Name of leader Somawansa Amarasinghe
Organization JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna)
Conflict country Sri Lanka
Gender Male
Year of birth 1943[1]
Place of birth Payagala, Kalutara, Sri Lanka[2]
Year of death 2016[3]
Deceased
Yes, he died in 2016 natural causes.
Birth order
He was the youngest son in a family of four.[4]
Age at start of rebel leadership
In 1989, so he was age 46.[5]
Leader entry method
He was appointed.[6]
Powersharing
“He entered Kalutara Vidyalaya as a grade two student after having his primary education at the Kalutara Ladies College,”[7]
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
N/A
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes, he was married.[8]
Children
Yes, he had a son.[9]
Religious identification
He was Christian, under the assumption that he was a Christian because his father's name was John.[10]
Elite Family background
No, he is not from an elite family background.
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
In 1956, he launched his political career with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) when he was a student.[11]
Physical and mental health
No, there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
He was a government employee.[12]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a state military.
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a nonstate military.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
No, there is no evidence of combat experience.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
Yes, he used to serve as a technical officer in the Irrigation Department.[13]
Lived in exile?
Yes, he fled Sri Lanka to Paris, where he competed with a rival faction in London to lead the party. He fled in 1989 and returned in 2004.[14]
Study abroad?
No, there is no evidence he studied abroad.
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
No, there is no evidence of military training abroad.
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No, there is no evidence he had extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
Yes, in 1974, he was sentenced to two years in prison.[15]
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
No, there is no evidence of an assassination attempt by the state.
Cause of Death?
He died of disease/natural causes. [16]
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
He was known to be fluent in English.[17]
[1] Image Credit: https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/somawansa.jpg
(For non-commercial use, all credits belong to the original owners, please contact for removal)
“Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[2] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[3] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[4] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[5] "Somarawansa Amarasinghe Passes Away,” Sri Lanka News Online, June 16, 2016, Accessed August 5, 2021, https://news.lk/news/business/item/13668-somawansa-amarasinghe-passes-away
[6] Patrick Peebles, Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015), 33.
[7] Dharman Wickremaratne, “ ‘Siri Aiya’ who revived the JVP,” The Nation, April 18, 2015, Accessed January 4, 2018, http://www.nation.lk/edition/news-features/item/40055-%25E2%2580%2598siri-aiya%25E2%2580%2599-who-revived-the-jvp.html.
[8] Interesting Facts about JVP’s Somawansa Amarasinghe!,” ThinkWorth, April 18, 2015, Accessed January 3, 2018, https://thinkworth.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/interesting-facts-about-jvps-somawansa-amarasinghe/.
[9] Dharman Wickremaratne, “ ‘Siri Aiya’ who revived the JVP,” The Nation, April 18, 2015, Accessed January 4, 2018, http://www.nation.lk/edition/news-features/item/40055-%25E2%2580%2598siri-aiya%25E2%2580%2599-who-revived-the-jvp.html.
“Interesting Facts about JVP’s Somawansa Amarasinghe!,” ThinkWorth, April 18, 2015, Accessed January 3, 2018, https://thinkworth.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/interesting-facts-about-jvps-somawansa-amarasinghe/.
[10] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[11] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[12] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[13] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[14] Patrick Peebles, Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015), 33.
[15] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[16] “Death of Somawansa Amarasinghe,” Daily News, accessed September 11, 2017, http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/16/local/84840.
[17] Sir Adam Roberts, Democracy, Sovereignty and Terror: Lakshman Kadirgamar on the Foundations of International Order (New York: I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd, 2012), 56.