Victor Ivan

Majuwana Kankanamage Victor Ivan is Sri Lankan journalist. He was a Marxist rebel in his youth and later became the Editor of the controversial Sinhalese newspaper Ravaya.

Early life

Born on 26 June 1949, Ivan was educated at St. Anthony’s College, Kandy.

Insurrection

He was a leader of the 1971 insurrection of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and used the nomme-de-guerre Podi Athula (as opposed to "Loku Athula" the former minister Athula Nimalasiri Jayasinghe). He was unable to take part in the insurrection has he was badly wounded months before while making bombs for it and had undergo surgery at a private hospital in Colombo.

The leaders prosecuting the 1971 April insurrection trail began on June 12, 1972, at the Queen's Club, located at the Baudddhaloka Mawatha, before the Criminal Justice Commission composed of Chief Justice H N G Fernando (Chairman) Justice A C A Alles, Justice V T Thamotheram, Justice H Dheragoda and Justice T W Rajaratnam. Those pleading not guilty were brought in batches before the Commission. The main case consisted of 41 suspects which included Mr Ivan. They were considered to be the main architects of the uprising and the youth rebellion. Ivon and several other rebellions were found guilty and were punished with imprisonments.In 1977 he was released with others on an un-conditional pardon given by Jayawardena Government. Later he joined LSSP and unsuccessfully contested the Galle by-election.He now recalls that the insurrection was a "foolish dream" [1]

Journalism

Ivon is the founder editor of Ravaya which was first published in 1986 as a monthly magazine.Revealation of the presence of radiatio-active substances in the products of "Nestle" company in the aftermath of the Chernobille Disaster was one of the most remarkable article published by Ravaya magazine.In early 1990s, Ravaya newspaper replaced the magazine. He now heads the same radical Sri Lankan newspaper and is a fierce critic of the JVP.The most notable article published by Ravaya newspaper was the disclosure of the UNP MPs and ministers who signed the impeachment motion against President Premadasa. He's also a member of the Free Media Movement and several other political NGOs. He authored several books the most controversial of which is 'Choura Rejina'( Queen of Deceit)on the dark side of President Chandrika Kumaratunga boldly discloses the malpractices. Mr Ivan was an ardent supporter of her during her election in 1994 but eventually grew distant. He is the auther of several books including

• 71 Kerella
• Arbudaya Gaman Maga
• Anda Govithene Abiyogaya
• Pansale Wiplawaya
• Chess Kridawe Mooladarma
• Nonimi Aragalaya
• Pena Ahinsakada?
• Sri Lankawe Noothana Kerali Karuwange Samaja Pasubima
• Jathiya,Kulaya saha Deshapalana Paul Poraya

Nonimi Aragalaya(Unfinished Struggle) was a heroic effort that disclosed the dark side of that time chief justice,Sarath N Silva,Magistrates Champa Buddhipala and Lenin Rathnayaka.

Victor Ivan abandoned his long standing anti-war stance by mid-2008, explaining that LTTE chief Prabhakaran is insatiable and only way to stop his terrorist tactics is to respond in kind, like the Sri Lankan Government under President Rajapakse. During the post war period he is increasingly leaning towards President Rajapakse and intervened several times on behalf of his beleaguered media colleagues who were at the receiving end of the administration. His new stance has severely criticized by some sections of the media who were forced to go into exile due to their anti-government activities.

Victor Ivan admires Bertrand Russell, so his son is named Athula Russell,[2] six-time Sri Lanka Chess Champion from 2003 to 2010.[3]