Vijaya Kumaratunga


Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga ;, popularly known as Vijaya Kumaranatunga, was a Popular Sri Lankan Film Actor, Singer and Politician, married to former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaranatunga from 1978 until his Assassination in 1988. He was the Founder of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party.

Film career

Kumaratunga's first film was Hanthane Kathawa, in which he played the lead role directed by Sugathapala Senarath Yapa. In a career that spanned nearly two decades, he acted in 123 films, including Ahas Gauwa, Eya Den Loku Lamayek , Ponmani , Bambaru Avith , Ganga Addara , Baddegama , Paradige, Maha Gedara, Kedapathaka Chaya , and Kristhu Charithaya. He acted in one English-language film, The God King, and one Tamil film, Nanguram.also he is a most popular actor in his era
He also performed as a playback singer in several films; recorded more than 100 songs; and produced two films, Waradata Danduwam and Samawa which was released after his death.

Political career

Kumaratunga started his political career in the Lanka Sama Samaja Party. He later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and became its first national organizer.
In 1977, he ran unsuccessfully for the Katana seat in Parliament. Five years later, he was active in the 1982 presidential campaign of Hector Kobbekaduwa. After the election, he was accused of being a Naxalite and jailed under the emergency regulations of President J. R. Jayewardene, but he was never charged.
He ran as the SLFP candidate in a by-election in Mahara in 1983 and was threatened by United National Party supporters. An attempt was made on his life, and one of his friends was killed. Kumaratunga won the first vote count, and a recount was ordered. At that point, a blackout occurred at the counting centre. By the time electricity was restored, the UNP candidate had recorded a victory by a few votes. The opposition alleged that someone had "eaten some of Vijaya's votes to ensure UNP victory".
He founded the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, which campaigned for peace in the Sri Lankan Civil War. Under his new party, he contested a Minneriya by-election and finished second, behind the UNP candidate—relegating his old party, SLFP, to third place. The SLMP went on to contest several other by-elections, including in Kundasale and Habaraduwa, but did not live up to expectations.
in 1986, Kumaranatunga visited Jaffna, then controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. He visited the Nallur Murugan Temple and met with local Tamil civilians, as well as several LTTE youth leaders.
In his final public address, to a large crowd in Colombo's Campbell Park on 28 January 1988, Kumaratunga lashed out at the UNP, SLFP, and Janatha Vimuthki Peramuna parties for failing to address the needs of the hour. He also voiced concerns about the SLFP's links with the JVP, a Marxist–Leninist party involved in two armed uprisings against the Sri Lankan government.
In 1988, the SLMP reached an agreement with several other left-wing parties—including the LSSP, Nava Sama Samaja Party, Sri Lanka Communist Party, and Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front —to form the United Socialist Alliance. A few days prior to the establishment of the new alliance, Kumaranatunga was assassinated. The agreement was signed by party leaders at his funeral.
The USA won a large number of seats in the newly formed provincial councils in an election boycotted by the main opposition SLFP. However, in the 1988 presidential election, the USA candidate, Ossie Abeygunasekera, finished in last place. In the 1989 parliamentary elections, USA candidates won three seats, but none of the winners represented the SLMP.

Personal life

In 1978, Kumaratunga married Chandrika Bandaranaike, with whom he had two children. Bandaranaike was the daughter of two former prime ministers, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and would later become president of Sri Lanka.

