The sudden death of former Governor Reginald Cooray came as a shock to many of his political colleagues.

It is learnt that Cooray had taken ill during a heated exchange of words with a parliamentarian representing the newly-formed Freedom People’s Alliance consisting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Nidahasa People’s Council (Dullas Alahapperuma), Supreme Lanka Council (Wimal Weerawansa), and several other political parties.

The heated exchange of words had taken place over disagreements in finalising nomination lists for the impending Local Government Polls in the Kalutara District.

Several bystanders who had witnessed the argument between Cooray and the other MP, who is a dissident of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), had warned the latter that the argument needed to be stopped since Cooray was a heart patient who also had several stents.

However, the argument had continued and Cooray had suddenly fallen ill and suffered a heart attack.

According to his aides, who had rushed him to the Nagoda Hospital in Kalutara, Cooray had passed away on the way to the hospital.

Several doctors who had treated him for his heart condition had asked his staff and family why he had attended a political meeting so soon after carrying out a heart procedure. 

Cooray’s sudden demise has also resulted in the SLFP deciding that it cannot proceed with the newly-formed alliance since it (the SLFP) was not being allocated its due quota in the alliance’s nomination lists.