The Main opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness in Sigapore. He was 59.

The Gampaha District parliamentarian was receiving treatment at hospital in Singapore at the time of his death.

In April 2012, Dr. Jayawardena was admitted to East Surrey Hospital after being found unconscious at the Gatwick Airport in London. Specialist doctors at East Surrey hospital have recommended heart surgery for Dr. Jayawardena.

Dr. Jayawardena, a medical doctor by profession was elected to the Parliament from the United National Party in 1994.

Dr Jayalath Jayawardana was born in 1953 and obtained his MBBS Medical Degree from the Medical Faculty of the University of Colombo.  He has also obtained several Postgraduate degrees from the USA, Russia, etc., He has been the Personal Medical Doctor to the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa and to his family.

Dr Jayalath Jayawardana had shown a keen interest in social service since his young days and has been a volunteer of the Sri Lanka Red Cross and several Non-Governmental Organizations during his University days.

He was elected to Parliament in 1994 and has been serving as a Parliamentarian for the last 15 years. He was the Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement & Refugees from 2002 to 2004. Dr Jayawardana is well known as a very enthusiastic, dynamic and active Parliamentarian.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)