1. Kathiravelu Nythiananda Devananda, commonly known as Douglas Devananda, is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician, Cabinet Minister and leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party.
31 Facts About Douglas Devananda
1. 2.
Douglas Devananda was sworn in as Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on 22 November 2019.
3.
Douglas Devananda's father was Subramaniam Kathiravelu, an employee of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and his mother was Maheswary, a teacher at Jaffna Central College.
4.
Douglas Devananda studied at Jaffna Central College before moving to Colombo in 1974.
5.
Douglas Devananda lived with his paternal uncle K C Nythiananda at 17 Francis Road in Colombo 06 and studied at Colombo Hindu College.
6.
Douglas Devananda was in charge of EROS' student wing, the General Union of Eelam Students.
7.
Douglas Devananda was twice arrested in 1980 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and was held in various prisons in the country.
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Mahinda Rajapaksa 8.
Douglas Devananda was imprisoned again after a bank robbery at Thirukkovil.
9.
Douglas Devananda was in Welikada prison when the July 1983 anti-Tamil riots began.
10.
On 27 September 1983,41 Tamil political prisoners including Douglas Devananda escaped from Batticaloa prison.
11.
In India Douglas Devananda was given training by the Indian authorities.
12.
Douglas Devananda was made commander of the People's Liberation Army, EPRLF's military wing.
13.
On returning to Jaffna Douglas Devananda was put in charge of all of the EPRLF's military activities in Sri Lanka.
14.
On 5 May 1985 the PLA led by Douglas Devananda attacked the Sri Lankan Navy base at Karainagar.
15.
Douglas Devananda was replaced by Gaffoor as the EPRLF's military commander.
16.
In late 1986 Douglas Devananda travelled to Madras to meet Pathmanabha.
17.
On 1 November 1986 Douglas Devananda was at the EPRLF's office in Choolaimedu, Madras when it was attacked by locals.
18.
Douglas Devananda opened fire, killing Thirunavukkarasu, an Indian lawyer, and injuring four others.
19.
In late 1986, whilst Douglas Devananda was in India, the Tamil Tigers attacked the EPRLF, inflicting a heavy losses and killing Gaffoor.
20.
Douglas Devananda was blamed for the debacle because he had sent EPRLF cadres from Vanni and Eastern Province home before going to India.
21.
Douglas Devananda was accused of hiding EPRLF weaponry and ammunition and some of his supporters were accused of running away when the Tigers attacked.
22.
Douglas Devananda initially formed the Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front with a breakaway faction of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam led by Paranthan Rajan.
23.
Douglas Devananda, now living in Madras, then formed the Eelam People's Democratic Party.
24.
The EPDP lacked funds and Douglas Devananda resorted to kidnapping and extortion of Sri Lankan Tamils living in Madras.
25.
In 1990 Douglas Devananda jumped bail and returned to Sri Lanka.
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Mahinda Rajapaksa 26.
Douglas Devananda offered to place the EPDP under Sri Lankan government control in return for support and protection from the Tamil Tigers.
27.
Douglas Devananda was attacked for betraying the Tamil people and collaborating with the enemy.
28.
Douglas Devananda was detained along with other prisoners in cells at the back of Devananda's house.
29.
Douglas Devananda has been re-elected to Parliament in all subsequent elections.
30.
Douglas Devananda was appointed Minister for Social Service and Social Welfare by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2005.
31.
Douglas Devananda is wanted in India on connection with the Choolaimedu murder, kidnapping and other charges.