Managla Samaraweera: True liberal who aspired for a just nation that cherished its diversity’
COLOMBO: Former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Managla Samaraweera was on Tuesday hailed as true liberal who aspired for a just nation that cherished its diversity.
Samaraweera entered politics in 1983 from the SLFP as the party’s chief organiser in Matara and first entered pParliament in 1989.
India External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said he is “deeply grieved at the passing away of former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. A warm and generous personality and a true friend of India.”
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a condolence note in his Facebook said: “I am deeply saddened to hear the sudden demise of Mangala Samaraweera, a former Minister of the United National Party and a former Member of Parliament, an honored politician who made a significant service to the Sri Lankans by actively participating in many struggles and launching great transformations in the course of Sri Lankan politics.”
Opposition Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya Leader Sajith Premadasa in a condolence note said, “Dear Mangala Samaraweera, you were a man of the age who respected humanity and was committed to the vision you believed in according to your conscience”.
“We are profoundly saddened by the news of the passing of Mangala Samaraweera. He leaves behind a unique legacy of politics that he sincerely believed in. This is a great loss for Sri Lankan politics, and we mourn his untimely demise along with the rest of the nation,” the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna said in a Twitter message.
The United National Party (UNP) in a condolence message said:
“Mangala Samaraweera was a loyal servant of Sri Lanka, having served the public for nearly 40 years. The services rendered by Samaraweera to the people of Matara and the country have and will be enjoyed by numerous generations. He built his career on the principles of Democracy and Freedom, values that he fought to ensure all Sri Lankans enjoyed. Samaraweera’s commitment to public service extended beyond party politics. He provided the guidance and opportunity for young people to make a change in the country. Samaraweera was a proud member of the UNP, contributing immensely to the Party. He played critical roles both when in Government and Opposition. His loss will leave a void in the political and civil circles of Sri Lanka.”
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Samaraweera’s “untimely demise is a great loss to the nation, the United National Party and to me, personally.”
Wickremesinghe said: 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,” said the former prime minister.
“RIP Mangala; will cherish your sense of humour and infectious loud laugh. Both friends and foe will remember you as the true liberal who aspired for a just nation that cherished its diversity. Good bye comrade,” Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem wrote.