Shantha Bandara alias Mahanama (1951−1990) was the first convenor of the

Inter University Students' Federation Inter-University Students' Federation ( si, අන්තර් විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයීය ශිෂ්‍ය බලමණ්ඩලය , translit=Anthar Vishvavidyaleeya Shishya Balamandalaya) is a confederation of students' ...

(IUSF) and a key leader of

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP; ) is a Marxist–Leninist communist party and a former militant organization in Sri Lanka. The movement was involved in two armed uprisings against the government of Sri Lanka: once in 1971 (SLFP), and anot ...

, a Marxist-Leninist political party in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

. He was killed in January 1990.

Student activism

Shantha Bandara was a student at University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya campus when he started his political career joining the ''Samaja Adhyayana Kavaya'' (Social Studies Circle) of the university. He was instrumental in creating the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) - a major university student union in Sri Lanka - in 1978. He also led a protest against the prevailing

United National Party The United National Party, often abbreviated as UNP ( si, එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය, translit=Eksath Jāthika Pakshaya, ta, ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி, translit=Aikkiya Tēciyak Kaṭci), ...

government in 1979. Bandara did not complete his degree.

JVP and insurgency 1987−1989

He joined Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in 1977. After becoming the leader of southern region, he headed the list of candidates of JVP at the

Colombo Municipal Council The Colombo Municipal Council is the municipal governing body of Colombo, the largest city and financial centre in Sri Lanka. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of Colombo, current elect is Rosy Senanayake, and 119 elected 119 muni ...

elections. Bandara was a key leader of the unsuccessful JVP insurrection during 1987−1989. He led an unsuccessful attack on

Wadduwa Wadduwa ( si, වාද්දුව, ta, வடுவா) is a town in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is situated on the western coast of Sri Lanka, about south of Colombo. It spans from 30.5 to 36.5 km area along the Galle Road, 4 ...

Army Camp and many other clandestine operations. In 1988, he was arrested on suspicion at

Beliatta Beliatta is a town located in the Hambantota District of Sri Lanka. Geography It is an inland town, approximately, from the coastal town of Tangalle. Beliatta has the second highest mountain range located in the Beliatta Divisional Secretari ...

. At the time of the arrest, he was ranked No.9 in the JVP hierarchy. He tried unsuccessfully to bribe the guards, but was released four months later on the promise to cease violence and bring about a settlement. But he reneged on his promise. Eventually, he was killed by the armed forces in January 1990.

References

External links

Official Inter University Students' Federation website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bandara, Shantha 1951 births 1990 deaths Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna politicians Sri Lankan communists Sri Lankan rebels Sri Lankan revolutionaries

Student activism

JVP and insurgency 1987−1989

See also

References

External links