Sri Lanka, Nov. 21 -- The passing away of former Prime Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Senior Vice President D.M. Jayaratne at the age of 88 marks the end of a revolutionary chapter in Sri Lankan political history. He had engaged in politics for nearly seven decades.

Born on June 4, 1931 in Doluwa village in the Kandy District, he was the fifth of his family of nine. D.M. Punchirala and M.A. Bandara Menike were his parents. He was married to Mrs. Anula Yapa and had three children with only son Anuradha Lanka Jayaratne being a Member of Parliament.

D.M. Jayaratne studied at the Doluwa Government School. He had served as a teacher and also a Sub Post Master before entering politics as a member of the then Village Council of Do...