President Mahinda Rajapaksa today paid his last respects to the mortal remains of former Minister Dharmadasa Banda at his residence in Battaramulla.
Darmadasa Banda served as Supplementary Crops Development Minister during UNP Governments. In 1989 he was Minister of Upcountry Rehabilitation and from 1990-1994, Minister of Agricultural Development and Research.
He joined the dissident UNP group led by Karu Jayasuriya to pledge support to President Rajapaksa and served as Supplementary Crops Development Minister from 2005 to 2009. His son R.M.Harindra Dharmadasa Bandara is a provincial council member of the Uva Province (UPFA). Moneragala District UNP MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara is his nephew.