'Mangala Samaraweera – a democrat who opposed racism and corruption'

The late Mangala Samaraweera was a true democrat who staunchly opposed racism in all its forms. He was also against corruption. He was a unique person, an achiever, an artist, a creative person, well-read and practical-minded. former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said. She believes that if Mangala Samaraweera (MS) lived, Sri Lanka would have been changed entirely for the better.

- BY LYNN OCKERSZ

The former President was speaking at a special Mangala Samaraweera commemorative event held at the auditorium of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), Colombo on April 22nd, which featured the donation of Minister Samaraweera’s wide-ranging and abundant private collection of books to several Sri Lankan libraries, including that at the BCIS and the Colombo Public Library.

The programme was termed, ‘Reading with Mangala: Insights into his Personal Library and its Onward Gifting to His Fellow Sri Lankans.’ The event marked MS’ 69th birthday.