Palitha Thewarapperuma

{{Infobox MP

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Palitha Thewarapperuma

| honorific-suffix =

| native_name = {{nobold|පාලිත තෙවරප්පෙරුම}}

| image = Palitha Thewarapperuma.jpg

| imagesize =

| office1 = Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment

| term_start1 = 21 December 2018

| term_end1 = 21 November 2019

| president1 = Maithripala Sirisena

| primeminister1 = Ranil Wickremesinghe

| minister1 = Daya Gamage

| predecessor1 = Ranjan Ramanayake

| successor1 = Vacant

| office2 = Deputy Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development

| term_start2 = 2 May 2018

| term_end2 = 26 October 2018

| president2 = Maithripala Sirisena

| primeminister2 = Ranil Wickremesinghe

| minister2 = Sarath Fonseka

| predecessor2 = Sumedha G. Jayasena

| successor2 = Ananda Aluthgamage

| office3 = Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs

| term_start3 = 6 April 2016

| term_end3 = 2 May 2018

| president3 = Maithripala Sirisena

| primeminister3 = Ranil Wickremesinghe

| minister3 = S. B. Nawinne

| predecessor3 = Harsha de Silva

| successor3 = Edward Gunasekara

| constituency_MP4 = Kalutara District

| parliament4 = Sri Lanka

| term_start4 = 22 April 2010

| term_end4 = 3 March 2020

| predecessor4 =

| successor4 =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|5|3|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ceylon

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|04|16|1960|05|03|df=y}}

| death_place = Kalutara, Sri Lanka

| nationality = Sri Lankan

| party = United National Party

| occupation = Politician

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| residence = Mathugama

| alma_mater = Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama

| profession =

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| native_name_lang = si

| nickname =

| caption = Thewarapperuma in 2020

}}

Palitha Kumara Thewarapperuma ({{langx|si|පාලිත තෙවරප්පෙරුම}}, {{langx|ta|பாலித்த தெவரப்பெரும}}; 3 May 1960 – 16 April 2024) was a Sri Lankan politician who served as a United National Party member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka for the Kalutara District between 2010 and 2020.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.lk/directory_of_members/ViewMember.do?memID=3142|title=PALITHA THEWARAPPERUMA|work=Directory of Members|publisher=Parliament of Sri Lanka|access-date=12 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020095232/http://www.parliament.lk/directory_of_members/ViewMember.do?memID=3142|archive-date=20 October 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/GE2010_preferences/Kalutara_pref_GE2010.pdf|title=Parliamentary Elections −2010|publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka|access-date=12 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513041219/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/GE2010_preferences/Kalutara_pref_GE2010.pdf|archive-date=13 May 2010|url-status=dead}} He served as the Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment, Deputy Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs during the Presidency of Maithripala Sirisena.

Early life and education

Thewarapperuma was born on 3 May 1960 in Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon). He received his primary education at Ananda Sastralaya National School in Matugama.{{Cite web |title=Former Minister of State Palitha Thevarapperuma was electrocuted and died|url=https://www.dinamina.lk/2024/04/17/%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%9A-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%94%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A/82827/%E0%B7%84%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%A7%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%94-%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%A2%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%85%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%92-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%92/|access-date=17 April 2024|website=Dinamina| url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417011906/https://www.dinamina.lk/2024/04/17/%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%9A-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%94%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A/82827/%E0%B7%84%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%A7%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%94-%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%A2%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%85%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%92-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%92/ | archive-date=17 April 2024|date=16 April 2024|language=si|last1= Pothupitiya|first1=Rakshana Sriyantha|last2=Bandaragama |first2=Sumith Prematilaka |last3=Jayasinghe |first3=Bimal}}

Political career

Thewarapperuma embarked on his political career with the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, serving on the staff of Anil Moonesinghe. Later, he moved to the United National Party, initially engaging in local governance activities. His foray into the political arena commenced with his candidacy for the Matugama Divisional Council, ultimately culminating in his appointment as the council's chairman in 2002.{{cite web|title=Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution|url=https://mawbima.lk/2024/04/16/palitha-thewarapperuma-passes-away/|website=Mawbima|last1=Samman|first1=Tharaka|date=16 April 2024|access-date=17 April 2024|language=si|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417004234/https://mawbima.lk/2024/04/16/palitha-thewarapperuma-passes-away/|url-status=live}} Subsequently, he contested the provincial council elections for the Western Province, representing the Kalutara District, where he secured electoral victory.

