Occasion of completing 30 years in politics Starting political life in opposition benefited Mangala:

Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera discusses a point with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa while President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and US Human rights advocate Samantha Power look on. 
PiC Damith Wickramasinghe     

By Sandun A Jayasekera   

The occasion of the completion of 30 years in politics by Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera was celebrated last afternoon at the BMICH. The event titled ’30 years of daring to dream’ was attended by a large number of well-wishers, among them President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, foreign diplomats and a host of other invitees.

   The keynote address titled ‘Khema’s Boy’ was delivered by former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, a personal friend of Minister Samaraweera. 

 
While offering his blessings and congratulations to Minister Samaraweera, President Sirisena, in his address, recalled that he had met Mr. Samaraweera for the first time in 1988 and at that time both of them were in the opposition. “I believe that if a politician expects to go the full length in politics he or she must start political life in the opposition. Only then does he or she become a seasoned politician,” President Sirisena stressed.   

Reminiscing about the days when they were all young and eager parliamentarians, the President said that Mangala had a habit of carrying a bag tucked under his armpit. “Sometimes he would leave it unattended in the waiting room in Parliament. We used to stuff the bag with rubbish. The following day we used to get a good verbal bashing from Mangala as we expected, however some of the words he used cannot be repeated here. Having said that he is a man with a good heart,” he said.   

  Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said it was no coincidence that all the politicians who entered Parliament with Mangala such as President Sirisena, former Presidents Chandrika and Mahinda were present to celebrate the occasion of him completing 30 years in politics.   

“When Mangala entered Parliament for the first time in 1989, I was in the other side. He came with his mother and I spoke with Mrs. Khema more than Mangala. I believe he is a product of the bloodless revolution of former President JR because he upheld, promoted and spoke for a market economy, free trade, human freedom and democracy. “Though he has achieved much already and is held in high esteem by the people as a result, I don’t know whether the status quo will remain after he presents the budget on March 5 as the Finance Minister,” he said in a lighter vain.