Sepala Ekanayake
Encyclopedia
Sepala Ekanayake (born June 3, 1949 in Karatota, Matara, Sri Lanka
) is a Sri Lankan hijacker who gained international notoriety after hijacking an Alitalia
Boeing 747
with 340 passengers on June 30, 1982.
. As a kid he ran away from his father's home and stayed with the headmaster of Ananda Primary for six months.
In 1972 Ekanayake moved to West Germany
. In Germany he formed a romantic relationship with an Italian
girl named Anna Aldrovandi. They were married in 1977. In 1980 they relocated to Modena, Italy and had a son named Free Ekanayake.
Ekanayake lost his Italian visa
some time after his son's birth and was denied a new one by Italian authorities. They suggested instead that he return to Sri Lanka
and apply for visa with the Italian Embassy in Colombo
. Ekanayake then learned that he had to wait six years before he could obtain visa. Angry at his situation he concoted a plan to hijack an Italian plane and put forth his demands straight to the Italian government.
On June 30, 1982 Ekanayake traveled to the New Delhi
airport with some of his friends and awaited the arrival of an Alitalia Boeing 747 from Rome
on its way to Tokyo
. Upon its arrival, Ekanayake obtained a rear seat on the plane.
airport and 300,000 US dollars. He also instructed that the plane was to land at the Bangkok airport, leave the doors closed, issue the demands to the Italian authorities, and communicate only through radio
. If his orders were not followed Ekanayake would blow up the plane with the "most sophisticated bombs manufactured in Italy."
The chief pilot George Amarosa immediately dropped to 25,000 feet and headed to Bangkok. In a few hours Anna, Free and the ransom were on the way to the city. In 30 hours the transaction was completed and Ekanayake released the passengers of the plane. He now had to figure out where he would go with the money and his family.
in Bangkok Manel Abeysekera assured Ekanayake that he could return to Sri Lanka without any fear. Ekanayake reluctantly did and the Italian government demanded that he be handed over to them. Public opinion in Sri Lanka opposed this move; some in Sri Lanka even deemed Ekanayake a hero. Eventually he was arrested in Galle
and sent to Welikada prison. Sri Lanka would try him in their courts. Anna and Free returned to Italy.
At that time, there were no existing laws against hijacking
in Sri Lanka and the parliament had to pass some before Ekanayake could be tried. He was tried before High Court Judge J.J.S.A Dias Upawansa Yapa and was represented by lawyer Ran Banda Seneviratne
. Ekanayake was sentenced to five years in jail.
In jail Ekanayake tried his hand at writing. He was released in 1987. Ekanayake married again to English teacher Yasanganee Madupali and has two children: Sally and Wirama. He now conducts a Jeep
business in Nuwara Eliya
while residing in Battaramulla. In 1994 he campaigned for the People's Alliance
and wrote a book titled "Uta saha Thota."
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...
) is a Sri Lankan hijacker who gained international notoriety after hijacking an Alitalia
Alitalia
Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. , in its later stages known as Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. in Extraordinary Administration, was the former Italian flag carrier...
Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
with 340 passengers on June 30, 1982.
Early life
Ekanayake attended a village school and Yodakandiya Vidyalaya in HambantotaHambantota
Hambantota is a coastal city in the south of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Hambantota District...
. As a kid he ran away from his father's home and stayed with the headmaster of Ananda Primary for six months.
In 1972 Ekanayake moved to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. In Germany he formed a romantic relationship with an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
girl named Anna Aldrovandi. They were married in 1977. In 1980 they relocated to Modena, Italy and had a son named Free Ekanayake.
Ekanayake lost his Italian visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
some time after his son's birth and was denied a new one by Italian authorities. They suggested instead that he return to 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...
and apply for visa with the Italian Embassy in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. Ekanayake then learned that he had to wait six years before he could obtain visa. Angry at his situation he concoted a plan to hijack an Italian plane and put forth his demands straight to the Italian government.
On June 30, 1982 Ekanayake traveled to the New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
airport with some of his friends and awaited the arrival of an Alitalia Boeing 747 from Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on its way to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Upon its arrival, Ekanayake obtained a rear seat on the plane.
Hijacking
Ekanayake waited until the plane reached a level of 35,000 feet and then issued his demands to the pilot in a letter. He wanted to have his wife and son brought to the BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
airport and 300,000 US dollars. He also instructed that the plane was to land at the Bangkok airport, leave the doors closed, issue the demands to the Italian authorities, and communicate only through radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. If his orders were not followed Ekanayake would blow up the plane with the "most sophisticated bombs manufactured in Italy."
The chief pilot George Amarosa immediately dropped to 25,000 feet and headed to Bangkok. In a few hours Anna, Free and the ransom were on the way to the city. In 30 hours the transaction was completed and Ekanayake released the passengers of the plane. He now had to figure out where he would go with the money and his family.
Aftermath
The Sri Lankan ambassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
in Bangkok Manel Abeysekera assured Ekanayake that he could return to Sri Lanka without any fear. Ekanayake reluctantly did and the Italian government demanded that he be handed over to them. Public opinion in Sri Lanka opposed this move; some in Sri Lanka even deemed Ekanayake a hero. Eventually he was arrested in Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
and sent to Welikada prison. Sri Lanka would try him in their courts. Anna and Free returned to Italy.
At that time, there were no existing laws against hijacking
Aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
in Sri Lanka and the parliament had to pass some before Ekanayake could be tried. He was tried before High Court Judge J.J.S.A Dias Upawansa Yapa and was represented by lawyer Ran Banda Seneviratne
Ran Banda Seneviratne
Ran Banda Seneviratne was a Sri Lankan lawyer, author, lyricist, television and radio presenter. -Early life:Ran Banda was born in the remote village of Maradankadawala near Mihintale, in the Anuradhapura District . His father was a teacher and an ayurvedic healer known as Wannihamy...
. Ekanayake was sentenced to five years in jail.
In jail Ekanayake tried his hand at writing. He was released in 1987. Ekanayake married again to English teacher Yasanganee Madupali and has two children: Sally and Wirama. He now conducts a Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
business in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
while residing in Battaramulla. In 1994 he campaigned for the People's Alliance
People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)
The People's Alliance is a front of political parties in Sri Lanka, formed in 1994.It comprises the following parties:* Sri Lanka Freedom Party* Lanka Sama Samaja Party* Communist Party of Sri Lanka* Sri Lanka Mahajana Party...
and wrote a book titled "Uta saha Thota."