{"id":49404,"date":"2016-11-11T01:59:19","date_gmt":"2016-11-11T05:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=49404"},"modified":"2016-11-12T19:05:05","modified_gmt":"2016-11-12T23:05:05","slug":"murder-most-foul-of-moderate-tamil-mp-raviraj-ten-years-ago-in-colombo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=49404","title":{"rendered":"Murder Most Foul of Moderate Tamil MP Raviraj Ten Years Ago in Colombo"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

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

Former Tamil National Alliance(TNA) Jaffna District Parliamentarian and Lawyer Nadarajah Raviraj and his Police bodyguard Sgt.Lakshman Lokuwella were gunned down on a Colombo street in broad daylight ten years ago. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Investigation report on Sri Lanka (OISL) presented at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in September 2015 summed up the shooting in the following manner- <\/p>\n

\"Nadarajah

Nadarajah Raviraj ~ (Born: June 25, 1962, Chavakachcheri, Sri Lanka
Assassinated: November 10, 2006, Colombo, Sri Lanka)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cOn 10 November 2006, Nadarajah Raviraj, a human rights lawyer and MP for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), was shot dead on a main road in Colombo by an assailant on a motorbike. The attack took place near a Security Force base on a stretch of road between police checkpoints.Nadarajah Raviraj was widely known for his moderate views and critical statements of both the LTTE and the Government, particularly in the weeks leading up to his murder. Along with other parliamentarians he had set up the Civilian Monitoring Committee, which alleged the Government was responsible for abductions, enforced disappearances and unlawful killings. The day before he was killed, Raviraj and other TNA parliamentarians took part in a demonstration in front of the UN offices in Colombo to protest against the killing of Tamil civilians by the military in the East and the increasing abductions and extrajudicial killings\u201d.
\n
\nNadarajah Raviraj was personally known to me. He was one of the many political leaders on either side of the ethnic divide known to me who were killed during the course of Sri Lanka\u2019s protracted ethnic crisis which spawned South Asia\u2019s longest war. The moderate Tamil MP\u2019s killing on a Colombo road in broad daylight amounted to a murder most foul. The tenth death anniversary of Nadarajah Raviraj falls on November 10th. This column intends focusing on the life and death of Nadarajah Raviraj in a bid to remember the bright young star in the Tamil political firmament who was gunned down most cruelly at the age of 44.<\/p>\n

Chavakachcheri in Thenmaratchy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nadarajah Raviraj born on June 25th 1962 wa a native of Chavakachcheri in the Thenmaratchy sector of Jaffna. His father was a schoolmaster at Chavakachcheri Hindu College in Sangathanai. His mother taught at Hindu Ladies College,Chavakachcheri.Raviraj was an old boy of Driebergs College, Chavakachcheri and St. Johns College,Jaffna .Friends recall with affectionate nostalgia that Raviraj generally known as Ravi was also nicknamed\u201ckilangu\u201d (potato)in his student days.<\/p>\n

Raviraj passed out as a lawyer and took his oaths in 1987. He joined the Attorney \u2013 General\u2019s Dept in 1990 and worked there till 1993.He quit the AG\u2019s dept in 1993 and became a human rights lawyer attached to the Home for Human Rights . He worked there till 1996. Thereafter he began private practice and soon set up his own law office Raviraj and Associates. Raviraj was involved in human rights work from 1984 onwards even during his law College days.<\/p>\n

Tamil United Liberation Front<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raviraj became enamoured of democratic politics at a time when most Tamils of a younger generation were aligning with militant groups. He joined the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and worked actively for the party along with other young Tamil lawyers like former Jaffna mayor Pon. Sivapalan and ex \u2013 Batticaloa MP Thurairajasingham who is now an eastern provincial minister.<\/p>\n

Raviraj owed his rise in politics to TULF stalwart Veerasingham Aanandasangaree who regarded his younger colleague as a protege\u2019. Sangaree who was senior vice \u2013 president and later President of the TULF in those days promoted Raviraj within the party.Raviraj became TULF central Committe member in 1990. In 1998 he was appointed Legal adviser to the party. Raviraj was made TULF Politbureau Member in 2000 and in 2001 became Administrative secretary of the party.<\/p>\n

