Condolence message on the passing away of former Prime Minister Hon. D.M.Jayaratne
Posted on November 20th, 2019

Mahinda Rajapaksa Leader of the Opposition

20 November 2019

I was saddened to hear of the passing away of former Prime Minister Hon. D.M.Jayaratne. He was one of my oldest political friends and a comrade in the progressive politics of this country. When I was first elected to Parliament in 1970, Hon. D.M.Jayaratne also entered Parliament as the MP for Gampola. He was a powerful platform orator and a formidable debater in our party.

In 1977 when the Sri Lanka Freedom Party went into the opposition, and our party experienced difficult times, he was a leader who played an important role in safeguarding the party. In 1989 he and I once again entered Parliament as opposition MPs. During that era, the anti-democratic and anti-people activities of the UNP government reached its peak. During those dark days, Hon. D.M.Jayaratne was a pillar of strength to his political party and the opposition in general.

In 1994, Hon.D.M.Jayaratne and I became Ministers for the first time in the SLFP led government formed that year. In 2010 when I was elected President for the second time, Hon. D.M.Jayaratne was appointed as the Prime Minister.  During his long career as a Parliamentarian, he earned the respect and affection of people of the country in general and especially the people of the Kandyan provinces whom he represented in Parliament. He also had the good fortune to receive the blessings of the Venerable Mahanayake Theras and the Maha Sangha.

As a Minister, Hon.D.M.Jayaratne showed a special interest in agriculture and environmental protection. His name will always be associated with the Ambuluwawa environmental project which was his brainchild. It is now a major tourist attraction in the country. I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to his wife Mrs Anula Yapa and his son Parliamentarian Anuradha Jayaratne and other members of his family and the people of the Kandyan provinces and the country in general, who looked up to him as a leader.

Mahinda Rajapaksa

Leader of the Opposition

2 Responses to “Condolence message on the passing away of former Prime Minister Hon. D.M.Jayaratne”

  1. Nimal Says:

    RIP.He knew our family well in Kandy.Sad news.

  2. Susantha Wijesinghe Says:

    NIMAL ! I was in Kandy for about 20 years. I was last, Manager of Walker & Greig Ltd, Kandy.

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