And, in the stand off that emerged following the elections in Bangladesh, with Sheikh Hasina threatening to take to the streets if power was not transferred, Mr. Bandaranaike played an important part. He met the President of Bangladesh, alongwith the former Foreign Minister of Australia Mr. Peacock and the former Chairman of US Congress sub Committee on South Asia, Mr. Stephen Solarz to help facilitate a smooth transfer of power. By his actions, he demonstrated a strong commitment not only to parliamentary democracy in Sri Lanka but in South Asia as a whole. He is not only a democrat but also a support of South Asian regional cooperation. The participants included Sheikh Hasina, Mr. Adhikani of Nepal, Mr. Gujral and myself.
Every child is, to a larger or smaller extent, a reflection of the parents.
Thus this tribute to Anura Bandaranaike s 20 years in Parliament is not complete without a reference to his parents. His father, Solomon Bandaranaike was an Oxford educated radical, an ardent socialist and nationalist who belonged to a centuries old aristocratic family. Solomon Bandaranaike was tragically assassinated in 1959 shot at in his family home, dying in hospital, leaving behind as anguished national, a young widow and a young family of three. Anura s mother, who also came from one of the leading families and had looked after her husband s constituency during the elections was propelled onto the front stage of national politics. Thus was born one of Asia s most prominent political families.