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Remembering my uncle murdered by JVP

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D. E. Wijayawardhana

by Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

It was thirty-five years ago, on 10 February, just five days before the 1989 Parliamentary election, that my father’s brother was murdered by JVP goons. He was neither a politician nor a VIP nor an offender; he was just a retired teacher who devoted his entire life to educating children. So, why did JVP goons murder the 77-year-old? Visiting his relatives to garner support for his nephew, my brother Ranjan, who was contesting that election in the Matara district. He was denied the pleasure of seeing his nephew being elected, coming second only to Gamini Fonseka. Their cruelty knew no bounds even denying the family the chance of a funeral. The police, who conducted an investigation, informed my brother that our uncle had been killed by the JVP, but the assassins could not be traced, given the chaotic situation in the country.

We have suffered in silence since, but we are not alone in that predicament. Thousands of others lost their loved ones at the hands of the JVP goons. Let us also not forget that thousands of youth who perished due to being brainwashed by unrepentant JVP leaders.

My uncle was Dinitial Elian Wijayawardhana, often referred to as DEW; he was the youngest of the four children of Kotawila Vithanage Don Juwanis Wijayawardhana and Pasdunkorale Arachchige Dona Lucie Darlina Gunawardane, the eldest being my father Charles Justin with two sisters in between, Josephine Milfred and Sophia Eugene. He was born on 20 Dec., 1911 in Godagama, Matara, and had his primary education in Nupe CC School and secondary education in Rahula College, Matara. He devoted his entire life to teaching, mostly at Rahula College, retiring as a Vice Principal in 1970, at the age of 59 due to lowering of retirement age by the then United Front government. He took an active part in the Sarvodaya movement; organising Shramadana campaigns taking senior students during holidays, all over the country including Jaffna and Batticaloa. He lived in Weliweriya area of Matara town, where his mother hailed from, and was the president of Weliweriya Welfare Society and the president of Pushparama Temple Dayaka Sabha.

I owe him a great deal of gratitude as he was instrumental in getting me admitted to Ananda College, Colombo enabling me to get direct admission to the Colombo Medical college.

My earliest memories of him are going in our buggy-cart to Matara railway station to pick him up when he came for vacations from Colombo University. Having learned, very early in life, the line Anguru kaka, vatura be bee, Coloamba duwana yakada yaka it was thrilling to see the steam train huffing and puffing and chugging its way to the station bringing my uncle who became my childhood hero from the moment I heard that he was the first in our families to go to university. He gained admission to the University of Colombo as an adult student and obtained a BA (Hons) degree.

Although not even a teenager then, I vividly remember his marriage to Miss Piyaseeli Samaranayaka, a teacher from Beligalla, as it happened during the 1953 Hartal They were blessed with four children, Saman, Jayantha, Lal and Lalith.

On that fateful day, my uncle went to Hakmana and having visited a relative in Gangodagama, left on a bicycle lent by them to visit another relative in Poththewela but never reached there.

I made an open appeal to the JVP leader last year, “AKD: Own up to past atrocities for a start!” (The Island, 24 February 2023) following on The Island editorial, “Farewell to democracy” (The Island, 16 February 2023) wherein it was stated: “If only the JVP had respected the people’s franchise in the late 1980s, when it unleashed savage terror to scuttle elections, and killed hundreds, if not thousands, of people who dared exercise their legitimate political rights. It obviously feels no remorse for its past crimes. The least it can do to make the discerning public take its much-avowed commitment to democracy seriously is to tender an unqualified apology for its barbaric violence and savage attempts to disrupt elections during its second reign of terror (1987-89)”

There was no response from the JVP. Many more articles and editorials have been written since but an apology, or even anything close to it, is yet to come from the JVP though!

Our families held an all-night Pirith on 9 Feb., and Sanghika Dana the following day in remembrance of my uncle. May he attain the supreme Bliss of Nibbana!



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Opinion

In Loving memory of our Seeya – Late Mr W P Upasena

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Its been a year since you left us, and while the pain of your absence remains, so too does the warmth of your memory. There is not a day that goes by where we don’t think of you.

We are deeply grateful for the love, wisdom, and kindness you shared with us all. Your unwavering support, gentle guidance, selflessness, and extensive knowledge left an incredible mark on everyone who knew you. You were not only the cornerstone of our family but also a source of inspiration for all who crossed your path.

As we gather to honor your life, we extend our heartfelt thanks to friends, family, and well-wishers who have supported us over the past year. Your love, and kind words have been a source of strength and comfort during this journey.

