COLOMBO (News 1st); Joseph Michael Perera, the 17th Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament passed away on Tuesday (28).

Perera was born on the 15th of September 1941, and served as speaker from December 2001 to February 7, 2004.

Political Career:

1964-1967 Elected Member of the Ja-Ela Urban Council; 
1967-1970 Appointed Vice Chairman of the Ja-Ela Urban Council; 

1970-1971 Appointed Chairman of the Ja-Ela Urban Council; 

1971-1976 Chief Organiser of the Opposition (U. N. P.) ;  
1976-1977 Elected Member of Parliament to the First National State Assembly; 

1977-1978 Elected Member of Parliament to the Second National State Assembly; 

1978-1988 Elected Member of Parliament to the First Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

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