Vijaya Kumaratunga

Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga (Template:Langx; Template:Langx; 9 October 1945 – 16 February 1988), popularly known as Vijaya Kumaratunga, was a Sri Lankan film actor, playback singer and politician<ref name="lankadeepa.lk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> regarded as one of the most popular icons in Sri Lankan cinema of all time. He was married to former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaranatunga from 1978 until his assassination in 1988. He was the founder of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party.<ref name="lankadeepa.lk"/>

Early life

Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga was born on 9 October 1945, at the government hospital in Ragama to Roman Catholic parents.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His father was Kovilage Benjamin Kumaratunga, a village headman and mother was Clara Beatrice Perera. The youngest of four siblings, Vijaya had two elder brothers: Sydney and Vivian and one elder sister: Rupa.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He received his primary education at Seeduwa Davisamara Maha Vidyalaya, secondary education at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena and De Mazenod College, Kandana. During his school days, he excelled at singing, drama and oratory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following his schooling, Kumaratunga joined the Ceylon Police Force as a Sub Inspector, but left soon after.

Film career

He first appears in a lead role as a university student named Bandu in the 1969 blockbuster Hanthane Kathawa directed by Sugathapala Senarath Yapa. But according to local film historians, the first time he acted in front of a camera was in the film Manamalayo three years prior. Although a Romeo and Juliet story was made in 1969, he was not the lead actor.<ref name= commemo>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In a career that spanned nearly two decades, he contributed to more than 120 films, 114 of which starred the protagonist. Some of his most popular films include Ahas Gauwa (1974), Eya Den Loku Lamayek (1975), Ponmani (1977), Bambaru Avith (1977), Ganga Addara (1980), Baddegama (1980), Paradige (1980), Maha Gedara (1980), Kedapathaka Chaya (1989), and Kristhu Charithaya (1990). He acted in one English-language film, The God King, and one Tamil film, Nanguram. Meanwhile, the Vijaya-Malini era also came to the fore when he became the dream boy in the 1980s Sinhala cinema. According to the critic Gamini Weragama, Vijaya's performance in the film Maruwa Samaga Wase is close to Toshiro Mifune's supernatural role in Rashomon.<ref name= commemo />

He also performed as a playback singer in several films; recorded more than 100 songs;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and produced two films, Waradata Danduwam and Samawa which was released after his death. From 1983 to 1988 (once after the assassination) he was a consistently popular actor at six Sarasaviya Award Ceremonies. But he received the award for the Best Actor only for the role in Kedapathaka Chaya at the OCIC and the Swarna Sankha Festival in 1989, but he was not fortunate enough to see it. After two years of demise, he won the Sarasaviya Award for Best Playback singer for his song 'Walakulak Gena Muwa Karumu Hiru' for Saharawe Sihiniya and his song 'Sara Guwana Vida Neguna' for the Dolos Mahe Pahana. The only proof that he turned to singing as well as songwriting is the song 'Mulu Hadinma Oba Hata Adarei'.<ref name= commemo />

Political career

In 1974, Kumaratunga started his political career in the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). He later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and became its vice secretary.

In 1977, he ran unsuccessfully for the Katana seat in Parliament.<ref>Malalgoda Banduthillka.Sri Lanka Methiwarana Ithihasaya</ref> 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 (UNP) 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".<ref>LankaNewspapers.com.Reins in these wild buffaloes. Tuesday 18 December 2007. Available online.</ref>

On 22 January 1984 he founded the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) and became its first national organizer, 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.<ref name="ReferenceA">Malalgoda Banduthillaka.Sri Lankawe Methiwarana Ithihasaya.</ref> The SLMP went on to contest several other by-elections, including in Kundasale and Habaraduwa, but did not live up to expectations.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

in 1986, Kumaranatunga visited Jaffna, then controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). 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 (JVP) 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1988, the SLMP reached an agreement with several other left-wing parties—including the LSSP, Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP), Sri Lanka Communist Party, and Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF)—to form the United Socialist Alliance (USA). 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.<ref>Malalgoda Banduthillaka.Sri Lankawe Methiwarana Ithihasaya</ref>

Personal life

On 20 February 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. He is adored as an honest politician, talented actor and singer and more importantly as a very good human.

Death and funeral

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also 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 (Patriotic People's Movement), the military arm of the JVP, which was responsible for multiple assassinations in the late 1980s.<ref>Confessions of Vijaya's killer by Sunday Leader -Frederica Jansz (Virtual Library SL Web)</ref> After Chandrika Kumaratunga became President in 1994, she appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry which inquired into the assassination, its report alleged that President Ranasinghe Premadasa of the UNP and two government ministers were behind the Kumaranatunga assassination without any direct evidence.<ref>Vijaya Kumaratunga assassination was a UNP conspiracy: Gamini Lokuge's gun alleged death weapon (Sunday Observer, 21 March 2004) </ref>

Kumaratunga's funeral, on 21 February 1988, attracted huge crowds and was the first funeral to be broadcast live on Sri Lankan television (by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation). 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" (He was assassinated on a Tuesday).Template:Citation needed His death is still mourned by many people in Sri Lanka.<ref name="vijaya-20-years-bbc">Template:Cite news</ref>

