|
A somber Rathnapura prepares to bid farewell to Athukorale
Amantha Perera in Colombo,
8.10a.m. SLT Thursday, January 3 .
Rathnapura, Sri Lanka's gem capital, was yesterday taking off election decorations and putting up somber white banners as it prepared to host the funeral of UNP assistant leader Gamini Athukorale.
At Panawenna, near Athukorale's ancestral home, a set of supporters were erecting white flags while another group was dismantling the pandal welcoming Athukorale after the election victory.
Workers were relaying the winding road to the house and preparing makeshift car parks for the funeral. The body which was first taken to Athukorale's Colombo residence on Tuesday, will be taken to parliament today and thereafter transported to Nivithigala for the funeral on Saturday.
For the ordinary citizens of Rathnapura, Athukorale was the only national level leader from the district from any party. "It will take another 20 years or more before someone of that standing comes out of here," said gem merchant Sunil Katudeniya.
Ironically, the funeral takes place one month to the date when Athukorale led the UNP to victory in the district and the country. The campaign in Rathnapura was bloody with at least four election related murders. Athukorale himself was discharged of an assault charge soon after the election victory.
Published: Wed Jan 2 21:01:55 EST 2002
|
|
|
