{"id":48369,"date":"2016-09-16T05:55:12","date_gmt":"2016-09-16T09:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=48369"},"modified":"2016-09-16T06:07:38","modified_gmt":"2016-09-16T10:07:38","slug":"bharatha-lakshman-premachandras-murder-and-hirunikas-quest-for-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=48369","title":{"rendered":"Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s Murder and Hirunika\u2019s Quest for Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

By
\nD.B.S.Jeyaraj
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n

Former parliamentarian and presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra known as \u201cLucky Aiya\u201d was gunned down along with three of his bodyguards in Mulleriyawa on October 8th 2011. The past few years have been a taxing period of struggle for Bharatha\u2019s daughter Hirunika Premachandra \u2013now a Colombo district MP – as she sought justice for her father\u2019s killing. Finally Hirunika\u2019s quest for justice triumphed on September 8th 2016 exactly four years and eleven months after Bharatha\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

\"Hirunika

Hirunika Premachandra<\/p><\/div>\n

According to newspaper reports a tearful Hirunika Premachandra, who had regularly attended the trial proceedings of her father\u2019s killing told reporters outside the court room that the verdict in the case may have been very different if the Government had not changed last year.\u201cIf the government didn\u2019t change we would not have got this verdict. This verdict was only possible because we have a new president who has restored the independence of the judiciary,\u201d. \u201cThere was no place my mother and I didn\u2019t go crying for justice. Today, justice has been served for my father\u2019s murder,\u201d she added. Speaking further Hirunika Premachandra said \u201cJustice was achieved because the supremacy of law is protected under the new President.I cannot be happy that they were sentenced to death. I am not that inhumane. But injustice was served to us. We still suffer at home. I still hear my father\u2019s voice when I go home.Now, justice has been served.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"hp-bl\"<\/p>\n

Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three of his bodyguards were killed on October 8th 2011 in what was described as a shoot-out near the Walpola junction close to Mulleriyawa town about six miles away from Colombo city.Another bodyguard was seriously injured. Elections to several local authorities were being held on that day. Among these was the Kotikawatte-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha.Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra had been engaged in hectic canvassing for his prot\u00e9g\u00e9e Prasanna Solangaarachchi on that day when the incident occurred.The clash was not between two rival political parties. It was between two groups of fellow United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA)activists. One group was led by Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra . The other was led by the then Colombo district MP Duminda Silva.Those who had witnessed the incident told the authorities as well as the media that Duminda Silva had provoked the clash and along with his sidekicks had been responsible for the deaths of Bharatha and three others.
\n
\n\"ds-gr-1\"<\/p>\n

There was however an inordinate delay in effective legal proceedings being instituted. There was a long period of perceived procrastination attributed euphemistically to the law\u2019s delays.Most people however suspected that the close relationship between Duminda Silva and the then defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was the crucial factor obstructing or thwarting the due course of justice.Gotabhaya Rajapaksa the younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was regarded as the second most powerful person in Sri Lanka during Rajapaksa rule. The matter dragged on for years and it was widely believed that the aphorism \u201cJustice delayed is justice denied\u201d was being proven true in this instance also.<\/p>\n

\"mr-ds\"<\/p>\n

In an understandable yet naive bid to secure justice while working within the ruling establishment, Premachandra\u2019s widow and daughter associated closely with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.Sumana Premachandra like her late husband was appointed as an adviser to President Rajapaksa.Hirunika Premachandra identified herself with the ruling Rajapaksa regime. In 2014 she contested on the UPFA ticket at elections for the Western provincial council. She won from Colombo district topping the preference votes list. In spite of all these efforts the quest of justice for Bharatha seemed as elusive as ever.Hirunika\u2019s opportunity came when Maithripala Sirisena broke ranks with the Govt in November 2014.She seized the moment by hitching her wagon to the star from Polonnaruwa.In 2015 Hirunika contested Parliamentary elections from Colombo district on the United National Party(UNP) ticket and won.Duminda Silva however was denied nomination for polls by President Maithripala Sirisena.<\/p>\n