He was first elected to Parliament in 2010, and was subsequently re-elected in 2015. As a part of the UNP-led Good Governance administration headed by President Maithripala Sirisena in 2015, Thewarapperuma assumed significant ministerial responsibilities.{{cite web|title=Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution|url=https://www.lankadeepa.lk/latest_news/%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BD%E0%B6%AD-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B8-%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%BD-%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%BB-%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%A7/1-650640|website=Lankadeepa|last1=Jayasinghe|first1=Bimal Shyaman|last2=Pothupitiya|first2=Sumith|date=16 April 2024|access-date=17 April 2024|language=si|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417003521/https://www.lankadeepa.lk/latest_news/%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BD%E0%B6%AD-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B8-%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%BD-%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%BB-%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%A7/1-650640|url-status=live}} These included roles such as Deputy Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife, and Regional Development, as well as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development, and Cultural Affairs.{{cite news |last1=Narin |first1=Jordana |title=New State and Deputy Ministers sworn in before President |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/05/02/political/149807/new-state-and-deputy-ministers-sworn-president |accessdate=29 October 2018 |work=Daily News |date=2 May 2018 |location=Colombo, Sri Lanka |archive-date=31 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031065609/http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/05/02/political/149807/new-state-and-deputy-ministers-sworn-president |url-status=live }}

In the wake of a constitutional crisis in 2018, Thewarapperuma and his cohorts faced temporary removal from their governmental positions under the brief the short-lived Sirisena-Rajapaksa-led government.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46019280|title=Sri Lanka crisis: Fears of a 'bloodbath' in power struggle|work=BBC News |date=29 October 2018 |access-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030132740/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46019280|archive-date=30 October 2018|url-status=live}} However, subsequent no-confidence motions and judicial interventions resulted in their reinstatement.{{cite web |last1=Abi-Habib |first1=Maria |last2=Bastians |first2=Dharisha |title=Sri Lanka's Disputed Prime Minister Will Step Down |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/world/asia/sri-lanka-rajapaksa.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=18 February 2024 |date=16 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215174438/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/world/asia/sri-lanka-rajapaksa.html |url-status=live }} Following this episode, Thewarapperuma undertook new duties upon his swearing-in as Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment.{{cite magazine |title=Part I : Section (I) — General – Appointments & C., by the President |magazine=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary |date=26 December 2018 |issue=2103/14 |pages=1A–3A |url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2018/12/2103-14_E.pdf |accessdate=28 December 2018 |location=Colombo, Sri Lanka |archive-date=17 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417195138/http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2018/12/2103-14_E.pdf |url-status=live }}

Nonetheless, by 2019, he was compelled to resign once more, prompted by the transition to a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led government following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's election as president.{{cite web|title=Sri Lanka Prime Minister to Resign After Presidential Loss|url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/sri-lanka-prime-minister-to-resign-after-presidential-loss-1.1350792|website=BNN Bloomberg|access-date=18 February 2024|date=20 November 2019|author=Anusha Ondaatjie|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218080102/https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/sri-lanka-prime-minister-to-resign-after-presidential-loss-1.1350792|url-status=live}} Despite his efforts to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections, the UNP suffered unprecedented defeat, leading to his electoral loss.{{cite web|title=More than 70 former MPs were defeated|url=https://www.lankadeepa.lk/General-election-2020/%E0%B7%84%E0%B6%A7%E0%B6%B4-%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%AD%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%BB-70%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%A9-%E0%B6%A1%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%BA/206-576796|website=Lankadeepa|access-date=18 February 2024|date=7 August 2020|author=Editorial Board|language=si|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218080102/https://www.lankadeepa.lk/General-election-2020/%E0%B7%84%E0%B6%A7%E0%B6%B4-%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%AD%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%BB-70%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%A9-%E0%B6%A1%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%BA/206-576796|url-status=live}}

Thewarapperuma was popular amongst the local masses for his social service activities and philanthropy. He rose to fame among people of the entire island especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka for having provided food, dry rations and other necessities to the rural population of the Kalutara Electoral District.{{Cite web|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/notes-on-covid-19-politics-reshaped/|title=Notes On Covid-19: Politics Reshaped|date=10 April 2020|website=Colombo Telegraph|language=en-US|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503064641/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/notes-on-covid-19-politics-reshaped/|url-status=live}}

