PM leads Parliament in paying tribute to late Mangala Samaraweera 

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa led tributes to late MP Mangala Samaraweera in Parliament yesterday saying he was a politician who stood by his principles despite many adversities and the two remained friends despite political differences. 

The Prime Minister said that Samaraweera had played an important role in his election victory in 2005 and helped him overcome many challenges at the time. “He did not mix his personal life with his political work. He did not let the political differences come between personal relationships,” Rajapaksa said speaking during the vote of condolence on the late MP. 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said he and the late MP did not always see eye to eye on policy matters and had argued over issues many times, but they remained friends. “I did not agree with Samaraweera’s foreign policy, but I appreciate his diplomatic skills. He had his ways of winning over the international community and making friends,” he added. He also thanked Samaraweera for assisting him in his 2019 Presidential Election campaign. 

SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana said that Samaraweera was unafraid to take on issues that other politicians usually shied away from and called the late MP the first and only Sri Lankan MP who spoke on LGBTQ rights. “Mr. Samaraweera fearlessly fought for LGBTQ rights during the time members of this community were harassed and ridiculed,” he said. 

A large number of MPs from both the Government and Opposition spoke during the debate paying tribute to the MP who passed away in August last year at the age of 65.