The former Cabinet Minister of Higher Education passed away at a private hospital in Colombo, his family confirmed.

Prof. Vishwa Warnapala was appointed as the General Secretary of UPFA in August 2015 following the resignation of Minister Susil Premajayantha from the post.

Prof. Warnapala was an active member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main coalition partner of the UPFA, since his university days and was appointed to the SLFP Central Committee by Sirimavo Bandaranaike in the 1980s.