Talduwe Somarama
Encyclopedia
Talduwe Ratugama Rallage Weris Singho better known as Talduwe Somarama (1915–1962) was a Sri Lanka
n Sinhalese
Buddhist
monk who shot and killed Solomon Bandaranaike
, the Prime Minister
of Sri Lanka
(then called Ceylon) in 1959. He later openly converted to Christianity, just weeks prior to being hanged in the Welikada gallows.
in Kandy
on June 25, 1936.
, the chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
, Somarama reluctantly consented to assassinate the Prime Minister, "for the greater good of his country, race and religion". Although Buddharakkitha attributed Bandaranaike's failure to aggressively pursue the Nationalist reforms as the motive to eliminate him, the real reason appeared to be the Prime Minister's refusal to award business deals, in particular a shipping contract, to a company floated by the Chief Priest, Mapitigama Buddharakkitha.
The date was set to September 25, 1959, when Somarama was to visit the Prime Minister at his home and shoot him at point blank range. His saffron robes gave him free access to 'Tintagel', the private residence of Bandaranaike, in Rosmead Place, Colombo
. As the Premier commenced his routine meetings with the public, Somarama waited in patience for his turn. When the monk's presence was announced to him, Bandaranaike rose to greet him in the traditional Buddhist manner. The assassin then pulled out the revolver
hidden in his robes and fired at the prostrate Prime Minister. Somarama was injured in firing between himself and the Prime Minister's bodyguards.
The wounded Premier was rushed to hospital and died the following day in spite of a six-hour surgery by the country's most skilled surgeons. In his message to the nation from his bed in the Merchant's Ward of the General Hospital in Colombo
, Bandaranaike referred to his unknown assassin "as a foolish man dressed in the robes of a monk", but requested that the authorities "show compassion to this man and not try to wreak vengeance on him."
Somarama then faced trial, along with four other involved in the conspiracy. It was a hopeless case, and in spite of a resourceful defense the jury unanimously found Somarama guilty of the capital offense. Before sentencing him to death, the trial judge, Justice T.S. Fernando, QC, CBE, told Somarama he had a "streak of conscience as he did not attend court in his saffron robes." The chief conspirator, Mapitigama Buddharakkitha and H. P. Jayawardena, a businessman closely associated with him, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder. Bandaranaike had suspended capital punishment
, but after his death the government had it restored. In an apparent blunder by the draftsman, the law re-establishing the death penalty failed to include conspiracy to murder. As a consequence, while Somarama would hang, the two chief conspirators escaped with life sentences.
Somarama was hanged on 7 July 1962. He gave up his robes a fortnight before his hanging and, two days before his execution, was baptized as a Christian by an Anglican priest. Prison officials said that this was so that he could seek "the forgiveness that the Buddhist religion does not grant." Journalists in Ceylon, however, suggested a different motive: to kill a fellow Buddhist was a sin, which he had committed by killing Bandaranaike, but by converting he would spare the gaolers and hangmen from committing the same sin.
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...
n Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
monk who shot and killed Solomon Bandaranaike
Solomon Bandaranaike
Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (Sinhala:සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බන්ඩාරනායක)(Tamil:சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிச்சர்ட் டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கா)Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (Sinhala:සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බන්ඩාරනායක)(Tamil:சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிச்சர்ட் டயஸ்...
, the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of 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...
(then called Ceylon) in 1959. He later openly converted to Christianity, just weeks prior to being hanged in the Welikada gallows.
Early life
Somarama was born on August 27, 1915, to Iso Hamy and Ratugama Rallage Dieris Appuhamy. He was robed when he was 14 on January 20, 1929, and received his schooling at Talduwa Ihala School. He allegedly received his higher ordinationOrdination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
on June 25, 1936.
The Assassination
Allegedly drafted in to the conspiracy by Mapitigama BuddharakkithaMapitigama Buddharakkitha
Mapitigama Buddharakkitha was the chief conspirator of the assassination of fourth Prime Minister of Ceylon , S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike...
, the chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, seven miles from Colombo. The Chief Incumbent is Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera....
, Somarama reluctantly consented to assassinate the Prime Minister, "for the greater good of his country, race and religion". Although Buddharakkitha attributed Bandaranaike's failure to aggressively pursue the Nationalist reforms as the motive to eliminate him, the real reason appeared to be the Prime Minister's refusal to award business deals, in particular a shipping contract, to a company floated by the Chief Priest, Mapitigama Buddharakkitha.
The date was set to September 25, 1959, when Somarama was to visit the Prime Minister at his home and shoot him at point blank range. His saffron robes gave him free access to 'Tintagel', the private residence of Bandaranaike, in Rosmead Place, 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...
. As the Premier commenced his routine meetings with the public, Somarama waited in patience for his turn. When the monk's presence was announced to him, Bandaranaike rose to greet him in the traditional Buddhist manner. The assassin then pulled out the revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
hidden in his robes and fired at the prostrate Prime Minister. Somarama was injured in firing between himself and the Prime Minister's bodyguards.
The wounded Premier was rushed to hospital and died the following day in spite of a six-hour surgery by the country's most skilled surgeons. In his message to the nation from his bed in the Merchant's Ward of the General Hospital 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...
, Bandaranaike referred to his unknown assassin "as a foolish man dressed in the robes of a monk", but requested that the authorities "show compassion to this man and not try to wreak vengeance on him."
Somarama then faced trial, along with four other involved in the conspiracy. It was a hopeless case, and in spite of a resourceful defense the jury unanimously found Somarama guilty of the capital offense. Before sentencing him to death, the trial judge, Justice T.S. Fernando, QC, CBE, told Somarama he had a "streak of conscience as he did not attend court in his saffron robes." The chief conspirator, Mapitigama Buddharakkitha and H. P. Jayawardena, a businessman closely associated with him, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder. Bandaranaike had suspended capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, but after his death the government had it restored. In an apparent blunder by the draftsman, the law re-establishing the death penalty failed to include conspiracy to murder. As a consequence, while Somarama would hang, the two chief conspirators escaped with life sentences.
Somarama was hanged on 7 July 1962. He gave up his robes a fortnight before his hanging and, two days before his execution, was baptized as a Christian by an Anglican priest. Prison officials said that this was so that he could seek "the forgiveness that the Buddhist religion does not grant." Journalists in Ceylon, however, suggested a different motive: to kill a fellow Buddhist was a sin, which he had committed by killing Bandaranaike, but by converting he would spare the gaolers and hangmen from committing the same sin.
Further reading
- A.C. AllesA.C. AllesHon. Justice Anthony Christopher Alles or A.C. Alles was a former Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and also a non-fiction writer.-Early life:...
, Famous Criminal Cases of Sri Lanka, Volume III: The Assassination of Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike (Dec-1979): Published by the author. Hardcover published by Vantage, Inc., N.Y., U.S.A. 1986 as The Assassination of a Prime Minister. ISBN 0-533-06636-0. - Lucian G. Weeramantry, The Assassination of a Prime Minister - The Bandaranaike Murder Case (Hardcover, Geneva, Switzerland, 1969).
- Firoze Sameer, dOSSIEr COREA: A portfolio on crime (Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1999) ISBN 955-96740-0-5.
- Seneviratne, H.L: Buddhist monks and ethnic politics. Anthropology Today, April 2001; 17(2): 15-21.
- Weeramantry, L.G: Assassination of a Prime Minister – The Bandaranaike Murder Case, Geneva, 1969.