divisions within the SLFP aggravated.
Mr Welgama was married to Mrs Theja Welgama and had four children. They are Yuwani, Senal, Tarini and Sujan Welgama.
He was also the father-in-law of Hamish de Jong, Radika Abeydeera and Dasni Welgama and grandfather to Tyasha and Aidan de Jong.
His siblings are the late Melvin Welgama, Mahinda Welgama, Nimal Welgama, Sriyani Samarasinghe, Kanthi Gunewardena, Ramani Pelpola, Himali Nanayakkara, Nalin Welgama and Pradeepika Welgama.
The remains will be taken to his residence at Deniston Estate, Horawala, Matugama today (Sep 29) from 8 am and the funeral will be held tomorrow (Sep 30) at the Matugama Cemetery Crematorium at 4 pm.
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