Former Minister Kumara Welgama’s loss is felt at a time when his political experiences would have made a valuable contribution to the country,  National Peoples’ Power Executive Council member Wasantha Samarasinghe said.

Samarasinghe made these comments after paying his last respects to the late parliamentarian.

Speaking to the media after attending the funeral, Samarasinghe said that Welgama can be described as a good human being who never changed, having known late Welgama for nearly 20 years.

“Even though we represented different political parties we had the opportunity to work together. We were able to work under a common consensus during critical moments. He always tried to engage and introduce new initiatives to politics,” Samarasinghe said. 

Welgama was known to take a strong stance during crucial political moments, he added.

“He was a senior member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party when Gotabaya Rajapaksa was nominated as the Presidential candidate, and he opposed the decision. During his political career, he was an impactful and strong politician inside and outside Parliament,” Samarasinghe said.

He also pointed out that the late Welgama had also been part of the JVP-alliance government in 2004 and had since been involved in political activities with the JVP/NPP.

The NPP member added that as a great politician, his support would have been a major contribution under the current political circumstances. 

Former Minister Kumara Welgama passed away on Saturday at the age of 74, while receiving treatment at a private hospital. (Newswire)

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Two Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs have extended their support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the 2024 Presidential Election. 

SJB MPs Kumara Welgama and A.H. M. Fowzie pledged their support for the President today by attending the ‘Puluwan Sri Lanka’ event organized for parties and alliances to sign an agreement supporting the President. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest the Presidential polls as an independent candidate under the gas cylinder symbol.

He is among 39 candidates cleared to contest for the Presidential Election which will be conducted from 07.00 am to 04.00 pm on 21 September 2024. (Newswire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the head of state, cannot write off the loans of certain prominent businessmen, MP Kumara Welgama said in Parliament today.

MP Welgama stated that the President does not have the right to declare the loans of 10 businessmen as bad debts.

The MP further stated that the President’s actions pertaining to the loans of the group of businessmen was wrong.

“I was among the group of MPs who voted to elect Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President. We did not elect him as the President to write off the loans of prominent businessmen,” MP Welgama added.

MP Kumara Welgama called on the President to rectify his actions in this regard. (NewsWire)

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