Sirisena Cooray Former Minister and Mayor of Colombo passed away this morning while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
Late Mr. Cooray served as the Mayor of Colombo from 1979 to 89 and later became the Minister of Housing and Construction in the Ranasinghe Premadasa government. He was also the General Secretary of the UNP during the time of President Premadasa. A trusted lieutenant of President Premadasa Mr. Cooraywas the strategist behind the Premadasa administration until the untimely death of President Premadasa. He was moved out of the Position of General Secretary of the party during the presidency of D.B Wijetunge and later retired from active politics. In 2006 he came forward to contest the Colombo Municipal Council elections but his nominations were rejected on a technical issue. Mr. Cooray was aged 90 at the time of his death. Funeral arrangements will be notified later.