The advent of a new dispensation under President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe saw a fresh breeze blowing in musty judicial corridors. The Attorney-General filed an indictment in courts on March 2015 for the killings of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra,Dharshana Jayathilake,Mohamed Azmi and Manivel Kumaraswamy and also for inflicting gun shot injuries on Rajapurage Gamini. The indictment consisted of 17 charges against 13 suspects including Duminda Silva.Chief Justice Kanagasabapathy Sripavan appointed in May 2015 a three-member bench for Trial \u2013at \u2013 bar proceedings. The bench comprised three high court judges namely Shiran Guneratne,Pathmini Ranawaka Goonettillake and M. C. B. S. Moraes. The chairman was Shiran Guneratne.<\/p>\n

Trial-at \u2013 Bar Proceedings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trial \u2013 at \u2013 bar proceedings began on May 22nd 2015. The case was heard on a regular basis from September 12th 2015. The names of the 13 accused were Chandana Jagath Kumara, Lanka Rasanjana, Malaka Sameera, Widanagamage Amila, Suranga Premalal, Saman Kumara, Saman Abeywickrema , Rohana Marasinghe,Duminda Silva, Anura Thushara de Mel, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath alias Dematagoda Chaminda, Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Sarath Bandara and Janaka Bandara Galagoda. The last named was tried in absentia as he was absconding. The accused were charged under sections 296, 140, 146, 147, 486 and 300 of the Penal Code and some clauses of the Firearms Act.<\/p>\n

Among the 17 charges were committing and conspiring to commit murder of four individuals, attempted murder, possessing illegal firearms,inflicting gunshot injuries, unlawful assembly and criminal intimidation on or around October 08, 2011.President\u2019s Counsel Anil de Silva appeared for Duminda Silva. Counsels Anuja Premaratne, Nalin Indatissa, Nalin Weerakoon, Asela Rekawa and Asoka Weerasuriya appeared for the other accused. A team of lawyers from the Attorney \u2013 General\u2019s Dept led by Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige represented the prosecution. 42 witnesses testified in Courts .126 documents including Government Analysts reports and JMO reports were produced.Trial at bar proceedings concluded on July 14th 2016.<\/p>\n

The verdict in the high profile trial was delivered on September 8th 2016. It was a divided verdict with two of three judges finding five of the accused guilty and acquitting eight others. One judge however found all thirteen accused not guilty.High court Judge Shiran Guneratne who presided over the Trial at bar exonerated all 13 accused in the murder trial citing lack of integrity of the witnesses produced by the prosecution and the inability to prove charges beyond reasonable doubt. He said that the benefit of doubt should go to the accused.Fellow High Court judges Pathmini Ranawaka Goonettillake and M. C. B. S. Moraes differed from Guneratne . This resulted in a two to one majority verdict.<\/p>\n

High Court Judge Pathmini N. Ranawaka Gunatilleke pronounced the majority verdict in the packed courthouse with Judge Moraes concurring. Judge Pathmini Ranawaka delivering the majority verdict stated that the prosecution had proved during the trial that the provocative conduct of eleventh accused Duminda Silva led to the whole incident.The Judge further observed that the evidence submitted has proved that Duminda Silva had provided leadership to the unruly behaviour of the mob and therefore he should be held responsible for the whole incident. She further said that the JMO reports have revealed that Duminda Silva was under the influence of liquor at the time of the incident, but deceased Bharatha Premachandra was not so.The verdict also rejected the argument put forward by the defence during trial that Silva had been shot at first by the Premachandra faction.<\/p>\n

Courtes then acquitted and discharged eight of the accused.They were – Chandana Jagath Kumara, Lanka Rasanjana, Malaka Sameera, Widanagamage Amila, Suranga Premalal, Saman Kumara , Saman Abeywickrema and Rohana Marasinghe. Death sentence was pronounced for five persons. They were – Duminda Silva, Anura Thushara de Mel, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath alias Dematagoda Chaminda, Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Sarath Bandara and Janaka Bandara Galagoda. The tenth accused Janaka Bandara Galagoda was tried in absentia and convicted. In addition to the verdict of execution, the five convicted persons were also fined 40,000 rupees each. Thus descended the curtain upon a dramatic murder trial that had captured the nation\u2019s attention for many months.<\/p>\n

