In just six months, the Police had received all the information regarding the people who plotted to kill screen idol and popular politician Vijaya Kumaratunga on February 16, 1988 and the identity of the assassin.
During the time, the Police had a network of captured JVP activists who worked as spies and some of the lower levels of the JVP who acted as informants. After gathering all the information, the investigation revealed that Vijaya’s killer was one Lionel Ranasinghe. So far, the Police had not received any information about his whereabouts.
A photograph of Ranasinghe, taken at the time of his arrest following a robbery in Horana, and a sketch drawn on a computer based on eyewitness testimony, were distributed to all Police stations island-wide. Both pictures were given to Police officers who were on the murder investigation to keep at all times.
Three teams had been appointed to investigate the murder, one of which was under Sub-Inspector Wimalaratne. On the morning of March 14, Wimalaratne’s group, Diaz and Basil left to search for a person. Diaz was assigned to get a tip about a person coming near the Colombo University. At around nine in the morning, the two officers walked along Gregory’s Road, took a turn into Bauddhaloka Mawatha, and turned towards Thunmulla. The two passed the All Ceylon Buddhist Association (ACBC) building. Meanwhile, a person was coming in the opposite direction.
Most of the unknown gunmen at that time carried T-56 assault rifles hidden in sacks known as ‘rabbit bags’ so Police officers were instructed to be cautious of individuals carrying such bags. A doubt came over Diaz and familiar image flashed in his mind. Suspicion intensified as the person in question was carrying a rabbit bag.
“That’s Lionel,” Diaz said to his partner Basil. The suspect stopped near the two of them. “Where’s Lionel going?” Sergeant Diaz, asked the stranger tactfully. The officers were well aware of the expressions a person shows when called by their real name. Diaz and Basil saw the person’s face register a signal when the name “Lionel…” was mentioned.
“I’m Fernando, not Lionel…” he replied, handing his ID card. The name on the ID card was ‘Horanage Piyasiri Fernando’.
The two officers already had the photo of Lionel provided by the CID and the computer-generated sketch of Vijaya’s killer. Acting immediately, Diaz reached behind the suspect’s back and grabbed him by the waist belt. He was put into a passing tuk tuk and taken to a nearby Police Station.
“We caught him”
Diaz took the suspect out of the vehicle, grabbed him and entered the office, claiming to have “caught Lionel.” At the same time, all the officers gathered around him to see who Lionel is. Diaz took the suspect and went straight to the director’s room. “Sir, Lionel has been caught…” the Director spoke to Superintendent of Police (SP) Gamini Perera in the front room. The suspect was examined but he kept insisting that he was Horanage Piyasiri Fernando.
“I was going to meet a friend at the YMBA. I’m not Lionel. You are mistaken, I am Piyasiri…” The officials were shrewder than the suspect. The interrogation began in a manner that was native to the Police. After continuous questioning, the suspect admitted that he was in fact Lionel.
Lionel Ranasinghe alias Mahinda alias Jayathilaka alias Gamini could no longer hide his identity. Realising that he had nothing left to hide when Basil showed him his photograph, the stranger revealed himself to be Lionel.
The arrest of Lionel Ranasinghe, who was essential to the Police in connection to the killing of several important persons in the country including Vijaya Kumaratunga, was relayed to the Inspector General of Police Ernest Perera by the DIG in charge of Colombo City. The IGP took steps to inform the Minister of State for Defence Ranjan Wijeratne.
Keenly interested
Minister Wijeratne, who was keenly interested in the suppression of JVP, came to the Police Station with IGP Perera that same evening to see Vijaya’s killer. The Minister and his group had a long talk with Ranasinghe. The Minister asked Lionel how Nandalal Fernando, who held the title of UNP General Secretary before him, was killed. Lionel Ranasinghe told the Minister how Nandalal was killed, acting it out to some extent.
The Datsun vehicle that was parked close by at the time of the shooting.
At the same time, Minister Wijeratne asked Lionel about the killing of Prof. Stanley Wijesundara and the killing of SSP Terence Perera. By this time Ranjan Wijeratne was seen as an extremely tough character, not just among JVP members, but also among the general public. It can be deduced that being questioned by such a character seemed to have a great affect on Ranasinghe.
