Mangala Samaraweera no more

• PM, CBK, Ranil among those issuing condolences

Political activist, former MP and Minister Mangala Samaraweera passed away yesterday at the age of 65 following a two-week battle with COVID-19.

Mangala was a former Matara District Parliamentarian and in previous governments served as Minister of Mass Media, Posts and Telecom, Urban Development, Port and Aviation, Foreign Affairs and Finance. His demise, which shocked the nation, drew messages of condolences from political and civil society leaders. 

Among them were Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and United People’s Freedom Alliance. 

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and the Parliament of Sri Lanka too expressed its deepest condolences on his sudden demise.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa described Mangala as a firebrand politician who left an indelible mark in the country’s political history. He said Mangala was a friend ever since he entered politics in the 1980s, despite differences of opinions and ideologies. He was a socialist democrat, and later a liberalist, who stood for justice and equality. He also espoused reconciliation.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga in her condolence message, stated: “Mangala, my dearest friend, brother, comrade-in-arms. On this dark day, you have lost your battle for life. Your family and friends fought with you, cried and prayed to keep you alive. We too lost this battle. But you have not died, Mangala. Your exceptional vision for Lanka and the world lives on. The battle we fought side by side will live forever.

“Dearest Mangala, you will live with every battle waged to build a better Sri Lanka. A country where freedom, honest governance, inclusivity and respect for diversity will reign supreme. A country with a governance system that truly cares for its people and not its politicians. You were the embodiment of this all. And you will live in the hearts and actions of everyone who will stand up against injustice and corruption.

“I shall forever remember the monumental service you rendered in diverse ministerial posts. You led the modernisation of our communications and media sectors. You hugely progressed our international relations from the dismal pit it had descended into and took Sri Lanka to the world stage, making us once again a proud and strong nation.

“Most of all, your impeccable personal ethics will be hard to match in Sri Lanka’s political arena. You shall always inspire our youth, for generations to come.

“Dearest friend, rest in power! And come back on your journey in Samsara, to join the battle for a better and decent Sri Lanka, before you attain nirvana.”

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the untimely demise of Mangala was “a great loss to the nation, the United National Party and to me, personally”.

He said Mangala was an outstanding politician who always stood firm for his convictions, which involved a Sri Lanka where all were free and equal and where human rights were upheld. “He had an innovative mind that could think out of the box. Mangala was also a great communicator who championed reconciliation amongst all our people,” added Wickremesinghe, who said he had telephoned Mangala the previous afternoon. 

“I told him that I was looking forward to meeting him on recovery. But it was not to be as the uncontrolled pandemic raging in the country had claimed his life by this morning.”

Former Minister and UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrama said Mangala was the most honest and sincere politician in Sri Lanka in recent times. “He always fought for what is right. His untimely demise is a huge loss for all right-thinking people and our country,” Samarawickrama added.

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and the staff of the Foreign Ministry too expressed their deepest condolences. “He will be remembered for his commitment and dedication to duty, for the values he stood for and for his humane qualities. Sri Lanka has lost a leader who was deeply committed to the welfare and development of his country,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Mangala entered politics as the Matara Organiser of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in 1983 and was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 1989. Thereafter he represented Sri Lanka in Parliament on several occasions.

Born in Matara on 21 April 1956, Mangala was also an alumnus of Royal College, Colombo.