Below is a statement from Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe on the passing of Mangala Samaraweera.
Mangala Samaraweera’s untimely demise is a great loss to the nation, the United National Party and to me, personally.
When I telephoned him yesterday 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.
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 peoples. In the Cabinet of 2015 to 2019, he was a key figure who handled the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Finance with immense dexterity.
Fear no more the frown o’ the great;
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak;
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.
Shakespeare (Cymbeline)
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Leader United National Party
24 th August 2021