Former UNP Minister Sarathchandra Rajakaruna passes away

A powerful former minister and Gampaha district parliamentarian of the opposition United National Party (UNP) Sarathchandra Rajakaruna has passed away this morning at his residence in Millate at Kirindiwela.

Rajakaruna, who was born in Millate, received his primary education at Kirindiwela and went on to Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa for his secondary education.

He entered politics from the UNP at the 1977 election contesting for the Dompe seat, a stronghold of the Sri Lanka Freedom party and defeated a SLFP stalwart Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike, the MP for Dompe for 37 years and deputy Prime Minister of Sirimavo Bandaranaike government.

Rajakaruna was appointed as the UNP Leader for the Gampaha District in 2007. He contested the April 2010 elections but failed to secure a seat. He has represented the people of Dompe, Attanagalla electorates in the Gampaha District for over three decades as a one of the most senior members of UNP.