Former Cabinet Minister and senior parliamentarian P. Dayaratne passed away yesterday, at the age of 89.An electrical engineer by training, Dayaratne entered active politics in 1977, winning a seat in Parliament, from the Ampara District, on the UNP ticket.
He was first appointed Deputy Minister of Power and Energy under President J.R. Jayewardene and went on to hold several key portfolios, including Minister of Lands and Mahaweli Development, and later Minister of Health and Nutrition.
Dayaratne was also closely associated with the Galoya Development Project, where his technical expertise played a pivotal role.His parliamentary career spanned nearly four decades, during which he was widely regarded for his commitment to national development and public service.