President Ranil Wickremesinghe paid his last respects to Mr. Joseph Michael Perera, a philanthropist, former Speaker of the Parliament, and Cabinet Minister at the Parliament complex today (30).

The hearse carrying Mr. Joseph Michael Perera’s remains was escorted to the Parliament complex by a police car parade. The President, Speaker, and other MPs accompanied the late Speaker’s coffin on a red carpet to a special ceremony hall opposite the Parliament building.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena paid their last respects to the late Mr. Joseph Michael Perera by placing flower bouquets on the coffin. Afterwards, former Speakers, Ministers, General Secretary of Parliament, Sergeant-at-Arms, Ambassadors, and the entire staff of Parliament also paid their respects to the late Speaker.

The former speaker’s remains arrived at the Parliament complex at 9:00 am and was placed in the special ceremony hall until 10:00 am to allow parliamentarians and others to pay their last respects. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was the first to make a note in the condolence book for special guests, followed by leaders of both the ruling party and the opposition.

Mr. Joseph Michael Perera, who was bo on September 15, 1941, served as the 17th Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from December 19, 2001, to February 7, 2004.

From 1967 to 1970, Mr. Joseph Michael Perera served as the Vice Chairman of the Ja-Ela Urban Council, and from 1970 to 1971, he was appointed as the Chairman of the same Council. Between 1971 and 1976, he worked as the Chief Organizer of the Opposition, and subsequently, from 1978 to 1988, he served as a Member of Parliament. Additionally, from 1989 to 2015, he held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Labour and Minister of Fisheries