The TULF of an earlier era faced great danger at the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Other militant Tamil groups supposedly functioning as \u201c half- democratic\u201d parties were also not well \u2013 disposed towards the grand old democratic party of Sri Lankan Tamils.It was amidst great physical danger that the TULF contested the Jaffna Municipality in 1998. Raviraj too was on the list. The TULF with its slogan of \u201cunarmed democracy\u201d (Aayuthamatra Jananayagam) topped the polls in Jaffna despite not having resources like other parties such as EPDP, PLOTE , TELO and EPRLF.Raviraj became a municipal councillor.<\/p>\n

Acting Jaffna Mayor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sarojini Yogeswaran became mayor and was shot dead by the LTTE. Pon. Sivapalan then succeded her. Sivapalan along with Jaffna military commander Brigadier Mendis and several others were killed when the LTTE exploded a claymore mine concealed in the ceiling. The mayoral aspirant Pon. Mathimugarajah was assassinated by the LTTE in front of the Nallur Kandaswamy temple.<\/p>\n

In spite of the danger involved Raviraj backed up by Aanandasangaree came forward to don the mayoral mantle. Raviraj was appointed deputy mayor in 1998. Instead of becoming Mayor immediately Raviraj functioned as acting mayor. He was the de \u2013 facto and not de- jure mayor for a while.Raviraj adopted this razor\u2019s edge stance and managed to survive . In 2000 October Raviraj contested the Parliamentary elections on the TULF ticket but failed to win a seat. In 2001 Raviraj was formally appointed as Jaffna mayor. But within months Raviraj was elected to Parliament and resigned Mayoral office.<\/p>\n

Tamil National Alliance<\/strong><\/p>\n

By 2001 there was a sea change in Tamil \u201cmoderate\u201d politics. The TULF, Tamil Congress, EPRLF and TELO joined hands and formed a loose alliance known as the Tamil National Alliance. They started moving close to the LTTE and began toeing the tiger line.<\/p>\n

The TULF then faced danger at the hands of Douglas Devananda\u2019s EPDP which treated the new political formation as potential danger. When the TULF went into the Islands to do propaganda the EPDP saw it as an affront and challenge. The EPDP had for long regarded the Kayts division as its fiefdom.A gang of EPDP goons led by \u201cNapoleon\u201d and masterminded by \u201cMano\u201d accosted the TULF in Thambatty in Naranthanai and launched a brutal assault. Raviraj driving up in the front vehicle displayed great physical courage in combatting the challenge. Two TULF activists were killed and people like Mavai Senathirajah and MK Sivajilingam sustained injuries. It was this incident which turned the tide against the EPDP then. The case is still continuing at the Jaffna courts.<\/p>\n

Raviraj too won and entered Parliament for the first time in 2001 December. There was however a split in the TULF during this time when the old warhorse Aanandasangaree fell foul of the LTTE which wanted him ousted. The TNA was now fast becoming a puppet of the LTTE. Sangaree resisted LTTE domination and paid the price as most of his colleagues and followers deserted him and paid pooja to the tigers.The unkindest cut for Sangaree was the \u201ctransformation \u201d of Raviraj. The young MP had initially backed his political mentor but gradually parted ways with his senior colleague.In 2004 April Raviraj was re- elected as Jaffna district MP but Aanandasangaree was defeated in an \u201cundemocratic\u201d poll conducted under dubious means. Raviraj soon became a rising star in the TNA which contested under the house symbol of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK).<\/p>\n

Best Known Face Among TNA MP\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of Raviraj\u2019s strong points was his fluency in Tamil, English and Sinhala. This enabled him to participate fully in Parliament debates, media discussions and interviews and public meetings. He was a forceful speaker and conveyed his views precisely and clearly.He was capable of quick repartees and often made pithy and pungent comments.He also participated in demonstrations particularly those concerning freedom of expression. Raviraj had many friends among the Colombo media.He participated in many TV shows in all three languages. He was perhaps the best known face among TNA Parliamentarians\u201d to the \u201cSinhala\u201d South.<\/p>\n

Raviraj was in Canada some years ago and I heard him speak at a public seminar on the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Raviraj was the last speaker. There were a couple of Canadian mainstream MP\u2019s at the meeting. As is usual among western politicians who \u201cgrace\u201d minority community occasions just to keep up \u201cappearances\u201d the two gentlemen began moving out as Raviraj was on the rostrum.The young Tamil MP was not fazed and made a public appeal that both MP\u2019s should not leave but sit and listen to his speech. Taken aback both men promptly returned to their seats, tuned in and after it was over engaged in long discussions with the Sri Lankan Parliamentarian.
\nI also recall that Raviraj could not have dinner with me as arranged earlier because his departure from Toronto had to be expedited due to an urgent matter. I was not at home when he called to inform me of the sudden change of plan.After returning to Colombo Raviraj was courteous enough to telephone me and apologise profusely .
\nThe conflict in Sri Lanka began escalating after Mahinda Rajapakse became President in November 2005..The war conducted against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) resulted in great hardship for the Tamil people. The basic human rights of the Tamil people were violated with impunity during those days of war.\u201dTerror\u201dwas on the rise.<\/p>\n

