Saman Piyasiri Fernando

Saman Piyasiri Fernando (nom de guerre: Keerthi Vijayabahu; died December 29, 1989), was the military wing leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna during the 1987-89 insurrection in Sri Lanka, the JVP's military wing also known as Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya (DJV). Saman Piyasiri a graduate of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka later joined the JVP and promoted to the higher ranks of the party, appointed as the military wing leader and finally led the party after the death of the founding leader Rohana Wijeweera.

Saman Piyasiri Fernando
  • සමන් පියසිරි ප්‍රනාන්දු
  • சமன் பியசிரி பெர்னாண்டோ
2nd Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
In office
13 November 1989 – 29 December 1989
Preceded byRohana Wijeweera
Succeeded byLalith Wijerathna
Personal details
Died29 December 1989
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partyJanatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Alma materUniversity of Kelaniya
OccupationMilitary commander
Known forLeadership of the DJV
Military service
AllegianceJanatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Service/branchDeshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya
Commands held
  • Commander-in-chief of the Patriotic People's Battalion (1986-1989)
  • Supreme commander of the DJV (November 1989 - December 1989)

Notable attacks

The military intelligence of Sri Lanka believes that Saman Piyasiri was masterminded the attacks on military bases and installations during the insurrection.

  • Katunayake Air-force base and Kotelawala Defence Academy (May 1987).
  • Katunayake Air-force base (April 1988).
  • Magazine prison break (December 1988).
  • Pannala Army detachment (1989).
  • Panagoda Army base (1989).
  • Police Field Force headquarters, Colombo (1989).
  • Number of Police stations.

Death

On December 27, 1989, a special police team, led by SSP Lionel Gunathilake, arrested Saman Piyasiri, along with his mother and fiance, who is a sister of JVP politburo member Daya Wanniarachchi, at Koswatte, Nawala, at a rented house owned by Mark Antony Fernando, who works at SLBC. According to the police sources, the number of military books found inside the house and some of them are not found in Sri Lankan military libraries.

The Sri Lankan government media released on December 29, 1989, as "the leader of the JVP military wing killed along with four other cadres due to the cross fire between security forces and the JVP at their military wing headquarters, a farm located at Hedigama-Suwarapola, Piliyandala".[1]

According to Rohan Gunaratna, Saman Piyasiri was killed by a special team along with two other JVP military wing members Ragama Somay and Pathi the Gampaha District military wing leader. Rohan Gunaratna also stated that before Piyasiri's death, he managed to deliver a speech to the interrogation personnel around him about the society of Sri Lanka based on capitalism and socialism. Rohan further stated, "but Saman Piyasiri has not given any single information which could harm the party during the interrogation".

Further reading
  • SRI LANKA - A LOST REVOLUTION? The Inside Story of the JVP by Rohan Gunaratna[2]
  • Insurgency – 1971 : An Account of the April Insurrection in Sri Lanka by Justice A.C. Alles[3]
  • Sri Lanka, the years of terror : The J.V.P. insurrection, 1987-1989 by C.A. Chandraprema[4]

See also

References
  1. "Sri Lanka Reports Death of Top Sinhalese Militant". The New York Times. 29 December 1989.
  2. <Publisher: Institute of Fundamental Studies (1990) Language: English ISBN 955-26-0004-9 ISBN 978-9552600043>
  3. <Publisher : The Colombo Apothecaries' Co. Colombo, Year 1979, Third printing>
  4. <Publisher: Lake House Bookshop (1991) Language: English ISBN 9559029037>
Party political offices
Preceded by
Rohana Wijeweera		 Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
13 November 1989 – 29 December 1989		 Succeeded by
Lalith Wijerathna
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