This morning (Feb. 17), family sources confirmed to Ada Derana the passing of former Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera at the age of 83.
Born in 1941, Perera received his education at Nalanda College in Colombo. He served as a politician and Member of Parliament representing the United National Party (UNP) from the Kurunegala electoral district, first elected to Parliament in 1994.
Throughout his political tenure, Perera held several ministerial portfolios, including those for sustainable development, wildlife, Buddha Sasana, food protection, water management, and irrigation.
In 2016, he was elected as the chairman of ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), and he also served as the chairman of the UNP until 2013.
Perera’s passing comes just seven days after a visit from President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who stopped by his home in Katugampala to check on his well-being and engage in a brief conversation.
