රෝහන විජේවීර විජය කුමාරතුංගයන්ට විමුක්තිය දානය කිරීමෙන් විසි වසරකට පසු

 

Twenty years ago, then Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna ( JVP) terrorist leadership, while on the run from law, decided that Vijaya Kumaratunge, and actor turned politician who was becoming increasingly popular among masses should be silenced. His wish has been put to action by the hardcore ground workers by triggering a series of bullets to his face, at Vijaya’s Polhengoda home, in front of his children. Later JVP issued a pamphlet justifying the assassination, saying it is the common punishment for any ‘traitors’.

Hailing from a lower middle class family in Katana, Vijaya made debut to silver screen through ‘Hantane Kathava’ by Sugathapala Senarat Yapa, in which he played the lead role. Since then it was a continuous rise. He played lead roles in more than hundred films including Me Desa Kumatada, Eya Den Loku Lamayek, Hatara Denama Surayo, Mamai Raja, Vasana, Hingana Kolla, Diyamanthi, Jaya Apitai, Thushara, Pembara Madhu, Ganga, Maruva Samaga Vase, Sangeetha, Moneratenne, Sakvithi Suvaya and Anupama. Apart from the role of hero, he was famous to play he also played serious roles in films like Ganga Addara (by Sumitra Pieris), Baddegama (Lester James Pieris), Para Dige, Ahas Gavva and Bambaru Avith (all by Dharmasena Pathiraja) and Podi Malli (Sunil Ariyaratne). Perhaps his all time climax was Vasantha Obeysekera’s Kedapathaka Chaaya, where he played the role of a businessman, who rises to top from the lowest level.

Vijaya entered politics in mid 1970s, when people started recognizing him as an icon. He unsuccessfully contested 1977 for the Katana electorate. He also actively campaigned for Hector Kobbekaduwa, the SLFP candidate in the 1982 Presidential election. Later he formed Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) with few walk-aways from SLFP, but within few years met the tragic death, before he could have converted it to a strong third force in Sri Lanka politics.

He was married to Chandrika Kumaranatunge in 1978 and they had two children Yasodhara and Vimukthi.

Vijaya firmly believed the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka could only be solved by a political solution. He took a brave step to visit LTTE controlled North to negotiate a peaceful settlement. However these efforts were in vain as the key parties were not ready to make a compromise.

He was shot in the head with a Type 56 Assault rifle outside his residence in the outskirts of Colombo on February 16, 1988 by Lionel Ranasinghe alias Gamini, who later confessed to the murder upon being questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Ranasinghe, in a 141 page statement, confessed that he was merely carrying out orders given to him by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (”People’s Liberation Front”).

At his funeral Prof. Carlo Fonseka, a relative and close confederate of Vijaya, made a historical speech claiming some lunatics with ‘ugly faces’ killed him, largely out of personal jealousy. After this speech JVP’s wrath was directed at Prof. Fonseka and frequent death threats made him leave the county.

Vijaya was not the only artist who became a victim of the JVP orchestrated terror. Then ITN chairman Thevis Guruge and Premakeerthy de Alwis too met the same fate in front of JVP gun men. It was reported that Premakeerthy touched the feet of his would be assailant for mercy on behalf of his son. But obviously hardcore JVP activists had little concern for innocent children.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) publicly claim they have moved away from the path of terrorism and obey the rule of the land, but it is still a question mark why it is still led by somebody who has serious allegations for murders and the violation of immigration law.