Controversies and incidents

Thewarapperuma was suspended from parliament for a week in 2016 for a brawl.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/05/06/local/80924|title=Parliament fracas : Palitha, Prasanna suspended for one week|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424011402/http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/05/06/local/80924|url-status=live}}{{Citation|last=Ada Derana|title=Thewarapperuma and Ranaweera suspended from Parliament for a week|date=5 May 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfgskojPug|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=31 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531104334/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfgskojPug|url-status=live}} He was part of the brawl on 15 November 2018, and had a blunt knife in hand which he appeared to want to use but was held back by fellow UNP MPs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ft.lk/front-page/P-ment-brawl-report-presented-to-House/44-673385|title=P'ment brawl report presented to House | Daily FT|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424011401/http://www.ft.lk/front-page/P-ment-brawl-report-presented-to-House/44-673385|url-status=live}}{{Citation|last=Bejiya|title=Palitha Thewarapperuma parliament knife case|date=15 November 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l0Ldk_L7oc&frags=pl,wn|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417194541/https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D%252Fsignin_passive%26feature%3Dpassive&hl=en&ifkv=ARZ0qKJ5c5bFHuT1_aiSqsWonj63ui_Zkdh-WMDUFD0f739FNO039qP-4eaYKCfzOsewxK2-VaEe9g&passive=true&service=youtube&uilel=3&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&dsh=S705512902%3A1713383141787887&theme=mn&ddm=0|url-status=live}}

In July 2016, Theewarapperuma went on a hunger strike demanding authorities admit nine children into a public school. During the events, he attempted suicide by hanging himself. However, he was admitted to the hospital and underwent a bypass surgery. Following the incident, the students were admitted to grade one of the school.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/07/01/local/86246|title=School admission drama: Thewarapperuma IN suicide bid|last=Corr|first=Lahiru Fernando and Agalawatte Group|website=Daily News|language=en|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020082445/http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/07/01/local/86246|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2016/05/09/deputy-min-palitha-thewarapperuma-intervenes-enrolling-child-school/|title=Deputy Min. Thewarapperuma walks into Kalutara school with 'rejected' child|date=9 May 2016|website=Sri Lanka News – Newsfirst|language=en|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528163315/https://www.newsfirst.lk/2016/05/09/deputy-min-palitha-thewarapperuma-intervenes-enrolling-child-school/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hirunews.lk/138519/palitha-thewarapperuma-fiasco-children-get-new-school|title=Palitha Thewarapperuma Fiasco: Children Get A New School|website=Hiru News|language=en|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=21 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721124633/http://www.hirunews.lk/138519/palitha-thewarapperuma-fiasco-children-get-new-school|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Thewarapperuma-fiasco-children-get-a-new-school/108-112815|title=Thewarapperuma fiasco: children get a new school|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=en|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417194040/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Thewarapperuma-fiasco-children-get-a-new-school/108-112815|url-status=live}}

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, he, on several occasions, distributed food supplies to the people of the village of Atalugama, which was under lockdown due to COVID infections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/notes-on-covid-19-politics-reshaped/|title=Notes On Covid-19: Politics Reshaped|date=10 April 2020|website=Colombo Telegraph|language=en-US|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503064641/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/notes-on-covid-19-politics-reshaped/|url-status=live}}

Personal life

Thewarapperuma was married and had two children, Sahan Thilanka and Roshan Thilakshana. His elder son Sahan died of a sudden illness in August 2015 at the age of 23.{{Cite web|url=http://gossip.hirufm.lk/english/434/2015/09/mp-thewarapperuma-in-tears-at-sons-death-photos.html|title=MP Thewarapperuma in tears at son's death – Photos – Hiru Gossip English Edition|website=gossip.hirufm.lk|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417194132/https://gossip.hirufm.lk/english/434/2015/09/mp-thewarapperuma-in-tears-at-sons-death-photos.html|url-status=live}} He was a devout Buddhist.

=Death=

On 16 April 2024, Thewarapperuma was engaged in gardening at his private residence in Matugama when he suffered an accidental electric shock. He was transported to Nagoda Hospital in Kalutara, where he died. He was 63 years old.{{Cite web|title=More information about the death of Palitha Thevarapperuma|url=https://sinhala.adaderana.lk/news/195699|access-date=17 April 2024|website=Ada Derana|date=16 April 2024|language=si|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417014812/https://sinhala.adaderana.lk/news/195699|url-status=live}} He had already prepared his burial plot in Kalutara.{{Cite web |title=Final rites of Thewarapperuma to be held on Friday – Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Final-rites-of-Thewarapperuma-to-be-held-on-Friday/108-280832 |access-date=20 April 2024 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English |archive-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420185622/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Final-rites-of-Thewarapperuma-to-be-held-on-Friday/108-280832 |url-status=live }}

References

Category:1960 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:Members of the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka

Category:Members of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka

Category:Deputy ministers of Sri Lanka

Category:United National Party politicians

Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists

Category:People from Kalutara District

Category:Accidental deaths in Sri Lanka

Category:Accidental deaths by electrocution