Former Minister Nandana Gunathilake has passed away at the age of 64 while receiving treatment at Ragama Hospital, family sources confirmed.
An early member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Gunathilake contested the 1999 presidential election as the JVP’s candidate and secured the third highest number of votes.
During his political career, he later entered Parliament through the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and served as the Acting Minister of Posts and Telecommunications as well as the Minister of Tourism.
In 2015, he left the JVP and joined the United National Party (UNP), subsequently being elected Mayor of the Panadura Urban Council representing the party.
He later became a member of the New Democratic Front (NDF).
