It is with profound sorrow that the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka announces the death of Comrade Nanda Wickremesinghe, known as Comrade Wicks among members and supporters of the SEP and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). Wicks was a founding member of the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL) in June 1968, the forerunner of the SEP, along with the late comrades Keerthi Balasuriya and Wije Dias, and K. Ratnayake, the current WSWS national editor in Sri Lanka.

Wicks played a prominent role in the leadership of the RCL and SEP until his deteriorating health prevented his involvement in the party’s day-to-day political work. Wicks, who celebrated his 85th birthday last October, took part in regular political and theoretical discussions with leading party members until his last days.

The remains of Comrade Wicks will be at the Jayarathne Respect Funeral Parlour, 483 Baudhdhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 8, on Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24 for his comrades, friends and relatives to pay their respects. The funeral march will start at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday from the parlour with the funeral meeting to be held at 3 p.m. in the hall near the new Crematorium of the Borella Cemetery. The cremation will be at 4.30 p.m.

We urge those who knew Comrade Wicks to attend the funeral to pay your last respects and honour his life. Please send your condolences to the SEP, which will publish a detailed obituary on the WSWS in the coming days.