Former UNP MP & Sri Lanka’s first Ambassador to Poland, Tudor Gunasekara succumbs to Covid

Former UNP MP & Sri Lanka’s first Ambassador to Poland, Tudor Gunasekara succumbs to Covid

Former United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian and Sri Lanka’s first Ambassador to Poland, Tudor Gunasekara passed away on Sunday (29 Aug) from Covid-19.

Ranasinghe Hettiarachchige Tudor Edward Ranasinghe Gunasekara was former politician and diplomat. He was former Member of Parliament, District Minister for Gampaha in President JR Jayawardene’s government. Later, he served as the first Sri Lanka ambassador to Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.

He entered his political career in Sri Lanka during the 1960s as the United National PartyChief Organiser for the Mahara electorate. In the 1970 General Elections, he contested from the United National Party but was defeated. Gunasekara once again contested in the 1977 General Elections and was elected as Member of Parliament for Mahara. In 1978, he was appointed as District Minister for Gampaha in President JR Jayawardene’s government. He was subsequently appointed as United National Party Chief Organiser for the Gampaha and Attanagalla Electorates. Consequently, Gunasekara is known to have held the position of chief organiser for the United National Party in three electorates at the same time. In early 1983 Gunasekara resigned as District Minister for Gampaha and as the member for Mahara.

In President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government, Gunasekara was appointed as the first Sri Lankan Ambassador to Poland. Consequently, he also served as the Head of the Sri Lankan Mission to Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. During this time, Gunasekara played an important role in promoting Ceylon tea, tourism and strengthening Sri Lanka’s diplomatic relations with Eastern European countries. Gunasekara has been a member of several Sri Lanka Parliamentary Delegations to India, Indonesia, Japan and UK to strengthen and promote the country’s regional and international relations.