After questioning Lionel, Minister Wijeratne held a meeting with senior police officers led by the IGP in the Police Station Commander’s room. As the captured “prey” was not insignificant, it was discussed how to use it beneficially through interrogation and so on and how to keep it under maximum security. The Minister instructed the IGP to hand over Ranasinghe to the CID immediately. On March 15, 1989, Lionel Ranasinghe was taken to the CID headquarters, to the infamous fourth floor, in the New General Secretariat Building at Colombo Fort.
After 48 hours in CID custody, at 4.45 p.m. on March 18, CID Director Chandra Jayawardena started questioning Ranasinghe.
Full Name – Lionel Ranasinghe alias Gamini alias Mahinda alias Jayathilaka of Palammulla
Age – 27 years
Race/Religion – Sinhalese/Buddhist
Occupation – Groundnut trader
Residence – No. 5/2, National Housing, Moonagama, Horana.
After coming to Horana with his family, Lionel, who was interested in pursuing higher education in the commerce stream, was enrolled in the Horana Vidyarathne School. Even though Lionel joined the JVP at this time, it appears that the necessary background was present in his home as well. Lionel’s mother had represented the JVP in the Local Government elections.
A resident of Yagirala named Jayasiri, who was a senior student at Horana Vidyaratne, connected Lionel with the JVP. Jayasiri was also a JVP member and Lionel was connected with the JVP through the JVP office which was located in a house on Horana, Seelaratna Road.
Its organiser was Yatiyantota Chandrasiri. Chandrasiri studied at the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo. In 1979/80, Chandrasiri also held the position of President of its General Students’ Union. Lionel started attending JVP political classes (Panthi Paha) at the Seelaratna Road office. Another person who attended these classes with Lionel was Abeysinghe, a resident of Allakanda Estate, Horana.
(At left): Palammullalage Lionel Ranasinghe at his home in 1985. (Centre): After his arrest by the Horana police in 1987 and Payagala Tarzan Weerasinghe alias Herath who rode the motorcycle to the place of the assassination.
Towards the end of 1986, Lionel met Jayawardena of Batagoda village. He resided at Seelaratna Road and was also an organiser of the JVP office at Seelaratna Road. Jayawardena, who was in contact with Lionel based on previous acquaintances, asked him several times for money for travel expenses and food.
Apart from this, he also took money from Lionel for handouts during fundraising events for the party. “There is no point in being like that… the party needs to work…” Jayawardene suggested to Lionel one day in the form of an order. Jayawardena told Lionel to come to the Seelaratna Road office, giving him a date and time to meet him.
After his arrest, Lionel recalled that date was “a day in January or February of ‘87. When Lionel came to Jayawardena’s house at around two in the evening, a JVP member residing in Panadura area was also there. He told Lionel and the people there that the party needed everything based on the situation. We want to know about every single detail. Money has to be found where there is money. Tell the party if there are any places you know for that…”
Panadure Gunathilake’s proposal was based on the promise of reunion. The group dispersed. During this time he was selling peanuts on the sidewalk. Lionel recalls two shops, the Serendib Liquor Store located on the Horana-Ratnapura road, and Tilakasiri Stores, where he brought peanuts to sell. Lionel met Jayawardena several times and on those occasions and Lionel provided information to Jayawardena about how the owners of the Serendib Liquor Store and Tilakasiri Stores transport the money in their vehicles after closing shop at night.
Jayawardena introduced Lionel to various party members while he was selling peanuts. Lionel remembers that Karunaratne, Sunil and Herath were introduced that way. Herath worked as a bus driver at the Kalutara South Depot of the Sri Lanka Transport Board. He was eating peanuts on the pavement and chatting with Lionel when the bus honked. Herat, who was married, resided at Yadadola Road, Kalutara. Known as Herath, his real name was Tarsan Weerasinghe. The two names Herat and Tissa have been given to him by the party.
This was the statement made by Ranasinghe to the CID Director, SP Chandra Jayawardena, for about four hours on the first day of questioning.
