Former Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, a stalwart of the United National Party (UNP) and a distinguished political figure, passed away yesterday at the age of 83 at his residence at Pannala Bopitiya Maaholowa after a brief illness.
Born on January 29, 1941, Perera began his political journey with the Sarvodaya Movement and dedicated his life to public service. A senior member of the UNP as well as a former Chairman of the UNP, he played an integral part of the party since the era of the country’s second Prime Minister, Dudley Senanayake. On February 11President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Perera’s home to inquire about his health and expressed concern for his well-being.
With a commitment to public service, Perera held various Cabinet ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Irrigation and Water Management and Minister of Food Protection.
He was sworn in as the Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, and Minister of Justice and Minister of Buddhasasana before President Maithripala Sirisena on August 25, 2017, in the presence of the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Perera entered mainstream politics in 1973 under the leadership of J.R. Jayewardene and contested the Katugampola electorate in Kurunegala, marking the beginning of a long and impactful political career. He served as a Member of Parliament in the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka, representing the Kurunegala district. In 1987, Perera made history by becoming the first Chief Minister of the North Western Province (Vayamba). He was educated at Nalanda College, Colombo 10. He was also a distinguished cricketer and captained the Nalanda College’s First Eleven team in 1960.
Perera was elected as the Chairman of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in April 2016.
The final rites of Gamini Jayawickrama Perera will take place at the Pannala grounds, Kurunegala, on Tuesday. His remains lie at his residence at Maaholowa.
