COLOMBO, March 16: Ending the political dynasty of the Bandaranaike family in Sri Lanka, Anura Bandaranaike, the younger brother of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga passed away at his residence on Sunday afternoon after a prolonged liver illness.

The former Minister of National Heritage, who gave up his portfolio last year after a strained relationship with President Mahinda Rajapakse, was the son of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party founder, S. W. R. D Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, both of whom were Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first female Prime Minister in the world a year after the assassination of her husband in 1959.

Although his family was associated with the SLFP, Anura Bandaranaike shifted from the SLFP to the main opposition, the United National Party early in his political career. However, six years ago Bandaranaike rejoined the SLFP but failed to get nominated as presidential candidate after the presidential term of his sister ended.

Following the victory of Mahinda Rajapakse as President in the November 2005, Bandaranaike was not appointed Prime Minister as expected but instead was offered the portfolio of Tourism.

In February 2007, he was sacked by Rajapakse together with the late Sripathi Sooriyaarachi and former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. But later he reconciled with Mahinda Rajapaksa and was appointed Minister for National Heritage, a portfolio he held till he sat with the opposition and walked away from parliament during the final voting for 2008 budget.

After the retirement of Chandrika Kumaratunge, Anura Bandaranaike who remained a bachelor was the only member of his family to be in politics. Although Kumaratunge has a son and a daughter, neither has shown any interest in entering politics thereby effectively ending a longstanding political dynasty in South East Asia.