Today marks 35 years since the death of popular film star turned politician and founder leader of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) Vijaya Kumaratunga. The iconic star of the silver screen was gunned down opposite his home in Polhengoda by two men on a motorcycle on February 16, at just past midday. The pillion rider got down from the machine armed with A47 rifle and emptied 17 rounds of ammunition into Vijaya while the actor was walking towards his Double Cab to leave for a luncheon meeting with US Deputy Chief of Mission Ed Marks of the American Embassy. The heart throb of the Sinhala cinema died on the spot with face and body highly disfigured.
The armed wing of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) the Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparya (DJV) immediately claimed responsibility, its statement to this effect carried over BBC. In a subsequent interview to a Sinhala weekly, JVP Leader Rohana Wijeweera gave reasons for eliminating Vijaya. Among these were his support for the Indo-Lanka Accord, the presence of the IPKF and liaising closely with President J.R. Jayewardene. In essence, Vijaya was described as a traitor to the country and getting rid of traitors was the chief obligation of the JVP. On the day prior to his assassination Vijaya attended the funeral of another slain comrade in Akuressa and practically raved and ranted against the JVP challenging the outfit to take him on, delivering the funeral oration.
Vijaya was killed shortly after noon on that fateful day in February and the body taken to the Colombo General Hospital morgue. There, several attempts were made at putting together the broken, mutilated body and particularly the face which was disfigured beyond repair despite the best efforts of cinema makeup artistes. A large concourse of artistes flocked to the morgue, most of them weeping. Then Employment and Youth Affairs Minister and present President Ranil Wickremesinghe was among those who visited the morgue.
The body was removed to Polhengoda late in the evening with the upper part of the coffin covered. Large crowds of fans kept pouring in from all direction and soon there were long lines of mourners stretching for several kilometres opposite the Polhengoda residence including priests, nuns and members of the Armed Forces, politicians, business leaders and men and women from all walks of life to mourn the demise of an extraordinary individual not only in terms of spellbinding looks and charisma, that set alight the silver screen but also as a human being who endeared himself to people of all strata by his generosity and kindness and particularly his closeness to the minorities of this country.
The country virtually came to a standstill in the days leading up to the funeral at the Independence Square -the first occasion that an artiste had his/her final rites performed at the location. Local television showed nothing else but highlights of his cinematic career, special incidents in his life and footage of the scenes at Polhengoda. President Jayewardene who was close to Vijaya during the latter stages of his life paid two visits to the house to condole with wife Chandrika Kumaratunga, who herself became President later. Tamil youth representing extremists groups in the North came down in large numbers bearing wreaths while among those who sent condolence messages was PLOT Leader Uma Maheswarn while Vartharaja Perumal was among those who spoke at the funeral.
The funeral at Independence Square that was given live television coverage on Rupavahini witnessed one of the largest crowds ever assembled anywhere in this country. This was the most widely watched event on TV until that record was eclipsed by the 1996 Cricket World Cup Final.
Air Force helicopters dropped flowers for long periods while the proceedings were on. The speakers included Dr. Colvin R. De Silva, K. P. Silva, Y. P. Silva -both stalwarts of the Mahajana Party, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Wickramabahu Karunaratne. Some of those who were on stage including the Ven. Pemaloka Thera later fell victim to the armed wing of the JVP. Gamini Fonseka spoke on behalf of the artistes, while Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Vijaya’s uncle, represented the family.
Kovilage Vijaya Anthony Kumaratunga was born on October 09, 1945 in Seeduwa to Clara Beatrice and Benjamin Kumaratunga. He had his education at St. Benedict’s College Kotahena and De Mazanod College Kandana. Vijaya was a hosteller while at St Benedict’s and was the leader in the Senior School’s Sinhala debating team. In fact Vijaya was known to have haboured dreams of becoming a Police Officer but fate beckoned him to where his true destiny lay.
He became a star from his very first movie Hantane Katawa directed by Sugathapala Senarath Yapa and went on to achieve unparalleled success as the lead player in over 115 movies- his winsome smile and handsome profile winning for him an army of adoring fans, both male and female. It was only natural that his phenomenal popularity in films would lead him to politics and fittingly he joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), perhaps, as to complement the common man’s role he played in most of his movies.
He contested the Katana Electorate at the 1977 General Election but like the rest of them was swept away by the UNP avalanche. He next contested the Mahara by-election, when the first attempt was made on his life. This time though he came very close to making it, losing by a mere 45 votes to his UNP rival Kamalawarna Jayakody. Many were of the opinion that had Vijaya won this by-election and entered Parliament the fate that eventually befell him could well have been avoided.
Being a SLFP MP he would certainly have pursued the politics of the SLFP not having occasion to form the left-oriented Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya which was pro-minority, nor would he have had occasion to dabble in what the JVP accused him of, that led to his untimely demise. Up to date there has been no one who could fit into his shoes in the Sinhala cinema which itself is in its death throes.
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