Mother of NFF leader and Construction and Engineering Services Minister Wimal Weerawansa passed away at the Colombo National hospital late last night.

The death occurred hours after Minister Weerawansa called off a fast unto death campaign that he had staged opposite the UN office in Colombo demanding the disbanding of a panel of advisors appointed by the UN Secretary General on the  accountability issues relating to alleged war crimes committed by government forces during the final stage of the conflict with LTTE terrorists last year.

Mr. Weerawansa’s mother W. Sally Nona (78) of Kekanadura, Matara had been hospitalised for two weeks. She had five children including three daughters. Here remains are lying at the Minister’s residence at Stanmore Crescent and the funeral will take place on Tuesday evening at Borella Cemetery.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Deputy

Minister Weerakumara Dissanayake had demanded that he be allowed to leave hospital to pay his last respects to his mother, but doctors had insisted that he must not leave the hospital and promised that he would be allowed to attend the funeral.

The health condition of Minister Weerawansa has improved and the necessary medical attention was being provided to him, Director General of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Lakshman Hullugalle said.

Politicians, military leaders, artistes, members of the business community and party supporters visited Minister Weerawansa undergoing treatment at the military hospital.(Island)