One important reason for the extraordinary focus on this particular murder trial was due to the charismatic personality of the premier victim himself – Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra! Bharatha Lakshman was someone I knew and interacted with slightly in the eighties of the last century. I have already written about him when he was killed in 2011. I shall however rely upon my earlier writings and focus on Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra at this juncture.<\/p>\n

Child of Fifty-Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was literally and metaphorically a \u201cchild of fifty-six\u201d(Panashaye daruwo). He was born in 1956 on January 26th which is Indian republican day. This was why his parents bestowed the name \u201cBharatha\u201d upon him.He belonged to a generation whose day in the sun had been ushered through the 1956 revolution of SWRD Bandaranaike.But to his credit Bharatha Lakshman was not a Sinhala chauvinist or supremist. This was what endeared him to me most.<\/p>\n

His mentor and leader was the late Vijaya Kumaranatunga. Like Vijaya , Bharatha too was devoid of communalism. He stood for a multi-ethnic Sri Lanka where the minority ethnicities would not be discriminated against. While being firmly committed towards the unity and territorial integrity of the country, Bharatha was also supportive of power sharing through devolution.The Tamils and Muslims lost a great friend when he was killed.<\/p>\n

Premachandra came from a non \u2013 elitist but progressive background. His father worked at the Ceylon Petroleum corporation and was an active trade unionist. The father was a socialist and supported the Trotskyite Lanka Sama Samaja Party(LSSP) in those days .The son inherited the father\u2019s leftist perspective. Bharatha was one of seven children,two boys and five girls. At the time of his Bharatha\u2019s birth the family was living in Wellampitiya.Later it moved to Kolonnawa. The Premachandras were not rural folk but lower middle class semi-urbanites.<\/p>\n

Bharatha Lakshman studied at Ananda College, Colombo. After leaving school he is reported to have worked for a very short time as a bookkeeper\u2019s assistant. However he took to political activism in his early twenties and virtually devoted himself to full time politics .Despite his left leaning tendency Bharatha Lakshman joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) in 1979. TB Illangaratne who represented Kolonnawa electorate in the late sixties and early seventies was the party organizer.Bharatha\u2019s idol and leader was Vijaya Kumaranatunga.He became engaged in trade union work for the party.<\/p>\n

Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was the time when the United National Party(UNP) under President Junius Richard Jayewardena was ruling the Sri Lankan roost. Kolonnawa was represented by Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi .The SLFP was a feeble force facing overwhelming political odds. The party itself was faction ridden and ineffective.<\/p>\n

The spirit of defiance, protest and resistance within the demoralized party was spearheaded by Vijaya. Bharatha was one of the many courageous youths who were inspired by the charismatic politico \u2013 actor.The 1982 Presidential elections where Vijaya worked tirelessly for Hector Kobbekkaduwe was a campaign in which Bharatha cut his political teeth.Kolonnawa was then under the thuggish rule of Mallimarachchi and his sons. It was a formidable task to paste anti-UNP posters, distribute leaflets and even hoist the SLFP blue flag.Bharatha Lakshman was courageous enough to give the lead in these matters despite the Mallimarachchis and their minions.<\/p>\n

It was during this time that I first met Bharatha Lakshman through fellow journalist on \u201cThe Island\u201d and friend Ajith Samaranayake. I can recall a prolonged discussion lasting several hours with him. Interestingly Bharatha had requested Ajith for a meeting and wanted me to participate in it. I remember vividly Bharatha trying to convince Ajith and myself that violence could only be met and overcome by violence. He would say that UNP authoritarianism in general and Mallimarachchi\u2019s hectoring in particular left him no choice but to offer fierce counter resistance.<\/p>\n

\"Duminda

Duminda Silva<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking back, I feel that it was this situation caused no doubt by the then hegemonic UNP that moulded and shaped his future politics. The brave young political lieutenant prepared to face violence with violence for his party and leaders transformed into a captain who relied on the adage \u201cbrothers are not helpful as blows\u201d.<\/p>\n

