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Message issued on the sudden demise of Hon. Anura Bandaranaike, MP
by the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna

It is with deep sorrow and sadness that we bid Goodbye on the sudden demise of one of the illustrious Sons of Sri Lanka.
Hon. Anura Bandaranaike was a most colorful an controversial politician of utmost integrity who had inherited a rich and famous political legacy which can be traced to the dawn of the Era of the Common Man – the Political Revolution in 1956 initiated by his father the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in collaboration with my father the late Philip Gunawardena and other National Progressives of the which was carried forward by his mother late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Hon. Anura Bandaranaike devoted 31 years of his life of 59 years as a Distinguished and Senior Parliamentarian During the Period when democracy was threatened under the Government of United National Party who had a 5/6 majority in Parliament, Anura Bandaranaike stood like a rock with his brilliant oratory during his tenor as Leader of the Opposition. He paved the way for young political leaders to emerge in Parliament and in Sri Lanka.
He was also instrumental in paving the way for preliminary dialogue with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to workout a close political collaboration. In this regard I wish to recall, the day on which Mr. Anura Bandaranaike dropped in, at my residence and accompanied me to receive the Long March from the South organized by the Deshahitheisi Organization. As a gesture of solidarity Mr. Anura Bandaranaike joined me in handing over a National Flag to Mr. Wimal Weerawansa to broad base the March to a National Footing.
In some instances the political vision of Mr. Anura Bandaranaike differed from the path of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna without any animosity or revenge. We always discussed not only to agree but also to disagree.
Mr. Anura Bandaranaike served Mother Lanka in many capacities, as a Member of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, Minister of Investment Promotion, Enterprise Development, Industries, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Speaker of the House and Minister of National Heritage. He was both a personal friend and a friend of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna.
We extent our Deepest Sympathies to Ms. Sunethra Bandaranaike and the former President Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge and to all the Members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party on the demise of a illustrious Son of Sri Lanka – Anura Bandaranaike.
Dinesh Gunawardena, MP
Leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna,
Minister of Urban Development & Sacred Area Development