to being the State Minister of Defence in the Premadasa administration. Lalith Athulathmudali was shot dead in April 1993 while campaigning for the Provincial Council elections. The killing provoked widespread protests against the government and allegations were hurled at the President for complicity in the assassination. A week later President Premadasa was also murdered in Colombo on May Day 1993 in a suicide bombing widely considered to be an act of the Tamil Tigers. Wijetunga became acting president until parliament convened to elect a successor to the slain president under the terms of the Constitution. Wijetunga was elected unanimously by Parliament to complete the remainder of Premadasa's term and was sworn in as the third executive President on 7 May 1993. Presidency His rule coincided with the rise of Chandrika Kumaratunga within the ranks of the SLFP. He did not believe that peace could be achieved by negotiating with the LTTE. The Eastern Province was liberated from the LTTE during his tenure except for Thoppigala. After a decisive defeat in the Southern Provincial Council Election in 1994, he dissolved parliament prematurely in June of that year. However his party was defeated in the 1994 general election and Wijetunga appointed Kumaratunga as Prime Minister. Even though under the constitution, Wijetunga was bestowed with wide powers, he chose not to exercise much authority, letting the Prime Minister manage the affairs of the country. He decided not to contest the presidential election and he appointed Lucky Jayawardena as the organizer for his electorate Udunuwara. He relinquished office in November 1994 after Kumaratunga was elected President by an unprecedented majority. His political career was succeeded by Jayawardena (MP). Death D.B. Wijetunga died after a prolonged illness around 9.30 am on 21 September 2008 at Kandy General Hospital. He was 92. Further reading References 2. Obituary Associated Press External links Dingiri Banda Wijetunga. India Today Group. Dingiri Banda Wijetunga – the journey to greatness by M.B. Dassanayake Sri Lankan Daily News Editorial on Sep 22, 2008 A rare politician with exemplary qualities A president and gentleman President D.B. Wijetunga – An end of an era President D. B. Wijetunga The final journey Website of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Presidents of Sri Lanka Rivira Katu Satahana in Sinhala Biography Sri Lankan Daily News on the 23 of september 1916 births 2008 deaths Members of the 6th Parliament of Ceylon Members of the 8th Parliament of