“Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was born on January 11, 1953 and had his primary and secondary education at Ave-Maria Convent and Maris Stella College, Negombo respectively. An eloquent Orator from childhood he excelled at the Sri Lanka Law College and was awarded the Silver Medal for addressing the Jury.”___________________________
(April 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Minister of Highways Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was killed in a bomb blast this morning around 7.40 AM at Weliweriya.
The bomb exploded as the Minister was to give the start to the National Marathon that was to begin from the Weliweriya Kanthi esplanade.
He was a key player of this Government also SLFP. Here we publish short biography of late Minister Jeyaraj.
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle commenced his political carrier in the year 1970 as an election agent for a SLFP candidate. In 1984 he was appointed as the chief organizer by the SLFP in the Katana electorate. From there onwards he has been elected to the parliament five consecutive times in the years 1989, 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2004. With the objective of helping the poor, uplifting the quality of life in the villages and providing education for the underprivileged children he strives forward with a clear vision and a mission.
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was born on January 11, 1953 and had his primary and secondary education at Ave-Maria Convent and Maris Stella College, Negombo respectively. An eloquent Orator from childhood he excelled at the Sri Lanka Law College and was awarded the Silver Medal for addressing the Jury. His legal career commenced in 1977 and together with his innate intelligence, rare combination of linguistic skills and analytical thinking he became well known for his fearless submissions in Court in defending his clients. He is also known as a fearless defender of the human rights in the Parliament.
He is a Charter Member of the Lions Club of Kochchikade and was its President on numerous occasions. He is a recipient of the Melvin Johns Fellowship (MJF). He is the President of the Elle Federation of Sri Lanka was also held the post of the President of the Volleyball Federation of Sri Lanka.
He has held several Cabinet portfolios in the Parliament during his political career and has been reputed for his wits and skilled debating. He has manifested a deep concern for humanity. His intellectual brilliance coupled with his great dynamic personality has enabled him to become one of the most respected Members of Parliament and an equally respected member of the legal profession. He has reformed laws as a Legislator and has made thought provoking submissions both in the Courts of Law and in the Parliament. He is at his most eloquent in his eulogy of law reforms.
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle represented Sri Lanka at several important international fora on many occasion and also attended several International Seminars. He led the delegation from Sri Lanka to numerous international conferences and bilateral discussions. In 2005, he led the Sri Lankan delegation to the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. He was also part of the Ministerial delegation that accompanied H.E. the President of Sri Lanka on his first official overseas visit to India after assuming the Presidency in 2005. In 1994 he represented Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Malta. He has been appointed by H E the President as one of the key members of the Sri Lanka delegation for the peace talks with the LTTE, to be resumed in Geneva, Switzerland in February 2006.
He also received special audience with His Holiness Pope Paul John II to present a special message from the President of Sri Lanka prior to his visit to Sri Lanka. In 2005, he was the leader of the Sri Lankan Delegation that represented Sri Lanka at the installation ceremony of Pope Benedict II.
In 1983 he was appointed as the Organizer in the electorate of Katana for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He was elected to Parliament from the Gampaha District in 1989
In 1989 he was elected for the first time as a Member of Parliament.
In 1993 he was elected as a Member of the Political Bureau of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and was elected as the Assistant Secretary of the Party.
He is now a Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and a member of the Polit Bureau.
In 1994 he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the second time and was appointed as the DEPUTY MINISTER OF FINANCE, ETHNIC AFFAIRS & NATIONAL INTEGRATION and was later appointed as DEPUTY MINISTER OF PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, NATIONAL INTEGRATION & ETHNIC AFFAIRS, the same year.
In 1997 he was appointed as the MINISTER OF PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS.
In 2000 he was re elected for the 3rd time and was appointed as the MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION, TOURISM AND CHRISTIAN RELIGION AFFAIRS.
In 2000 he was a MEMBER OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE appointed to inquire into allegations made against the Chairman of Bribery & Corruption Commission.
In 2001 he was re-elected as a Member of Parliament for the fourth time.
In 2002 he was elected as the CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (COPE), which dealt with the scrutiny of Public Enterprises in Parliament.
In 2002 he was a MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC PETITION COMMITTEE IN PARLIAMENT, HIGH POST COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT & PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE.
In 2004 he was re-elected as a Member of the Parliament and was appointed as the MINISTER OF TRADE, COMMERCE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT WHIP OF PARLIAMENT.
In 2005, after the Presidential election he was appointed as the MINISTER OF TRADE COMMERCE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS & MARKETING DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTER OF HIGHWAYS.
He is presently a member of the SELECTION COMMITTEE OF SELECTION, STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE, PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS COMMITTEE, PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE, HIGH POSTS COMMITTEE, CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION, CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SECURITY LAW AND ORDER, CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND PLANNING, CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON LABOUR RELATIONS AND FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT, CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SECURITY LAW AND ORDER.
He was also the Chairman of the CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, COMMERCE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND MARKETING DEVELOPMENT AND HIGHWAYS.
He is presently the Chairman of the CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS AND ROAD DEVELOPMENT
He is the Chairman of the Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Education Development Foundation, which awards 1500 scholarships annually for the needy children.
He is the Treasurer of the Sri Lanka India Parliamentary Friendship Association and a Vice president of the Sri Lanka Scouts Association for Parliamentarians.
(Special thanks to family members of the Minister and his Media Unit , who are send this details for us)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Post a Comment