Stamp to commemorate 10th death anniversary of Harold Herat

By Ruzaik Farook

The Department of Postal is to issue a special commemorative first day cover with stamp of late politician Harold Herat to mark his 10th death anniversary. The ceremony will take place on 31 August 2017 at 3. 00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Deshabandu James Edward Harold Herat was a senior politician and Cabinet Minister. Herat served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Ranasinghe Premadasa from 1991 to 1993.

Born on 10 November 1930, he was the youngest son of Dr. Albert Herat and Dagmar Herat.  Heart received his education at St. Joseph Vaz College Wennapuwa, St. Joseph’s College Colombo and Maris Stella College Negombo. He excelled in tennis and was awarded school colours.

Herat entered Parliament in 1977 representing the Nattandiya electorate in the Puttalam district and was appointed the first Minister of Coconut Industries.

He held several portfolios under successive governments of the United National Party, including Foreign Affairs, Justice as well as Finance (State Minister) to President R. Premadasa. Harold Herat passed away on in 2011.