S Jaishankar expresses grief over former Mangala Samaraweera's demise

New Delhi : Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed grief over the sudden demise of former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

"A warm and generous personality and a true friend of India. May his soul rest in peace," S Jaishankar tweeted.

Mr Mangala Samaraweera lost his life after losing his battle with coronavirus in a hospital.

The 65-year-old Samaraweera contracted the virus earlier this month and was receiving intensive care unit (ICU) treatment at the Lanka Hospital, despite being fully vaccinated.

Samaraweera had held key portfolios in the cabinets of former presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena.

An outspoken politician hailing from the Matara district, Samaraweera left parliamentary politics in 2020, focusing his abilities on forming a broader alliance of like-minded, independent liberal thinkers.