One fact that impressed and endeared Bharatha Lakshman to me was his positive and progressive thoughts on the Tamil national question. The Tamil armed struggle was still in its embryonic stages then and the \u201cethnic problem\u201dhad not assumed massive proportions then.Nevertheless Bharatha seemed to realize in 1982 itself that the problem if not resolved satisfactorily would become a major calamity. He even quoted Sagara Palansuriya about the light from the northern cigar engulfing the South in flames<\/p>\n

Going on the campaign trail with Kobbekkaduwe and Kumaranatunge to the North during the 1982 Presidential poll had broadened Bharatha Lakshman\u2019s political horizons. He was happy that the Tamil people were bold enough to vote against the UNP despite its hegemonic authoritarianism. The fact that more Tamils in Jaffna voted for Kobbekkaduwe than Jayewardena was a source of heartening satisfaction to him.<\/p>\n

Bharatha\u2019s soft corner towards minority ethnicities extended to the Muslims also. A veteran Muslim journalist told me about how Bharatha had helped the Muslims in the area. A large number of Muslims have moved into the Kolonnawa region in recent times. When the Muslim people tried to construct mosques in their new areas of habitation some persons belonging to the majority community resented it and tried to block it. The Muslims turned to Bharatha who intervened in the matter and resolved it amicably. Several mosques have been constructed without any communal disharmony due to Bharatha\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n

Tamils and Muslims<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Vijaya

Vijaya Kumaranatunga<\/p><\/div>\n

Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra due perhaps to the influence of Vijaya Kumaratunga had an enlightened attitude and approach towards the Tamils and Muslims. He kept the Kolonnawa area a safe haven for Tamils and Muslims to reside in.The large number of minority community mourners at his funeral testify to his bona fides on this key aspect. Even the ethnicities of the three bodyguards who were killed along with him are suggestive. One was Sinhala, one Tamil and one a Muslim.<\/p>\n

Within weeks of the meeting with Ajith and myself where I got to know Bharatha Lakshman extremely well, the fiery particle was in custody along with his hero Vijaya. This was the time when JR came up with the notorious \u201cNaxalite conspiracy\u201d charges against Vijaya and his supporters and jailed them. This was a ploy to keep them out of the controversial referendum polls campaign.Bharatha Lakshman now identified as an efficient deputy of Vijaya was also arrested.<\/p>\n

The Police encouraged by politicians in power offered the young man a way out of incarceration. Bharatha Lakshman was asked to betray his leader by making a statement implicating Vijaya. If he did so he would be set free without any conditions ,Bharatha was told.The young political activist was made of sterner stuff. He refused to do so. This honourable refusal was indeed laudable and was perhaps the turning point where the \u201cboy\u201d became\u201dman\u201d.So Bharatha Lakshman too was imprisoned.Later the so called \u201cNaxalites\u201d in the SLFP were all released unconditionally.<\/p>\n

Vijaya and Chandrika split from the SLFP and formed the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP) in 1984. Bharatha Lakshman too followed in their footsteps and was one of the founder members of the SLMP. He immersed himself in developing a trade union movement within the party.Bharatha was particularly successful at the Colombo harbour.Later he was appointed SLMP organizer for Kolonnawa electoral division.<\/p>\n

\"vijaya

vijaya Kumaratunga & Chandrika Kumaratunga<\/p><\/div>\n

Vijaya and Chandrika held positive views on the resolution of the Tamil national question. They were bold enough to travel to India and meet the Tamil militant group leaders. Later Vijaya along with Ossie Abeygoonesekara and Felix Perera went north and met the LTTE Jaffna commander Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar alias \u201cKittu\u201d.Bharatha Lakshman was excited about these happenings and firmly supported Vijaya\u2019s initiatives. I remember Bharatha giving me a video cassette of Vijaya\u2019s Jaffna trip and waxing eloquent about the breakthrough this would cause in Sinhala \u2013 Tamil relations.Alas!That was not to be so.<\/p>\n

