‘Parlimenthuwe Balahathkaraya’ brings Parliamentary Tradition & Democratic Heritage Closer to People

Nadira Madugalla’s book, ‘Parlimenthuwe Balahathkaraya’ was launched yesterday (23) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake.

‘Parlimenthuwe Balahathkaraya’, the book written by Nadira Madugalla, offers a detailed reflection on Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, based on her twenty years of experience and knowledge.

Through this book, the author, who has repeatedly sought to uncover facts about Sri Lanka’s Parliament that the media and social media missed, takes yet another step forward.

Nadira Madugalla holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kelaniya and a BA in Journalism and a Diploma in Writing and Mass Communication from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura. She is an experienced journalist across radio, television, and newspapers, with particular expertise in parliamentary affairs. Currently, she serves as the Director (Parliamentary Affairs) in the President’s Media Division.

The first copy of the book was presented by Nadira Madugalla to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, followed by presentations to other dignitaries, including Ministers.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena remarked that the book ‘Parlimenthuwe Balahathkaraya’ engagingly connects people with the parliamentary tradition and democratic heritage.

He praised author Nadira Madugalla for providing insightful commentary on parliamentary affairs. In his speech, he expressed gratitude for the invitation to the book launch, highlighting the book’s contribution to literature through its creative and linguistic richness.

The work presents historical parliamentary events in Sri Lanka beautifully and offers society a commentary on these affairs. By capturing the diversity and debates of Parliament, the book enriches Sri Lankan literature and advances democratic heritage. The Prime Minister thanked Nadira Madugalla for bringing parliamentary insights closer to the public.

Addressing the gathering Member of Parliament Wajira Abeywardena explained,

Parliament is an integral part of democracy, representing society worldwide. Citizens use their sovereign power to appoint representatives to Parliament, whose behaviour can vary. For example, Vijayananda Dahanayake once wore an ‘amuda’ to Parliament, while others were expelled for not obeying the Speaker. Until 1987, party-appointed representatives dominated. Afterward, the United National Party government shifted to prioritize people’s sovereign power, raising questions about the system’s effectiveness. This change led to divisions by religion, race, and caste, negatively impacting the nation. The term ‘coercion’ in this book can be interpreted in various ways. Society recalls the forceful events of 1988-89, where lives were lost, but coercion in Parliament is a democratic issue. Nadira Madugalla aims to explain this aspect of parliamentary democracy to the people.

The post ‘Parlimenthuwe Balahathkaraya’ brings Parliamentary Tradition & Democratic Heritage Closer to People appeared first on DailyNews.