Civil Monitoring Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raviraj was in the forefront of those resisting this creeping state of terror. He joined hands with those of different political beliefs and ethnicities to fight for common causes. A case in point was his active involvement in the Civil Monitoring Committee (CMC) set up to monitor extra \u2013 judicial executions, disappearances and abductions.Raviraj worked with people like Siritunga Jayasuriya, Mano Ganesan , Vasudeva Nanayakara, Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne, and Appapillai Vinayagamoorthy etc in this regard.<\/p>\n

I also know for a fact that Raviraj was one of the few Tamil MP\u2019s who interacted closely with diplomats, human rights activists and media persons about issues affecting the Tamil people. Though he did not hog the limelight in this Raviraj worked quietly behind the scenes in keeping the \u201cworld\u201d informed about what was happening in the Island.Raviraj has participated in conflict resolution workshops hosted by Institute of Federalism in Switzerland, Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Germany and Peace Institute in Austria among others.<\/p>\n

Raviraj along with a few other MP\u2019s was the livewire of the TNA. The TNA was being forced to adopt a more militant yet non \u2013 violent stance in espousing the Tamil cause. After many non \u2013 violent demonstrations in Parliament the TNA began taking to the streets to articulate Tamil grievances. The demonstration opposite the UNHCR office in Bullers road was the beginning of a new series of envisaged protests.<\/p>\n

Once again Raviraj played a crucial role in organizing and conducting the demonstration. 19 of the 22 TNA Parliamentarians participated. Apart from handling logistics Raviraj\u2019s voice could be heard shouting slogans and demands loudly in all three languages.He also interacted with the media and obtained much publicity for the event. Given the prevailing political culture of that time where all Tamil dissent was ruthlessly suppressed a voice such as that of Raviraj\u2019s too had to be silenced from the viewpoint of those wielding power in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

D-day or Death Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

D- day or death day was November 10th 2006.The Tamil National Alliance MP from Jaffna district and his bodyguard Police sgt.Lokuwellamurage Shantha Laxman Lokuwella from Gampaha were shot dead in broad daylight at about 8. 39 am in Colombo.The shooting occurred close to Raviraj\u2019s residence in Manningtown, Narahenpita.<\/p>\n

The spot where the shooting occurred was in close proximity to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles Department.The Jaffna MP had returned home after a discussion \u2013 interview on \u201cDerana\u201d TV from 7. 00 am \u2013 7.30 am. He had quickly changed clothes . had breakfast and started out again to his law office.<\/p>\n

Raviraj a lawyer by profession had his own law firm: \u201cRaviraj and Associates\u201d.Though the MP had his own driver the man was on leave. The driver had requested a further extension of leave a few days before the killing.According to Raviraj\u2019s brother in law the MP had then told the driver good \u2013 humouredly \u201d Even if I die you can have your leave\u201d.The TNA Parliamentarian had first tried to use his wife\u2019s car but finding the battery had run down chose to use his own vehicle.<\/p>\n

Elvitigala Mawatte<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raviraj had asked his bodyguard Sgt. Lakshman a native of Gampaha to get in and climbed onto the drivers seat.The Toyota Landcruiser Prado bearing the No WP KE 1279 was then slowly driven along Martha road by Raviraj. The vehicle was turning into Elvitigala Mawatte when a motor cycle numbered JE 3507 came near from the opposite side.Two men with helmets were on it.One got down from the pillion , removed his helmet , went across and stood on the pavement . He had a shoulder bag.<\/p>\n

Raviraj\u2019s vehicle was cruising along very slowly when the man tore apart the bag he was carrying and started firing. The weapon was a T \u2013 56. The assassin did not pull the gun out but fired while it was yet inside the bag.The assassin fired away at point blank range on Raviraj\u2019s vehicle from the front, side and rear. An entire magazine was exhausted in the firing. He then ran quickly and climbed on to the motor cycle pillion again.<\/p>\n

