Shantha Bandara
Shantha Bandara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Political party | Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Patriotic People's Front (Sri Lanka) |
| Rank | Commander |
Shantha Bandara alias Mahanama (1951−1990) was the first convenor of the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF)[1] and a key leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka. He was killed in January 1990.
Student activism
[edit]Shantha Bandara was a student at University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya campus when he started his political career joining the Samaja Adhyayana Kavaya (Social Studies Circle) of the university.[2] He was instrumental in creating the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) - a major university student union in Sri Lanka - in 1978. He also led a protest against the prevailing United National Party government in 1979. Bandara did not complete his degree.
JVP and insurgency 1987−1989
[edit]He joined Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in 1977. After becoming the leader of southern region, he headed the list of candidates of JVP at the Colombo Municipal Council elections. Bandara was a key leader of the unsuccessful JVP insurrection during 1987−1989. He led an unsuccessful attack on Wadduwa Army Camp and many other clandestine operations.[3] In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion at Beliatta. At the time of the arrest, he was ranked No.9 in the JVP hierarchy.[4] He tried unsuccessfully to bribe the guards, but was released four months later[5] on the promise to cease violence and bring about a settlement. But he reneged on his promise. Eventually, he was killed by the armed forces in January 1990.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Our History". Inter University Students' Federation. 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- ^ "Rebel with a cause: An Interview with Dayan Jayatilleka". TransCurrents. 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Law closes in on Somawansa". The Sunday Leader. 2004. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- ^ "JVP fear psychosis - Part VIII: JVP attack on Wadduwa Army Camp foiled". The Daily News. 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- ^ "Amnesty International report 1989: Sri Lanka". Amnesty International. 1989. Retrieved 2010-07-31.