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* [http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2009/02/19/_art.asp?fn=sa09021910&pn=*08,09 Vijaya Kumaratunga in Sinhala 2]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2009/02/19/_art.asp?fn=sa09021910&pn=*08,09 Vijaya Kumaratunga in Sinhala 2]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011010323/http://srilankafilmcorp.com/ Official Website - National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011010323/http://srilankafilmcorp.com/ Official Website - National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka]
* [http://www.lesternsumitra.com Official Website of Lester James Peries in association with Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928072333/http://www.lesternsumitra.com/ Official Website of Lester James Peries in association with Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka]
* [http://tamilweek.com/news-features/archives/597 Remembering Vijaya Kumaratunga, By Kumar Rupesinghe]
* [http://tamilweek.com/news-features/archives/597 Remembering Vijaya Kumaratunga, By Kumar Rupesinghe]
* {{IMDb name|0474919}}
* {{IMDb name|0474919}}

Revision as of 06:05, 25 December 2017

Vijaya Kumaranatunga
විජය කුමාරණතුංග
Born
Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga

(1945-10-09)9 October 1945
Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
Died16 February 1988(1988-02-16) (aged 42)
Polhengoda, Sri Lanka
Alma materDe Mazenod College;[1] St. Benedict's College [2]
Occupation(s)Actor, Singer, politician
Years active1968–1988
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) [3]
SpouseChandrika Kumaranatunga (1978–1988)
RelativesJeewan Kumaranatunga

Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga (Template:Lang-si; Template:Lang-ta; 9 October 1945 – 16 February 1988), also known as Vijaya Kumaranatunga, was a Sri Lankan film actor and politician, married to former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaranatunga from 1978 until his assassination in 1988.

Film career

Kumaratunga's first film was Hanthane Kathawa (හන්තානේ කතාව), in which he played the lead role directed by Sugathapala Senarath Yapa. In a career that spanned nearly two decades, he acted in 114 films, including Ahas Gauwa(1974)(අහස් ගව්ව) , Eya Den Loku Lamayek (1975)(එයා දැන් ලොකු ළමයෙක්) , Ponmani (1977) (පොන්මනි), Bambaru Avith (1977) (බඹරු ඇවිත්), Ganga Addara (1980) (ගඟ අද්දර), Baddegama (1980) (බැද්දේගම), Paradige (1980)(පාර දිගේ), Maha Gedara (1980)(මහ ගෙදර), Kedapathaka Chaya (1989) (කැඩපතක චායා), and Kristhu Charithaya (1990)(ක්‍රිස්තු චරිතය). He acted in one English-language film, The God King, and one Tamil film, Nanguran.

He also performed as a playback singer in several films; recorded more than 100 songs;[4] and produced one film, Waradata Danduwam, which was released after his death.

Political career

Kumaratunga started his political career in the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). He later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and became its first national organizer.

In 1977, he ran unsuccessfully for the Katana seat in Parliament.[5] Five years later, he was active in the 1982 presidential campaign of Hector Kobbekaduwa. After the election, he was accused of being a Naxalite and jailed under the emergency regulations of President J. R. Jayewardene, but he was never charged.

He ran as the SLFP candidate in a by-election in Mahara in 1983 and was threatened by United National Party (UNP) supporters. An attempt was made on his life, and one of his friends was killed. Kumaratunga won the first vote count, and a recount was ordered. At that point, a blackout occurred at the counting centre. By the time electricity was restored, the UNP candidate had recorded a victory by a few votes. The opposition alleged that someone had "eaten some of Vijaya's votes to ensure UNP victory".[6]

He founded the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP), which campaigned for peace in the Sri Lankan civil war. Under his new party, he contested a Minneriya by-election and finished second, behind the UNP candidate—relegating his old party, SLFP, to third place.[7] The SLMP went on to contest several other by-elections, including in Kundasale and Habaraduwa, but did not live up to expectations.[7]

in 1986, Kumaranatunga visited Jaffna, then controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He visited the Nallur Murugan Temple and met with local Tamil civilians, as well as several LTTE youth leaders.

In his final public address, to a large crowd in Colombo's Campbell Park on 28 January 1988, Kumaratunga lashed out at the UNP, SLFP, and Janatha Vimuthki Peramuna (JVP) parties for failing to address the needs of the hour. He also voiced concerns about the SLFP's links with the JVP, a Marxist–Leninist party involved in two armed uprisings against the Sri Lankan government.[8]

In 1988, the SLMP reached an agreement with several other left-wing parties—including the LSSP, Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP), Sri Lanka Communist Party, and Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF)—to form the United Socialist Alliance (USA). A few days prior to the establishment of the new alliance, Kumaranatunga was assassinated. The agreement was signed by party leaders at his funeral.

The USA won a large number of seats in the newly formed provincial councils in an election boycotted by the main opposition SLFP. However, in the 1988 presidential election, the USA candidate, Ossie Abeygunasekera, finished in last place. In the 1989 parliamentary elections, USA candidates won three seats, but none of the winners represented the SLMP.[9]

Personal life

In 1978, Kumaratunga married Chandrika Bandaranaike, with whom he had two children. Bandaranaike was the daughter of two former prime ministers, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and would later become president of Sri Lanka.

