Former Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremenayake passed away at a private hospital in Colombo today.

He was 83.

Wickramanayake had been admitted to hospital a few days back for medical treatment.

A veteran of the SLFP. Wickramanayake entered parliament in 1960. Joining the SLFP in 1962, he was re-elected from Horana electorate in 1965 and 1970. He later returned to the Parliament from Kalutara District and was the Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001 and then from 2005 to 2010.

Wickramanayake was an adviser of President Maithripala Sirisena.