Colombo
Wickremanayake, 83, who also held many key ministerial positions since 1970, was ailing for sometime and breathed his last this morning, his family said.
He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a leading private hospital on Dec 21. Wickremanayake served twice as the Island nations, premier first from 2000 to 2001 and then from 2005 to 2010. He was appointed prime minister by former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Nov 21, 2005.
It was Wickremanayake who paved the way for Rajapaksa to emerge as the next leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. He resigned from his position as the leader of the main opposition in 2002 to make way for Rajapaksa to become the leader of the opposition. That move cleared the way for Rajapaksa who went on to become the President.
In his previous stint as prime minister, Wickremanayake succeeded prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike who had resigned at the age of 84. A host of political leaders cutting across party lines condoled the death of Wickremanayake.
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