Senior lawyer and veteran left-wing political figure Lal Wijenayake, a member of the National People’s Power (NPP) National Operations Committee and Executive Council, passed away on Saturday evening.

Wijenayake remained politically active until his final days, recently leading efforts to establish a Left Centre in Kandy. He had also opposed the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and actively campaigned against the proposed legislation aimed at protecting the State from terrorism.A prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s left-wing political movement, Wijenayake served for several decades as a Politburo member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP).Following his departure from the LSSP, he played a leading role in establishing the United Left Front, continuing his involvement in left-wing politics.He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the first Central Provincial Council, marking a significant milestone in his political career.

Wijenayake received his education at Dharmaraja College in Kandy, the Faculty of Science at the University of Peradeniya and Sri Lanka Law College before pursuing a career in law and politics.