Though you are no longer with us in person, Seeya you continue to live on in our hearts and through the values you instilled in us. We will continue to honor your life by cherishing each other and carrying forward your legacy of love, compassion, and integrity.

May you attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana, Seeya.

Fondly remembered by:
Achchi, Loving Children & Grandchildren

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Major eyesore on Beira banks

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In the last decade or so the government, the private sector and even private citizens have made a concerted effort to beautify Colombo. And it has worked!

Yet, eyesores like the Jinarathana Vocational Center at 142 Sir James Peiris Mawatha exist. The building belongs to one of the most influential and revered temples in Colombo. Gangaramaya is also a major tourist attraction.

Not only is the building in disrepair, it is also a health hazard with garbage, rats and other infestations. Nefarious activities go on in the night, as it would in any “abandoned” building. It seems the building is used as a car park for the temple vehicles! Not only does this go against every Buddhist principle, but is this building on the banks of the Beira even legal?

Why does government after government keep donating public land to this temple, when it refuses to use or maintain the buildings it already has?!!

Podi Hamuduruwo – Venerable Galboda Gnanissara – as Chief Incumbent, transformed the temple into “a dynamic center of spiritual growth, education and community empowerment”. But he is no more. And if the temple is no longer able to use or maintain this structure according to the vision of the revered Podi Hamuduruwo, it is surely up to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and/or Colombo Municipal Council to take immediate action.

M. S. De Silva
Colombo 02.

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Opinion

A tribute to a quintessential friend and colleague

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Kuru as a cadet sergeant and Queen’s Scout meeting the Queen at India’s 1961 Republic Day.

A talented son of Sri Lanka, Dr. Mahinda Kurukulasuriya (1942-2025) passed away peacefully in Vientiane, Laos on 29 January 2025 – with his daughter Liza by his side. According to his wishes, a three-day memorial service was held in a Buddhist temple in Vientiane, Laos.

Among close friends, he was fondly referred to as ‘Kuru” and as “Dr. Kuru” among his professional colleagues.

He was born in 1942 to a wealthy family in Nakulugamuwa. His father owned the Ruhunu Transit Bus Company that was nationalized in 1957.

Kuru had his Education at Mahinda College, Galle, where he excelled in studies, sports, and athletics. In 1961, as a Cadet and a Queen’s Scout, he had the rare opportunity to greet Queen Elizabeth II at the Republic Day Celebrations in New Delhi.

After a 13-year hiatus of losing cricket matches to Richmond College, in 1962, Mahinda College under Kuru’s captaincy won a memorable victory against Richmond.

In 1962, he won a Scholarship to pursue engineering studies at the Moscow State University. That same year, I met Kuru in Moscow, and we forged a friendship that lasted 65 years.

Kuru married his University batch-mate Elena – an amiable person who also completed her Ph.D. and the rare Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degrees along with Kuru. She predeceased him in 2015 leaving two equally brilliant daughters who live in Europe.

Kuru’s education abroad opened up the world for him to explore. Upon his graduation in 1968, he returned to Sri Lanka and worked for the River Valleys Development Board (RVDB). From 1971-1976, he and his wife Elena were appointed as water engineers in Zambia. They returned to Moscow and completed their Ph.D.’s. Kuru returned to Sri Lanka in 1979 and worked for the Mahaweli River Development.

Later, he worked on United Nations assignments as a senior engineer and Program Manager in Zaire, Congo, Maldives, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. He was fluent in English, Russian, French, Burmese, Khmer and Thai, and he excelled in his UN assignments.

In 2006, he garnered another Ph.D. from the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture of the Peradeniya University. Over the years, he wrote several books, including his memoirs “One Drop of my Sweet Sweat”.

Upon his mandatory UN retirement, the Government of Laos – aware of Kuru’s technical expertise, commitment and integrity – persuaded Kuru to lead several key development projects in Laos. It allowed Kuru to continue working with the perks of a UN official, and the Government took good care of him as he was away from his native Sri Lanka, and his beloved family. He had many Laotian friends.

Above all, he was kind and friendly to everyone he knew. Despite many achievements, Kuru was the most virtuous and unassuming person I came across in my life.

Kuru is survived by his sisters Indra and Lalita, daughters Angelika and Liza, and his wife Seuth and his son Souminta.

His family and friends will miss him dearly. Yet, we shall cherish his memory forever.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.

Somar Wijayadasa

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