"My father, the late Sucharitha Gamlath, did not prostrate before any politician seeking financial assistance. The only 'gift' my father received from any government in his lifetime was the "termination of his services" in unjust and unfair manner for seventeen long years. Despite that shabby treatment, my father taught us how to live with dignity and self-respect, without betraying values and principles of life. Therefore, I strictly condemn any attempt to use my father's name to further anyone's political agenda," Prof. Gamlath's daughter has stated in a Facebook post that came as a response to a statement made by actress Anoma Janadari. 

 

Janadari, in a Facebook status update that was posted just a few days ago, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had gifted Rs. 5 million to Prof, Sucharitha Gamlath for medical treatment during the last stage of his illness. In the same post, she said she sent an article to the state run 'Sarasaviya'  newspaper on the same matter but they had failed to carry it. 

 

When asked about this 'confusion', Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said he was not aware of any such donation. However, he promised to look into the matter and issue a detailed media statement to 'Asian Mirror' on the veracity of Janadari's statement. 

 

Prof. Gamlath was a Veteran Professor of Sinhala, and a bright student of the University of Peradeniya.  He also  functioned as the Dean of the Sinhala Language Faculty of the University of Jaffna. He was widely known for his Leftist political views as well as for his role as a Marxist critic who touched upon a wide range of subjects including arts, literature, politics and culture.  He passed away on March 30, last year.