President pays last respects to former Minister

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today paid his last respect to former Supplementary Plantation Crops Development Minister Late Dharmadasa Banda at his Rajagiriya residence.


The 72-year-old senior politician who had been active in politics for 45 years passed away Saturday at a private hospital after a lengthy illness.


Banda served as a Minister during opposition UNP governments. He joined the dissident UNP group led by Karu Jayasuriya and crossed over to the government supporting the President. He served as Supplementary Crops Development Minister from 2005 to 2009.