With deep sorrow, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka announces the death of comrade Geethananda Jayasekera, a member of the SEP and its predecessor, Revolutionary Communist League (RCL) for about four decades. Widely known as Geetha among party comrades, he died on June 29 at Colombo National Hospital from acute myocardial infarction. He had valvular heart disease and underwent heart valve surgery three decades ago. He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday last week with a high fever and a continuous cough.

Geetha was 70 years old. He is survived by his three elder sisters. Geetha was a younger brother of late comrade Keerthi Balasuriya, founding general secretary of the RCL and a longstanding leader of the world Trotskyist movement.

The SEP and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka pay tribute to comrade Geetha’s struggle for the Trotskyist principles of international socialism and extend our deepest sympathies to his family members. We will publish an obituary in the coming days.

Comrade Geetha’s remains will be at the funeral parlour of Neela Florists, No. 1023, Kularathne Mawatha, Colombo 08, for people wishing to pay their last respects from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. today, July 1. The funeral will be held at 4.15 p.m. today and cremation will be at 5.30 p.m.