Death and legacy

Kumaratunga was shot in the head with a Type 56 assault rifle outside his home on the outskirts of Colombo on 16 February 1988 by Lionel Ranasinghe, alias Gamini. Ranasinghe confessed to the murder under questioning by the Criminal Investigation Department. In a 141-page statement, he said he had been carrying out orders given to him by the Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya (Patriotic People's Movement), the military arm of the JVP, which was responsible for multiple assassinations in the late 1980s.[10] However, a presidential commission report concluded that President Ranasinghe Premadasa of the UNP and two government ministers, Gamini Lokuge and Ranjan Wijeratne, were behind the Kumaranatunga assassination.[11]

Kumaratunga's funeral, on 21 February 1988, attracted huge crowds and was the first funeral to be broadcast live on Sri Lankan television (by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation). It was held at Independence Square in Colombo as a state funeral, even though he represented the opposition to the UNP government. The day of his assassination is widely known as "The Horrible Tuesday" or "The Darkest Tuesday in Sri Lankan History" (He was assassinated on a Tuesday).[citation needed] His death is still mourned by many people in Sri Lanka.[12]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1967 Manamalayo Acting debut
1969 Romio Juliet Kathawak
Hanthane Kathawa
1970 Priyanga
1971 Ran Onchilla
Abirahasa
Kesara Sinhayo
Hatharadenama Soorayo
Samanala Kumariyo Samaga Api Kawadath Soorayo
Bindunu Hadawath Also film's producer
1977 Me Desa Kumatada
Edath Sooraya Adath Sooraya
Vana Raja
Adare Hithenawa Dakkama
Thushara Sampath
Haddinnath Tharu
Dahakin Ekek
Hondama Welawa
1974 Susi
Ahas Gauwa
Duleeka
Sanakeliya Rohitha Radalage
The God King Lalith English-language film
1975 Pem Kurullo
Sikuruliya
Lassana Dawasak
Sangeetha Wimal
1976 Pradeepe Ma Weva
Vasana
Diyamanthi
Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai
Adarei Man Adarei
1977 Sakunthala
Hithuvoth Hithuvamai Manju, Rohan, Chukki
Maruwa Samaga Wase Maru Sira
Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
Eya Den Loku Lamayek Village Officer
Pembara Madhu
1978 Vishmaya
Kundala Keshi Saththuka
Sandawata Ran Tharu
Anupama Asitha
Selinge Walawuwa
Bambaru Awith Victor
Sally
Kumara Kumariyo Sagara
Ahasin Polowata
1979 Gahaniyak
Podi Malli Gunapala aka Peter
Hingana Kolla Saiya, Morris Abeysiriwardena
Monarathenna Piyasoma
Eka Hitha
Akke Mata Awasara Ajith
1980 Raja Dawasak
Ganga Addara Dr. Sarath Pathirana
Karumakkarayo Wilison
Kinduru Kumari
Para Dige Chandare
Tak Tik Tuk Sarath
Kanchana Ajith
1981 Beddegama Babun Based on Leonard Wolf's Baddegama
Githika Sampath
Anjana Saliya
Suriyakantha Hemantha
Valampuri Heen Banda
1982 Yasa Isuru ASP Mahesh Gunasekara
Mihidum Sihina Vijitha
Kiri Suwanda Meril
Rahasak Nathi Rahasak
Maha Gedara Nandana / His father
Kadawunu Poronduwa (New) Samson
Newatha Hamuwemu
Paramitha Lassana
Bicykale Ajith
1983 Samanala Sihina
Sivu Rangasena
Pasta Mithuro
Sandamali
1984 Kokila
Jaya Sikurui
Binaree Saha Sudu Banda Sudu Banda
Welle Thenu Maliga Christofer
Rana Derana Ranasinghe Arachchi
1986 Devuduwa Anton
Peralikarayo Vijay/Samson Dual role
Jaya Apitai Suraya
Gimhane Gee Naade
1987 Yugayen Yugayata
Yukthiyada Sakthiyada
Kavuluva
Raja Wedakarayo Inspector Ramesh
Randamwel
Obatai Priye Adare

Ravi

Ahinsa
1989 Mamai Raja
Kadapathaka Chaya Danawansa
Badulu Kochchiya
Nommara 17 Vijay, Nommara 17
Varadata Danduvam Also film's producer
Randenigala Sinhaya
1990 Dese Mal Pipila Vijey
Thanha Asha Mahesh
Veera Udara Guest appearance
Madu Sihina Mr. Sandagala
Christhu Charithaya Jesus
Saharawe Sihinaya Sarasaviya Award for Best Playback Singer[citation needed]
1991 Madhusamaya Jagath
1993 Soorayan Athara Veeraya
1995 Hitha Honda Soorayo
1998 Aya Obata Barai

See also

References

  1. ^ "A humble humanist with broad vision". DailyNews. 21 October 2006. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Some of St. Benedict's College's Illustrious Alumni". stbenedictscollege.org. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  3. ^ As per his Postal ID issued on 23/11/1963 (AL:001821)
  4. ^ "විජය මියුරු ගී". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  5. ^ Malalgoda Banduthillka.Sri Lanka Methiwarana Ithihasaya
  6. ^ LankaNewspapers.com.Reins in these wild buffaloes.Tuesday 18 Dec 2007.Available online.
  7. ^ a b Malalgoda Banduthillaka.Sri Lankawe Methiwarana Ithihasaya.
  8. ^ Bloody betrayal, by Dilrukshi Handunnetti (The Sunday Leader, 22nd February, 2004)
  9. ^ Malalgoda Banduthillaka.Sri Lankawe Methiwarana Ithihasaya
  10. ^ Confessions of Vijaya's killer by Sunday Leader -Frederica Jansz (Virtual Library SL Web)
  11. ^ Vijaya Kumaratunga assassination was a UNP conspiracy: Gamini Lokuge's gun alleged death weapon (Sunday Observer, 21 March 2004) Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Devolution only solution - CBK (Vijaya's 20th Death Anniversary)". BBC News. 19 February 2008.

Articles

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