Victor Ivan
Encyclopedia
Majuwana Kankanamage Victor Ivan is a controversial but well regarded Sri Lanka
n journalist. 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. 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. He now recalls that the insurrection was a "foolish dream" http://sundaytimes.lk/010408/spec.html
He now heads a radical Sri Lankan newspaper called Ravaya
and is a fierce critic of the JVP. 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'(Bandit Queen)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.
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 in to exile due to their anti-government activities.
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 journalist. He was a leader of the 1971 insurrection of the 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) and used the nomme-de-guerre Podi Athula (as opposed to "Loku Athula" the former minister Athula Nimalasiri Jayasinghe. 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. He now recalls that the insurrection was a "foolish dream" http://sundaytimes.lk/010408/spec.html
He now heads a radical Sri Lankan newspaper called Ravaya
Ravaya
Ravaya is a Sri Lankan Sinhala tabloid published by Victor Ivan. It is known for its radical political views. Ravaya was a staunch supporter of Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1994. Ravaya is an intellectuals forum for non traditional analysis of social, political, cultural and judicial views of Sri Lanka...
and is a fierce critic of the JVP. He's also a member of the Free Media Movement
Free Media Movement
The Free Media Movement is media freedom watchdog organization of Journalists from Sri Lanka.It evolved out of the standing committee of journalists, which was formed in late 1991. The standing committee was formed by a group of journalists and media personnel as a reaction to the then government...
and several other political NGOs.He authored several books the most controversial of which is 'Choura Rejina'(Bandit Queen)on the dark side of President Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga born June 29, 1945) was the 4th Executive president of Sri Lanka, serving from November 12, 1994 to November 19, 2005. The daughter of two former Prime Ministers, she was also the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until end of 2005...
boldly discloses the malpractices. Mr Ivan was an ardent supporter of her during her election in 1994 but eventually grew distant.
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 in to exile due to their anti-government activities.