The assassins had then turned into Martha road and sped away. The bag containing the T \u2013 56 as well as the helmet of one rider were found on the side of the road.Police also stated that a three \u2013 wheeler parked close to the spot had also driven away after the shooting. It is suspected that the three \u2013 wheeler driver was a \u201clook \u2013 out\u201d for the assassins and had tipped them off by mobile telephone about Raviraj\u2019 s vehicle approaching.<\/p>\n

Colombo National Hospital<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raviraj was hit five times and Lokuwella eight times. Both victims were taken to Colombo National Hospital speedily. Lokuwella was pronounced dead upon admission.Raviraj was in critical condition and urgent surgery was done but Raviraj was dead at 9. 20 am.Hospital sources said the MP was \u201cclinically dead\u201d even when admitted.Thus ended the life of Nadarajah Raviraj.<\/p>\n

Raviraj was married to Sashikala a teacher at Bishops College, Colombo. They have a daughter Praveena and son YuthishtranRaviraj lived and worked in Colombo. His bodyguard who died along with him was a Sinhala Policeman. Raviraj\u2019s mother described the bodyguard as \u201cpart of our family\u201d and lamented about the dead cops wife and two young children.Raviraj\u2019s daughter Praveena in speaking about her father said \u201d He thought the Sinhalese loved him and he loved them in turn. He didn\u2019t see ethnic differences, but he saw that it was red blood which unites us all,\u201d Raviraj\u2019s wife Sashikala said about her husband \u201d He was a genuine, open person with a good heart who had close ties with people of all backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

National Peace council Executive-director Jehan Perera described Raviraj\u2019s role in the following manner when the MP was killed – \u201cRaviraj was a Tamil leader who helped to educate the non Tamil population about the perspectives of the Tamils and their sufferings. On Tuesday November 14 he had agreed to be a speaker at a Religious-Political Dialogue organised by several civic organisations. He was friendly with all, and always prepared to engage with others, even with those of a very different political mind set. Although the Sinhala language skills at his disposal were limited, he courageously made use of them to debate the representatives of the nationalist Sinhalese political parties and provide another perspective on current and national issues. With his killing this important avenue of information is likely to close for both the general public and the international community to whom he spoke with a measure of credibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last Testament and Will<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pronouncements and views expressed on ones deathbed or prior to death are treated as sacrosanct. Raviraj did not know that he was going to be shot at 8. 40 am and that he would die at 9. 20 am on Nov 10th. His final media interview was between 7. 30 \u2013 8. 00 am that same morning . Some of the views he expressed then could be regarded as his last testament and will (in political terms).
\nWhat does Raviraj tell \u201cDerana\u201d?<\/p>\n

\u201d The people in the north-east aspire to live together. They aspire for the merger of the two provinces, it is a basic human right of those people. In the ancient times, there were Sinhala and Tamil kingdoms in Sri Lanka. It is not new to our people. That is mainly an area of Tamils from ancient times. It does not mean that we want to divide the country. We believe that North and east be considered as a one unit. That should be the base if to find a solution to the ethnic crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1947 when India achieved independence, Mohamed Ali Jinnah demanded Pakistan to be separated. We asked for 50-50 and then a Federal system and now the LTTE is fighting for separate state. However, as politicians we still believe in a united country\u201d.
\nThose who knew Raviraj intimately would realise that these last words of Raviraj came from his heart. The real Raviraj was the man who boldly distanced himself from the LTTE on TV and said \u201cIt does not mean that we want to divide the country\u201d and also observed \u201d now the LTTE is fighting for separate state. However, as politicians we still believe in a united country\u201d.<\/p>\n

Connector not Divider<\/strong><\/p>\n

This then is the real Raviraj.Raviraj worked wih all sections of the people, involved himself in many issues and helped build bridges between the Tamils and other commuities.He was a connector of people and not a divider of communities. The fact that a large gathering of people from diverse , multi \u2013 ethnic backgrounds paid their respects demonstrated that ordinary people understood that difference. Ravi\u2019s death diminishes humanity and has been a loss to us all.<\/p>\n

This article written for the “DBS Jeyaraj Column” appears in the “Daily Mirror” of November 5, 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

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By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former Tamil National Alliance(TNA) Jaffna District Parliamentarian and Lawyer Nadarajah Raviraj and his Police bodyguard Sgt.Lakshman Lokuwella were gunned down on a Colombo street in broad daylight ten years ago. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Investigation report on Sri Lanka (OISL) presented at the 30th session of the UN Human …<\/p>\n

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