18 Facts About Rohana Wijeweera

Rohana Wijeweera formed the JVP in 1965, with the intention of replacing the Dominion of Ceylon with a socialist republic.

Patabendi Don Jinadasa Nandasiri Rohana Wijeweera was born on 14 July 1943, to Patabendi Don Andris Rohana Wijeweera and Nasi Nona Wickramakalutota, who lived in Kottegoda, a coastal village situated close to Matara in southern Sri Lanka and mostly belonged to the Karava caste hierarchy.

Rohana Wijeweera's father, who ran a small business, was an active member of the Ceylon Communist Party and very close to Dr S A Wickramasinghe.

Rohana Wijeweera was disabled after an attack by thugs believed to be members of an opposing political party during the 1947 Parliamentary election campaign for the Hakmana electorate candidate Premalal Kumarasiri.

Rohana Wijeweera had his primary education at Goda Uda Government School in Kottegoda from 1947 to 1953.

Rohana Wijeweera entered Ambalangoda Dharmashoka College in July 1959 to study GCE Ordinary Level in the science stream.

Rohana Wijeweera completed the Russian language examination within seven and a half months, obtaining a distinction, and spent his holidays travelling through the USSR.

Rohana Wijeweera worked during this time as an agricultural worker in the Moldavian Republic.

Rohana Wijeweera worked through his medical studies well up to third year and obtained a distinction in political economics in 1963.

Soon Rohana Wijeweera was impatient with the CCP Maoist leaders due to what he saw as their lack of revolutionary purpose, and formed his own movement on 14 May 1965 after a discussion held in a house at Akmeemana in the Galle district with like-minded youth.

Rohana Wijeweera visited North Korea to broaden support for the newly formed movement.

Rohana Wijeweera conducted a series of political lectures for the purpose of educating the youths according to the Marxist-Leninist doctrine.

In 1970 while campaigning for the United Front of Sirimavo Bandaranaike in the general election, Rohana Wijeweera was arrested following the riot in front of the USembassy, but released shortly as the pro-socialist United Front won the elections.

Rohana Wijeweera was arrested before the armed attack took place in April 1971.

Rohana Wijeweera was later brought before the Criminal Justice Commission that was formed after the failed insurrection.

In October 1989, following the arrest and interrogation of two leading JVP members, Rohana Wijeweera was arrested, who had been living on a tea estate in Ulapane, masquerading as a planter under the name of Attanayake.

On 13 November 1989 Rohana Wijeweera was shot dead, but the actual circumstances remain a subject of speculation.

Rohana Wijeweera married Srimathi Chitrangani, with whom he had four daughters and two sons.