Death and legacy

Kumaratunga was shot in the head with a Type 56 assault rifle outside his home on the outskirts of Colombo on 16 February 1988 by Lionel Ranasinghe, alias Gamini. Ranasinghe confessed to the murder under questioning by the Criminal Investigation Department. In a 141-page statement, he said he had been carrying out orders given to him by the Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya, the military arm of the JVP, which was responsible for multiple assassinations in the late 1980s. However, a presidential commission report concluded that President Ranasinghe Premadasa of the UNP and two government ministers, Gamini Lokuge and Ranjan Wijeratne, were behind the Kumaranatunga assassination.
Kumaratunga's funeral, on 21 February 1988, attracted huge crowds and was the first funeral to be broadcast live on Sri Lankan television. It was held at Independence Square in Colombo as a state funeral, even though he represented the opposition to the UNP government. The day of his assassination is widely known as "The Horrible Tuesday" or "The Darkest Tuesday in Sri Lankan History". His death is still mourned by many people in Sri Lanka.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1967ManamalayoActing debut
1969Romio Juliet Kathawak
1969Hanthane KathawaBandu
1970Priyanga
1971Ran OnchillaWickrama
1971Abirahasa
1971Kesara SinhayoGamini
1971Hatharadenama SoorayoWijesekara alias Wije-
1971Samanala Kumariyo Samaga Api Kawadath Soorayo
1971Bindunu HadawathAlso film's producer
1972Me Desa Kumatadaas Himself
1972Edath Sooraya Adath Sooraya
1972Vana Raja
1972Adare Hithenawa DakkamaPremkumar
1972ThusharaSampath
1972Hathdinnath Tharu
1972Dahakin Ekek
1972Hondama Welawa
1974Susi
1974Ahas Gauwa
1974Duleeka
1974SanakeliyaRohitha Radalage
1974The God KingLalithEnglish-language film
1975Pem Kurullo
1975Sikuruliya
1975Lassana Dawasak
1975SangeethaWimal, Vijaya
1976Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976Vasana
1976Diyamanthi
1976Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai
1976Adarei Man Adarei
1977Sakunthala
1977Hithuvoth HithuvamaiManju, Mohan, Chukki
1977Maruwa Samaga WaseMaru Sira
1977Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977Eya Den Loku LamayekVillage Officer
1977Pembara Madhu
1978Vishmaya
1978Kundala KeshiSaththuka
1978Sandawata Ran Tharu
1978AnupamaAsitha
1978Selinge Walawuwa
1978Bambaru AwithVictor
1978Sally
1978Kumara KumariyoSagara
1978Ahasin Polowata
1979Gahaniyak
1979Podi MalliGunapala aka Peter
1979Hingana KollaSaiya aka Morris Abeysiriwardena
1979MonarathennaPiyasoma
1979Eka Hitha
1979NangooramTamil film
1979Akke Mata AwasaraAjith
1980Raja Dawasak
1980Ganga AddaraDr. Sarath Pathirana
1980KarumakkarayoWilison
1980Kinduru KumariPodde
1980Para DigeChandare
1980Tak Tik TukSarath
1980KanchanaAjith
1981BeddegamaBabunBased on Leonard Wolf's Baddegama
1981GeethikaSampath
1981AnjanaSaliya
1981SuriyakanthaHemantha
1981ValampuriHeen Banda
1982Yasa IsuruASP Mahesh Gunasekara
1982Mihidum SihinaVijitha
1982Kiri SuwandaMeril
1982Rahasak Nathi Rahasak
1982Maha GedaraNandana / His father
1982Kadawunu Poronduwa Samson
1982Newatha HamuwemuDual-role
1982ParamithaLassana
1982BicykaleAjith
1983Samanala Sihina
1983Sivu Rangasena
1983Pasa MithuroSpecial Appearance
1983Sandamali
1984Kokila
1984Jaya Sikurui
1984Binaree Saha Sudu BandaSudu Banda
1984Welle Thenu MaligaChristopher
1984Rana DeranaRanasinghe Arachchi
1986DevuduwaAnton
1986PeralikarayoVijay/SamsonDual role
1986Jaya ApitaiSooryaa
1986Gimhane Gee Naade
1987Yugayen Yugayata
1987Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1987Kawuluwa
1987Raja WedakarayoInspector Ramesh
1987Ran Damwel
1987Obatai Priye Adare
Ravi
1987Ahinsa
1989Mamai Raja
1989Kadapathaka ChayaDhanarathna
1989Badulu Kochchiya
1989Nommara 17Wije aka Nommara 17
1989Varadata DanduvamAlso film's producer
1989Randenigala SinhayaAs additional Cameraman
1990Dese Mal PipilaVijey
1990Thanha AshaMahesh
1990Veera UdaraGuest appearance
1990Madu SihinaMr. Sandagala
1990Christhu CharithayaJesus
1990Saharawe SihinayaSarasaviya Award for Best Playback Singer
1991MadhusamayaJagath
1993Soorayan Athara Veeraya
1995Hitha Honda Soorayo
1998Aya Obata Barai

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