By NNN-Xinhua
Colombo : Anura Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka’s famous politician and the younger brother of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga died at his Colombo residence on Sunday, officials said.
Dubbing him as “a colorful politician,” the Government Information Department said in a short statement that Bandaranaike passed away after suffering a prolonged illness.
Hospital officials said he died from liver failure, for which he had been treated for several months.
Born on February 15, 1949, Anura Bandaranaike was the son of Solomon Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, both served as prime ministers of Sri Lanka.
His sister Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was elected as the first woman president in Sri Lanka in 1994 and held her position until 2005.
Because of his family background, he was known as the “crown prince” of Sri Lanka till his death.
Anura was elected to parliament in 1977 and was the speaker of parliament from 2000 to 2001.
He had previously served as minister of several cabinet departments, including Minister of Higher Education from 1993 to 1994, Minister of Tourism from 2004 to 2007 and Foreign Minister briefly in 2005.
Anura last served as the Minister of National Heritage in the present government until Dec. 14, 2007 when he crossed over to the opposition benches thus leaving his ministerial post.