Sri Lanka, Aug. 16 -- Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed deep sorrow at the passing of former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, describing him as a close friend and a "fearless political roughneck."

In a post on his X account, Rajapaksa stated that Ratwatte was a person who "bravely expressed his opinion and stood for the ideology he believed in."

The former State Minister passed away yesterday morning at a private hospital in Colombo at the age of 57.

He had been suffering from a severe liver ailment, which was exacerbated by pneumonia.

Family members said that the final rites will be held this Sunday (17) at the family cemetery in Nittawela, Kandy.

Born on the 22nd of June 1968, Lohan Ratwatte was the eldest son of Gener...