Lakshman Jayakody- an amiable stalwart of the SLFP

Former Minister Lakshman Jayakody passed away on Monday after a brief illness, says Director of the National Hospital in Colombo.

Born on August 24, 1930, he was serving as a Senior Presidential Advisor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was appointed Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs in 1994.

Lakshman Jayakody was born on August 24, 1930, at Dematagoda. His father was a leading landed proprietor Lionel Jayakody and mother, daughter of Charles Dias of Tower Hall fame. Her name was Vendoline Dora Dias.

The late former Minister was a stalwart of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and was the Cabinet Minister of Buddhist Affairs in the Cabinet of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga government from 1994-2000.

Educated at Trinity College in Kandy and Ananda College in Colombo, he was also a one time Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket (then BCCSL) and is the father of Western Provincial Councillor Chandana Jayakody, a former Royal College cricket captain.

He had been a contemporary of the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar at Trinity. Former Minister Kadirgamar captained Trinity cricket team and the late Jayakody was a fine off spinner and both of them served in Chandrika Kumaratunga's government. Ex-Minister Jayakody, played in the Trinity-St. Anthony's 'Big Match' in 1948. Two years later, he had the rare privilege of playing for Ananda in the Battle of the Maroons big match against Nalanda in 1950. At club cricket, he represented the popular Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).

Having joined the SLFP, founded by the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Jayakody entered Parliament in 1960, representing the Divulapitiya electorate and continued to represent the electorate for many years.

President Rajapaksa paid his last respects to the late Minister and Presidential Advisor Lakshman Jayakody at his residence in Divulapitiya, Balagalla.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne issuing a condolence message expressed his deepest sympathies on the demise of Lakshman Jayakody, a senior member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The Premier says Jayakody, a businessman and planter by profession joined the SLFP in 1954 established by late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike with the participation of the Five Fold Forces (Pancha Maha Balavegaya).

At the General Election of 1960, he was elected MP for Divulapitiya and represented Parliament for 17 years. He held the Deputy Defence Ministerial portfolios and was the Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

Though he was deprived of Parliamentary seat for few years, he was elected as the MP for Divulapitiya in 1989. In 1994, he was appointed as Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Minister. He rendered a yeoman service to Buddhism and for the protection of the Maha Sangha.

Prime Minister Jayaratne, himself a pioneer member of the SLFP, said he had the opportunity to associate with this humanist and late Jayakody never betrayed the party for money or any other privileges and served for the well-being of the party and the people of Divulpitiya till his death.

The Premier says late Jayakody's character is exemplary to the new MPs. The Prime Minister expresses his condolences on behalf of the SLFP, the Government and on his own behalf.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena in a condolence message states former Minister Lakshman Jayakody was a man with an exemplary character. His death is a great loss not only to his family members but to the SLFP as well.