\"President

President JR Jayewardena<\/p><\/div>\n

The Indo \u2013 Lanka accord was signed on July 29th 1987. The SLMP despite its opposition to the dictatorial JR welcomed it. Vijaya actively campaigned in support despite the violent opposition to it by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) Ultimately Vijaya was killed in February 1988.<\/p>\n

Indo- Lanka Accord<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the Tamil groups regarded as left of centre maintained contact with Vijaya. One of these was the Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) led by Kandiah Umamaheswaran alias Mukunthan. The Indo-Lanka accord provided for a general amnestry and created space for Tamil militant groups like PLOTE to enter mainstream politics.<\/p>\n

The PLOTE led by Umamaheswaran wanted to engage in democratic politics. Umamaheswaran wanted to relocate some of his cadres to Colombo to do political work. There was however some anxiety and concern for their safety. The UNP govt was not trusted by the PLOTE. The LTTE was also feared. So a request was made to Vijaya Kumaratunga to provide security.<\/p>\n

\"Umamaheswaran\"

Umamaheswaran<\/p><\/div>\n

Vijaya agreed and delegated the task to Bharatha Lakshman who rented out a few houses in the Wellampitiya area. The initial batch of PLOTE cadres sent to Colombo were housed in these residences. Bharatha Lakshman and some of his SLMP activists provided round the clock security to them. Later Umamaheswaran himself came to Colombo and a party office was set up in Kollupitiya.Other safe houses were set up in Colombo and the Mt.Lavinia-Ratmalana areas. The Wellampitiya safehouses were dismantled.<\/p>\n

Although of short duration amounting to a few months the role played by Bharatha Lakshman in this exercise was commendable. I remember Bharatha bringing a PLOTE member known as \u201cMaran\u201d and introducing him to me as the media liaison man. Maran used to bring PLOTE press releases and propaganda material to journalists in 1987 \u2013 88.<\/p>\n

While working as a trade unionist within the SLMP Bharatha Lakshman also got involved in electioneering. He first contested and won a seat at the Kotikawatte-Mulleriyawe Pradeshiya Sabha. Later he contested the Kolonnawa urban council polls and was elected in 1979 and 1983.He was leader of the opposition in the Kolonnawa urban council in 1983.After joining the SLMP Bharatha Lakshman contested the western provincial council elections in 1988. He was elected as a Western Provincial councilor. This was the time when the JVP was targeting politicians participating in provincial councils created because of the Indo-Lanka accord.<\/p>\n

\u201cChandiya\u201dPersona<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was during this time that a lone gunman suspected of being JVP targeted Bharatha Lakshman at his residence. But Bharatha\u2019s father despite his age bravely confronted the would be assassin.There was a scuffle and Bharatha too plunged in.Then in an unbelievable feat of bravery , Bharatha Lakshman seized the firearm and shot dead the man who came to kill him.This incident increased Bharatha Lakshman\u2019s image and stature within the party and area. He was now regarded as a tough guy and acquired a \u201cchandiya\u201dpersona. The fact that he had fought and killed in self \u2013 defence was overlooked.Nevertheless this chandiya image helped him counter the twin threats posed by UNP and JVP.<\/p>\n

Chandrika Kumaratunga retuned from her self \u2013exile in Britain and engaged in politics. After breaking up with the SLMP she teamed up briefly with Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and then returned to the SLFP. Bharatha contested the Western provincial council elections again in 1993 and won Chandrika forged a multi-party front led by the SLFP known as the Peoples Alliance(PA)Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra too aligned with her and in 1994 contested on the PA ticket. He was elected as a Parliamentarian from the Colombo district. He was elected MP in two subsequent elections held in 2000 and 2001. He was not assigned any ministerial portfolio then by Chandrika.<\/p>\n

Disappointed, he drifted away from Chandrika Kumaratunga politically and personally. Bharatha had always enjoyed good rapport with Mahinda Rajapaksa but now he got even more closer. This was a time when the man from Medamulana was a virtual loner in the SLFP where the Bandaranaike family hold was firm.Bharatha however was not lukewarm in his support to Mahinda within the party and backed him strongly as opposition leader, Prime minister and Presidential candidate. He worked tirelessly for Mahinda Rajapaksa in the 2005 presidential campaign.<\/p>\n

