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Floral tributes to Gamini D.
Family members, friends and UNP leaders were among those who participated at a floral tribute to former minister and the UNP’s 1994 presidential candidate, Gamini Dissanayake, to mark the 11th anniversary of his death.

Mr. Dissanayake’s widow, Srima, son Naveen Dissanayake and Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena placed flowers at the statue of Mr. Dissanayake.
School bags containing exercise books and school equipment were handed over to 100 children selected from low income families from the Nuwara Eliya District.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was the chief guest, had to leave early as he had to attend a campaign meeting. Mr. Dissanayake was killed in a bomb blast while he was attending a Grandpass campaign meeting in October 1994.

Addressing the ceremony, which was also attended by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara, Mayor Gunawardena recalled the services the late Mr. Dissanayake had done to the country.

Among Mr. Dissanayake’s highly acclaimed programmes was the accelerated Mahaweli project that generated hydro electricity and irrigated tens of thousands of acres of arid land.

Mr. Gunewardena said it was Mr. Dissanayake’s efforts as head of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board that helped the country gain Test status. Religious ceremonies will be held in Borella, Panadura, Maharagama, Wennappuwa, Kandy, Ratnapura, Galkeriyagama and Polonnaruwa in memory of the late Mr. Dissanayake.

Malli remembered
The eleventh death anniversary of former UNP Minister Weerasinghe Mallimaratchi will be held today. A Buddhsit sermon at the Kotte Panchandraya in Kolonnawa and a ceremony at the Borella Kanatta will be held this morning in his memory, family members said.

Mr. Mallimarachchi was killed along with UNP stalwarts Gamini Dissanayake and others in a bomb blast at a presidential election rally in 1994.

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