From correspondents in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 05:00 PM IST

D.B.Wijetunga, who was Sri Lanka's president for over a year after the assassination of incumbent Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993, died in a hospital in the central district of Kandy Sunday, officials said here.

Wijetunga, 86, was ailing for quite some time. He was president from May 1993 until November 1994.

Wijetunga belonged to the United National Party (UNP), which is now the main opposition party. He was also prime minister for four years from 1989 to 1993.

He also held several ministerial portfolios besides being the governor of Sri Lanka's north-western province.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)