Parliament paid their final respects to former Speaker – Joseph Michael Perera, today (30).

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker – Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Deputy Speaker – Ajith Rajapakse, Leader of the Opposition – Sajith Premadasa, Cabinet Members, MPs and former MPs Members of Parliament, former Members of Parliament were present to pay their respects.Furthermore, former Presidents – Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithreepala Sirisena as well as former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya were also present to pay final respects.

Ambassadors, the Parliament secretariat headed by Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake, Secretary-General of Parliament ,former members of staff and staff affiliated to the Parliament and relatives of the Late former Speaker were present at this occasion.

Upon the arrival of the hearse carrying the remains of Mr. Joseph Michael Perera at the main steps of the Parliament complex where the Speaker, President, Deputy Speaker, Party Leaders,  Secretary General of Parliament – Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament received the remains of the late former Speaker.

Thereafter the Serjeant-at-Arms, Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms and Assistant Sergeant-at- Arms escort the remains received, along the red carpet which was kept at the special ceremonial hall located in the front hall of the Parliament building.

The President and Speaker signed a note of condolence following paying their last respects. Thereafter, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Party Leaders, former Presidents, Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, The Secretariate and other dignitaries also joined to pay last respects.

The funeral ended with the Speaker and others leading the remains along the red carpet and placing it back in the hearse.

Students and alumni of the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya celebrated with fun and festivity yesterday (March 25) as they hit the streets of Colombo for the ‘SBV Walk 2023’.

Organised by the Old Girls’ Association of the school, it was one of the many celebratory events being held this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the school.

Retired teachers as well as the school’s previous principals including the founding principal – Ms. Wimala Liyanage, also graced the event.

The walk was followed by a mini carnival at the school grounds with rides, stalls, games and a musical show featuring several artistes and the Redeemers.

The following are few colourful moments of the event.

(Pics : Shanika Jayasekara)

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) organized a felicitation dinner at the Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo Yesterday evening (12), to honour those who have completed fifty years at the Bar.

During the Felicitation Dinner, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has also completed fifty years at the Bar, was honoured and presented with a plaque by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC.

The Felicitation Dinner was organized by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to honour 26 individuals who have served at the Bar for 50 or more years. The event coincided with the two-day National Law Conference 2023, also organized by the BASL, which is held on the 12th and 13th of March.

Juliana Margaret Coswatte, Walter Leslie de Silva, Ratnasabapathy Arumugam Jegatheson, Upali A. Gooneratne PC, Kanagaratnam Kaneshayogan, M. M Zuhair PC, Vijaya Niranjan Perera PC, Vernon Manilal Fernando, Justice J. Asoka Nihal de Silva, W. D. J. Seneviratne, Justice D. J. De S. Balapatabendi also were felicitated at the ceremony.

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC, BASL President Saliya Peiris, Chairman of the Felicitation Committee Janaprith Fernando and Convener of the Felicitation Committee Chamath Fernando addressed the Felicitation Dinner.