Despite Mahinda\u2019s success Bharatha had not been so fortunate. He had failed to get elected in 2004 to Parliament. This effectively deprived him of an opportunity to be a minister or deputy minister. He also lost the post of organizer for the electoral divisions of Borella and Kolonnawa to UNP \u201ccrossers over\u201d Thilanga Sumathipala and Duminda Silva.<\/p>\n

Presidential Adviser<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Rajapaksa appointed him as a special presidential adviser on trade unions and provided him with an office at the Presidential secretariat. He was also given two bodyguards from the Presidential security division. Premachandra functioned effectively and helped resolve some prickly trade union issues through behind the scenes negotiations.<\/p>\n

After Premachandra\u2019s demise, then President Rajapaksawas to tell media heads of how he had offered the Ratmalana electorate organizer post to Bharatha who had turned it down He had also declined an invitation to contest the mayoralty stakes as UPFA nominee for the Colombo city.<\/p>\n

President Rajapaksa\u2019s statements indicate that being a pugnacious political fighter , Bharatha Lakshman did not want to be driven out from his home turf. After all this was the area where he spearheaded a SLFP renaissance against the formidable UNP amidst tremendous hardship. He was in no mood to abandon the electorate he nurtured to a Johnny come lately with a disreputable track record.<\/p>\n

Premachandra defied the party leadership in his own way by continuing to nurse the Kolonnawa electorate despite being replaced as organizer. He rejected offers to move elsewhere and with dogged determination aimed at re-establishing his hold on the area and regaining his lost status.<\/p>\n

The local authority elections of 2011 saw a proxy battle for preference votes within the UPFA between Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and Duminda Silva in the Kotikawatte-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. Bharatha backed his disciple and incumbent chairman Prasanna Solangaraachchi.Duminda Silva worked against him and propped up others. It was widely alleged that Duminda was in cahoots with drug kingpins like \u201cWele Sudha\u201d..Rightly or wrongly many people believed this. He was nicknamed \u201cKudu Duminda\u201d by some.<\/p>\n

\u201cKudukaraya\u201dMenace<\/strong><\/p>\n

The campaign was nasty and affected by violence. Bharatha Lakshman with three decades of political experience turned it into a moral crusade against drugs and drug dealers.Popular antipathy towards the \u201ckudukaraya\u201d menace struck a responsive chord in the hearts and minds of the voters. In an unexpected twist former Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa sullied his \u201cpuritan\u201dimage by identifying himself openly with Duminda Silva. This resulted in Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra \u201crespectfully\u201dcriticising Defence Secretary Gotabhaya. This defiant conduct by Bharatha made his confidantes fear for his safety.<\/p>\n

When results were announced it was a great political triumph for Bharatha.His \u201ccandidate\u201d had got a record number of 42, 322 preferences. His rival\u2019s nominee had only got 5811 preferences. The voters had overwhelmingly endorsed Bharatha Lakshman\u2019s war against the drug mafia.In the process he had demonstrated that he was still a political force in the area.Sadly Bharatha Lakshman was not alive to savour his victory.Fate\u2019s moving finger had written his epitaph already.<\/p>\n

On election day Bharatha was campaigning in one area and Solangaraachchi in another. Duminda Silva and his group campaigning in another area were reportedly in high spirits after imbibing liquor.At one stage Duminda and his accomplices went up to a polling booth in close proximity to Solangaraachchi\u2019s residence. Duminda asked Sollangaraachchi\u2019s wife Madhu whom she voted for.There was a verbal altercation. When Madhu\u2019s mother in law remonstrated Duminda Silva abused her also using obscene words. Some allege that both women were roughed up. Duminda also continued to intimidate and threaten Solangaraachchi\u2019s supporters at the spot.<\/p>\n