Two failed heists
On March 19, 1989, at 4.10 PM, the CID started the second round of questioning. Jayawardena made Lionel participate in a party camp held in the Bambarakanda area. It was held in December 1986. The trainers showed how to shoot, postures and so on. From the way the training was given, Lionel understood that the trainer was possibly ex-Army.
In March, Lionel attended another camp at Adam’s Peak that trained the party’s armed wing. Jayawardena made Lionel participate in this, without knowing the location beforehand, only informing him about the relevant training. Lionel and a group of people went to the campsite in canvas shoes, shorts, rice, spices, coconuts, and so on, rations needed for the camp, and during this training, they were forbidden to talk about personal details with each other. Each person had a number and one can call only be called from that number.
Shape of guns
There were two guns for target practice. Other training activities were done with pieces of wood in the shape of guns. At the end of the seven-day training, a lecture was given on the current state of the party and its future course of action. He informed the group that the Government will suppress the party in the future and therefore they should be prepared to face such opposition. When the training was over, Lionel and the group did not forget to climb the mountain and worship the sacred footprint.
It was decided by JVP leaders at the top level to employ Lionel and other people and provide the necessary funding for future party activities. The group planned to rob either the Serendib Liquor Store or Tilakasiri Stores. One day, Jayawardena told Lionel to come to the shop near the Bo tree at Horana Junction at around 8.00 p.m. Lionel obeyed the order and arrived with three people, including Tarsan Weerasinghe, who drove a white Hiace van. Lionel was addressed as a friend and he got into the vehicle, so that the people in town would not get suspicious.
The group’s plan was to rob the Panadura branch of Tilakasiri Stores. For that, they had only two flintlock weapons, a pistol without ammunition, and three stainless steel daggers. That operation was not successful because another lorry belonging to the shop came along with the vehicle transporting the money and the group unexpectedly missed the van.
As the attempt failed, a flintlock, pistol and three daggers were put in a cloth bag and handed over to Lionel by Jayawardena. Lionel hid all the weapons in a trunk box where he stored his books and worked on repairing his home kitchen instead of going to the cashew market the next day. As the Sinhala New Year was approaching, Lionel needed to renovate the kitchen. Jayawardena, who came to Lionel’s house at around 2.00 p.m., told him to meet him in Horana town that night and bring the two bags with him.
That night as well as the previous day, Tarsan Weerasinghe alias Herath came in the white Hiace. When Lionel got into the van, Sunil, Karunaratne and Jayawardena were present. Although the group intended to rob Tilakasiri Stores, in view of the prevailing situation, the group decided to rob the Serendib Liquor Store at night when the collected money was being transported.
As the gang waited inside the van with the weapons, a police team showed up suddenly and started searching the van and the occupants. When the police found the weapons in the van, they took all four along with the van to the Police station and locked them up. Jayawardena was the leader and the four were interrogated separately by the Police and when Lionel was interrogated, he said, “We are all JVP members… Today we came to rob Tilakasiri Stores or the Serendib… Yesterday we robbed the Tilakasiri in Panadura. Even though I went, the plan did not go well…”
Mug shots
As a result of all this, the incident escalated to the point where the group was brought to the Horana Magistrate’s Court and remanded. In addition, Horana Police also took mug shots and fingerprinted them all.
The incident revealed by Lionel made the main headline on Divaina’s front page on April 16, 1987. “Five members of a banned party caught with dangerous weapons and revolutionary books.” A later report was published in the Divaina newspaper on April 18.
“During the inspection of the homes of the five people who were arrested by the Horana Police on the 12th near the Horana Public Post Office, two motorcycles that were stolen some time ago were found in the house of one of the suspects. The white van bearing the number 40 Sri 3182 in which these persons were arrested with dangerous weapons and books belonging to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is currently impounded at the Horana Police Station.
The arrested suspects are: Lionel Ranasinghe of Pahalumulla, Sunil Abeysingha Arachchi, Karunaratne Perera, Tarsan Weerasinghe and Jayawardena of Batagodagama.
Up to now, the JVP has never formally acknowledged their responsibility for the killing of screen icon and politician Vijaya Kumaratunga. There have been many calls from other political parties, civil society and artistes’ organisations for the JVP to acknowledge its role in the assassination and apologise to the nation.
Translated by Jonathan Frank
