A felicitation ceremony to mark the 40 years of political life of John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Affairs, was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall yesterday (27) under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, ministers and parliamentarians and relatives of Minister Amaratunga were among the large gathering present at the occasion.
Speaking at the event, President Sirisena said a politician can remain in politics for a long time when he is accepted by the public as a person committed to public service.
The President said that Minister John Amaratunga, who fulfilled his duties well as a politician engaging in a people friendly service, is a complete politician with longstanding experiences.
The President also expressed his appreciation to Minister Amaratunga for the support given to him at the 2015 presidential election.
The President also presented a memento to Minister Amaratunga appreciating his service to the country.
John Amaratunga, a lawyer by profession, commenced his political career as the Chief Organizer of the United National Party in Wattala in 1978. He completed 40 years of service as a Member of Parliament on 19 October 2018. During his political career, Amaratunga served as a state minister and a cabinet minister holding several responsible portfolios.
