United People's Freedom Alliance General Secretary Prof. Vishwa Warnapala passed away at a private hospital in Colombo at the age of 79.

Born on December 26, 1936, he entered politics from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and was appointed a national list MP in 1994. He also served as the Minister of Higher Education under the presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge.

He assumed duties as UPFA General Secretary in August 2015, following the removal of its founding General Secretary Susil Premajayantha from the post. Thereby he became only the second General Secretary of the UPFA.