Bharatha Lakshman was informed of what was happening. Since he was close to the spot, Bharatha rushed to the area with his comrades. Duminda heard that Bharatha was coming and left the place. Both convoys met on the roads near Walpola junction. Bharatha and Duminda both got down from their vehicles and moved towards each other. Bharatha asked Duminda why he was trying to bully and frighten women in a cowardly manner. Duminda suddenly hit Bharatha and also kicked him. Taken by surprise Bharatha fell down. At this point Duminda ordered his men to open fire. Realising the seriousness of the situation , Bharatha\u2019s armed \u201cOfficial\u201d body guard also opened fire. Bharatha\u2019s comrades who served as his unofficial bodyguards were unarmed.Bharatha and three of his comrades were shot dead. Bharatha was fired upon while he was lying on the ground. His official body guard too was injured. Many suspected that Duminda Silva had engineered the incident to lure Bharatha into a trap and then attack him.<\/p>\n

Cover Up Exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of the culprits being arrested the country was regaled with a massive mind \u2013 boggling cover up exercise. It was alleged that Duminda Silva was seriously injured in the shoot \u2013 out. He was admitted to Hospital. Both President Rajapaksa and his brother the Defence secretary visited Duminda at hospital. Gotabhaya was extra attentive towards Duminda. Special protection was provided. Outsiders were not allowed to go near Duminda. Finally he was escorted amidst great security and was flown to Singapore. It was said that he had sustained many injuries and needed extra medical treatment. Later when Duminda returned to Sri Lanka , he told courts that he was suffering from partial memory loss and could not remember what had transpired on the day in question. The ordinary people however knew and realised what had really happened.<\/p>\n

\"Hirunika

Hirunika Premachandra<\/p><\/div>\n

Whatever the actual situation concerning Bharatha Lakshman\u2019s death, in popular perception he died a heroic death at the hands of cowardly assassins There was also sympathy because of the opinion that he had been betrayed by those for whom he fought valiant political battles.The manner in which Bharatha Lakshman was killed and the cover up that followed evoked widespread anger and resentment. When President Rajapaksa went to the Premachandra residence to pay his respects the reception from people gathered there was cold. Namal Rajapaksa was hooted at when he went to the funeral parlour.<\/p>\n

Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra\u2019s friends, supporters and well-wishers perceived their beloved \u201cLucky Aiya\u201d as a knight in arms who was constrained to take up arms to fight against the forces of evil.In an exhibition of modern chivalry he had apparently rushed to the aid of a distressed damsel or dame and was murdered in a cowardly fashion. In the emotional aftermath following his murder,Bharatha Lakshman\u2019s doting daughter Hirunika Premachandra announced that she would emulate her father\u2019s example and take to politics.While the main narrative of Premachandra\u2019s death was viewed through the prism of political rivalry and law and order there also emerged a subaltern narrative that looked upon him as some kind of a latter-day folk hero. The massive crowds attending his funeral at Umagiliya grounds and the spontaneous popular response to his daughter vowing to follow in her father\u2019s footsteps were indicators in this respect.<\/p>\n

\"bl-e\"<\/p>\n

Justice at Last<\/strong><\/p>\n

Justice seems to have been done at last in the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. There will no doubt be an appeal to a higher court against the verdict. None knows what the future holds. As for now there is a sense of widespread satisfaction that the quest for justice has succeeded at last. More importantly the verdict has restored to some extent at least the credibility of Sri Lanka\u2019s judicial system that was eroded greatly during Rajapaksa rule.<\/p>\n

This article written for the “DBS Jeyaraj Column” appears in the “Daily Mirror” of September 10, 2016, it can be reached via this link:<\/em><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/dbs-jeyaraj-column<\/a><\/p>\n

DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/font> <\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former parliamentarian and presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra known as \u201cLucky Aiya\u201d was gunned down along with three of his bodyguards in Mulleriyawa on October 8th 2011. The past few years have been a taxing period of struggle for Bharatha\u2019s daughter Hirunika Premachandra \u2013now a Colombo district MP – as she sought justice …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s Murder and Hirunika\u2019s Quest for Justice’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48369"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48369"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48393,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48369\/revisions\/48393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}