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1967	Manamalayo		Acting debut
1969	Romio Juliet Kathawak		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Hanthane Kathawa	Bandu	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1970	Priyanga
1971	Ran Onchilla	Wickrama	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Abirahasa
	Kesara Sinhayo	Gamini
	Hathara Denama Surayo	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Samanala Kumariyo
	Bindunu Hadawath		Also film's producer
1972	Me Desa Kumatada	Vijaya Kumaratunga
	Edath Sooraya Adath Sooraya
	Vana Raja
	Adare Hithenawa Dakkama	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1973	Thushara	Sampath	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Hathdinnath Tharu
	Dahakin Ekek
	Hondama Welawa
1974	Susee	Laurie Mahaththaya	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Ahas Gauwa
	Duleeka	Sumith	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Sanakeliya	Rohitha Radalage	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	The God King	Lalith	English-language film
1975	Pem Kurullo
	Sikuruliya	Paala	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Lassana Dawasak
	Sangeetha	Wimal, Vijaya (Two births)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1976	Pradeepe Ma Wewa
	Vasana
	Diyamanthi		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai
	Adarei Man Adarei
1977	Sakunthala
	Hithuvoth Hithuvamai	Manju, Mohan, Chukki	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Maruwa Samaga Wase	Maru Sira
	Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
	Eya Den Loku Lamayek	Village Officer
	Pembara Madhu	Senaka	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1978	Vishmaya
	Kundala Keshi	Saththuka
	Sandawata Ran Tharu
	Anupama	Asitha	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Selinge Walawuwa
	Bambaru Awith	Victor
	Sally
	Kumara Kumariyo	Sagara
	Ahasin Polowata
1979	Gahaniyak
	Podi Malli	Gunapala aka Peter
	Hingana Kolla	Saiya aka Morris Abeysiriwardena	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Monarathenna	Piyasoma	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Eka Hitha
	Nangooram		Tamil film
	Akke Mata Awasara	Ajith
1980	Raja Dawasak
	Ganga Addara	Dr. Sarath Pathirana
	Karumakkarayo	Wilison	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Kinduru Kumari	Podde	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Para Dige	Chandare
	Tak Tik Tuk	Sarath
	Kanchana	Ajith
1981	Beddegama <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Babun	Based on Leonard Wolf's Baddegama <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Geethika	Sampath
	Anjana	Saliya	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Suriyakantha	Hemantha
	Valampuri	Heen Banda
1982	Yasa Isuru	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Mihidum Sihina	Vijitha
	Kiri Suwanda	Meril
	Rahasak Nathi Rahasak
	Maha Gedara	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Kadawunu Poronduwa (New)	Samson
	Newatha Hamuwemu	Dual-role
	Paramitha	Lassana
	Bicykale	Ajith
1983	Samanala Sihina
	Sivu Rangasena
	Pasa Mithuro		Guest Appearance
	Sandamali
1984	Kokila
	Jaya Sikurui	Vijey
	Binaree Saha Sudu Banda	Sudu Banda
	Welle Thenu Maliga	Christopher
	Rana Derana	Ranasinghe Arachchi
1986	Devuduwa	Anton
	Peralikarayo	Vijey/Samson	Dual role
	Jaya Apitai	Sooryaa
	Gimhane Gee Naade
	Pooja
1987	Yugayen Yugayata
	Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
	Kawuluwa
	Raja Wedakarayo	Inspector Ramesh
	Ran Damwel
	Obatai Priye Adare	Ravi
	Ahinsa		Guest Appearance
1989	Mamai Raja	Sampath
	Kadapathaka Chaya	Dhanarathna	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Badulu Kochchiya
	Nommara 17	Vijey aka Nommara 17
	Varadata Danduvam		Also film's producer
	Randenigala Sinhaya		As additional Cameraman (Uncredited) (Only film as a Cameraman)
1990	Dese Mal Pipila	Vijey
	Thanha Asha	Mahesh
	Veera Udara		Guest appearance
	Madu Sihina	Mr. Sandagala
	Christhu Charithaya	Jesus	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Saharawe Sihinaya		Sarasaviya Award for Best Playback SingerTemplate:Citation needed
1991	Madhusamaya	Jagath
1993	Soorayan Athara Veeraya	Sarath
1994	Vijaya Geetha
	Shakthi
1995	Hitha Honda Soorayo
1998	Aya Obata Barai

Electoral history

Electoral history of Vijaya Kumaratunga

Election	Constituency	Party		Votes	%	Result
1977 parliamentary	Katana	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	SLFP	Template:Nts	43.93	Template:No2
1983 parliamentary-by	Mahara	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	SLFP	Template:Nts	47.90	Template:No2
1984 parliamentary-by	Minneriya	style="background:Template:Party color;"|	SLMP	Template:Nts	27.85	Template:No2

See also

• List of political families in Sri Lanka

External links

• Vijaya Kumaranatunga All Sinhala Mp3 Songs
• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0474919

 | name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0474919|2=^nm}}
   | Template:Trim/
   | nm0474919/
   }}
 | {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
   | name/Template:First word/
   | find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
   }}
 }}{{#if: 0474919  {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch: 
 | award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
 }}}} {{#if: 
 | {{{name}}}
 | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
 }}] at IMDb{{#if: 0474919{{#property:P345}}
 | Template:EditAtWikidata
 | Template:Main other

}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=0474919|plain=false}}

 | 1 | 3 =  Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
 | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}