15 Facts About Vikramabahu Karunaratne

Vikramabahu Karunaratne was a Sri Lankan scientist and politician.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne was a candidate in the 2010 Sri Lankan presidential election.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne received his primary education at Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama before transferring to Ananda College, Colombo for his secondary education.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne received a Commonwealth scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, from which he received a doctorate in 1970.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne returned to Sri Lanka and started an academic career.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne became politically active very early in his life, joining the Lanka Sama Samaja Party in 1962 whilst an undergraduate at the University of Ceylon.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne was elected to the LSSP's Central Committee in 1972 but fell out with the party's leadership over their support for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the 1972 Republican Constitution.

In 1977 Vikramabahu Karunaratne joined with other former members of the LSSP, including Vasudeva Nanayakkara, to form the Nava Sama Samaja Party, a breakaway party of the LSSP.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne was released without charge after a few months of detention, and the University of Peradeniya which suspended him from service soon after his arrest reinstated him after a rather delayed inquiry.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne was forced to leave the University after he collected his back pay.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne was reinstated by Cabinet decision in 2001 but was not allowed by the university.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne was injured on 2 December 1988 when a JVP gang attacked an election rally at Kadawatte near Colombo in support of SLMP presidential candidate Ossie Abeygunasekera.

On 26 November 2009, it was announced that Vikramabahu Karunaratne would be the Left Front's candidate for the 2010 Sri Lankan presidential elections.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne died on 25 July 2024, at the age of 81 while receiving treatment at Colombo National Hospital.

Vikramabahu Karunaratne had been seriously ill for some time at the time of his death.