29 Facts About Somawansa Amarasinghe

Somawansa Amarasinghe is often described as a strategic leader who socialized the ideological struggle of the JVP into socialism through the nationalist struggle to save the country from Tamil separatist terrorism.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was the leader of People's Servants Party, established in June 2015, until his death.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was born on 1 January 1943 in Angangoda village, Payagala, Sri Lanka as the youngest of the family.

Somawansa Amarasinghe had 4 elder brothers and 3 elder sisters.

Somawansa Amarasinghe's father was James Amarasinghe, who first served in the police and later joined the Department of Irrigation, and his mother was a housewife.

Somawansa Amarasinghe completed his primary education at Amarasekara College, Kalutara and Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya.

Somawansa Amarasinghe married Herath Mudiyanselage Pamara Kumari Herath known as Irangani Malani Ranasinghe in December 1978.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was a mathematics teacher at Maharagama Teachers' College, Angangoda, Kalutara.

Somawansa Amarasinghe's son is Isuru Amarasinghe, who currently lives in England.

Somawansa Amarasinghe died on 15 June 2016 at the age of 73 at his brothers Piyasena's residence, where he was living after leaving JVP, in Rajagiriya.

Somawansa Amarasinghe joined JVP in 1969 through Hettiarachchige Navaratne Bandara, where he was very popular as Siri ayya alias Uncle Reggie alias Reginald Patrick among members.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was known in several names: Reginald Patrick, Reggie Kandappa, Michael, Fanlin Danio and Nimal Bandara Dissanayake.

Somawansa Amarasinghe conducted many rallies and maintained regular contacts with human rights, cultural and media circles all around Colombo, becoming prospects of future JVP hands.

In JVP Insurrection of 1971, Somawansa Amarasinghe was assigned to lead the abduction of the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike from Rosmead Place and drive the abduction vehicle.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was carrying a bag of bombs to join the Rosmead attack until 10.30pm on April 4,1971, near the Ritz Cinema in Borella, but no other members arrived.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was the best friend of Wijeweera in his last days.

Until Wijeweera's release on November 2,1977, Somawansa Amarasinghe joined others in organizing political events.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was the leader who coordinated the international network, human rights organizations and intellectuals during the JVP's Second Rebellion.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was a member of the Central Committee of the JVP from 1978 until the banning of the party in 1983.

Somawansa Amarasinghe became a Politburo Member of the JVP in 1984.

Somawansa Amarasinghe was the only surviving member of the JVP's Politburo at the end of the JVP's Second Rebellion.

Somawansa Amarasinghe stayed with his JVP friends until Wijeweera was captured and other leaders were killed by the government.

Piyadasa Ranasinghe and Somawansa Amarasinghe left for Madawala in a separate vehicle to retrieve some money that had been kept for security.

Somawansa Amarasinghe arrived in Thailand with his family from India on October 19,1990, and sought political asylum at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on March 6,1991.

Shortly afterwards, Somawansa Amarasinghe traveled to Britain via France, where he formally reorganized the JVP.

Somawansa Amarasinghe returned to Sri Lanka in 1994 after all the JVP inner circle leaders were killed and government has changed.

Somawansa Amarasinghe supported Mahinda Rajapakse in his presidential campaign in 2005 as well.

Somawansa Amarasinghe continued to be the leader until his retirement in February 2014.

Somawansa Amarasinghe left the JVP on April 16,2015, and formed a party called the Janatha Sevaka Party with 38 JVP activists.