Sri Lanka, Aug. 16 -- Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte passed away yesterday morning (15) while receiving treatment in Colombo. He was 57 years old.

Ratwatte, the elder son of former Deputy Defence Minister Gen.Anuruddha Ratwatte, first entered politics through the Central Provincial Council in 2009. A year later, he was elected to Parliament at the 2010 General Election. By 2012, he was appointed Sri Lanka Freedom Party organiser for the Pathadumbara electorate.

During his political career, Ratwatte held several state portfolios. He served as State Minister of Roads Development, was re-elected in the 2015 and 2020 parliamentary elections, and later took up the post of State Minister of Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation, Gem and Jew...