Assassination of Daya Pathirana
Encyclopedia
The assassination of Daya Pathirana took place on 15 December 1986. Daya Pathirana was the leader of the Independent Students Union (ISU) of University of Colombo
during 1985-1986. Pro-Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Inter University Students' Federation
students are accused of his murder. This assassination is considered as a watershed incident in the 1987–89 JVP Insurrection.
during his study at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo
. In the book Sri Lanka: The Travails of Unfinished War, Protracted Crisis (1995), Dr.
Dayan Jayatilleka
describes Pathirana as a very poor student, a radical Leftist, not a member of the old Left or the traditional Left
. Although he was leftist, he vehemently opposed Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
(JVP), the Marxist-Leninist political party
which had almost total control over the student's unions in Sri Lanka
. Therefore he and the Independent Students Union led by him became the most serious threat to the JVP control. In a report named Insurrectionary Violence in Sri Lanka: The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Insurgencies of 1971 and 1987-1989, Tisaranee Gunasekara describes Pathirana as a "radical student activist, with impeccable anti-UNP
/anti-systemic credentials". Taking over the entire university system was a vital objective, because the Inter University Students' Federation
(IUSF) was earmarked by the JVP leadership to be the public political face of the party.
. The abductors then began to torture him and Somasiri, demanding information about other student and left activists. This was interrupted by a group of pilgrims (as it was the full moon poya day
) It saved the life of Somasiri. But Pathirana was cut-throat
at the point of intervention and eventually succumbed to his wounds.
of the 1987–89 JVP Insurrection. The subsequent uprising proved extremely costly to the country, leaving approximately 60,000 dead or missing. During its earlier stages, JVP unleashed violence killing radical leftist figures like Daya Pathirana and Vijaya Kumaratunga
in a bid to neutralize the threats from the left-wing politics itself. However in 1996, 6 years after the failed insurrection, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva denied that JVP was involved in the Daya Pathirana murder.
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
during 1985-1986. Pro-Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
Inter University Students' Federation
Inter University Students' Federation
Inter University Students' Federation aka anthare is a students' union affiliated to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna , a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka.-Overview:...
students are accused of his murder. This assassination is considered as a watershed incident in the 1987–89 JVP Insurrection.
Background
Daya Pathirana pioneered the Independent Students Union (ISU) of University of ColomboUniversity of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
during his study at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo
Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo
Faculty of Arts is one of seven faculties of the University of Colombo. It conducts both undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs.The largest faculty in of the University of Colombo, it is made up of eight academic departments and several teaching units, it undertakes studies and research in...
. In the book Sri Lanka: The Travails of Unfinished War, Protracted Crisis (1995), Dr.
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
Dayan Jayatilleka
Dayan Jayatilleka
Dayan Jayatilleka is a Sri Lankan Diplomat, Political scientist and an author.He was Ex Minister of Planning & Youth Affairs in the North-East Provincial Council in 1988–89 and also served as the permanent mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations at Geneva from 2007 to 2009. Thereafter was the...
describes Pathirana as a very poor student, a radical Leftist, not a member of the old Left or the traditional Left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
. Although he was leftist, he vehemently opposed Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
(JVP), the Marxist-Leninist political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
which had almost total control over the student's unions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Therefore he and the Independent Students Union led by him became the most serious threat to the JVP control. In a report named Insurrectionary Violence in Sri Lanka: The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Insurgencies of 1971 and 1987-1989, Tisaranee Gunasekara describes Pathirana as a "radical student activist, with impeccable anti-UNP
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
/anti-systemic credentials". Taking over the entire university system was a vital objective, because the Inter University Students' Federation
Inter University Students' Federation
Inter University Students' Federation aka anthare is a students' union affiliated to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna , a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka.-Overview:...
(IUSF) was earmarked by the JVP leadership to be the public political face of the party.
Abduction and assassination
On 15 December 1986, he along with a colleague named Somasiri was abducted to a lonely spot off the Bolgoda Lake, PiliyandalaPiliyandala
Piliyanadala is a suburb of Sri Lankan capital Colombo, which is situated approximately 18 km south of Colombo.Piliyandala, Sri Lanka is one of the relatively more populated cities located in the Colombo District of the Western_Province,_Sri_Lanka and it is surrounded by Moratuwa, Kesbawa,...
. The abductors then began to torture him and Somasiri, demanding information about other student and left activists. This was interrupted by a group of pilgrims (as it was the full moon poya day
Poya
Poya or Poya Day is the name given to a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka which occurs every full moon day. The Full moon is important to Buddhists all around the world, who have adopted the Lunar Calendar for their religious observances...
) It saved the life of Somasiri. But Pathirana was cut-throat
Cut-throat
Cut-throat, cutthroat or cut throat may refer to:*A murderer*Cut-throat competition, a competition results in reducing prices*A highly competitive person or organization...
at the point of intervention and eventually succumbed to his wounds.
Aftermath
The assassination of Daya Pathirana is considered as the first targeted killingTargeted killing
Targeted killing is the deliberate, specific targeting and killing, by a government or its agents, of a supposed terrorist or of a supposed "unlawful combatant" who is not in that government's custody...
of the 1987–89 JVP Insurrection. The subsequent uprising proved extremely costly to the country, leaving approximately 60,000 dead or missing. During its earlier stages, JVP unleashed violence killing radical leftist figures like Daya Pathirana and Vijaya Kumaratunga
Vijaya Kumaratunga
Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga was a popular Sri Lankan film actor and politician, married to former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga from 1978 to his assassination in 1988.- Family life :In 1978, Kumaratunga married Chandrika Bandaranaike, daughter of the...
in a bid to neutralize the threats from the left-wing politics itself. However in 1996, 6 years after the failed insurrection, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva denied that JVP was involved in the Daya Pathirana murder.
Further reading
- Jayatilleka, Dayan, Sri Lanka, Travails of a Democracy, Unfinished War, Protracted Crisis ,Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, (1995), ISBN 0706993500 / ISBN 978-0706993509
- Gunasekara, Tisaranee, Insurrectionary Violence in Sri Lanka: The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Insurgencies of 1971 and 1987-1989, Ethnic Studies Report, ICES, Vol. XVII, No. 1, January 1999.
See also
- List of assassinations of the Second JVP Insurrection
- Inter University Students' FederationInter University Students' FederationInter University Students' Federation aka anthare is a students' union affiliated to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna , a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka.-Overview:...