The years 1988/89 marked a period of armed youth uprisings in Sri Lanka, during which the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) orchestrated a rebellion against the government. Both the government and the JVP adopted extremely violent tactics, resulting in widespread repression.
This era was marked by the tragic loss of countless young lives. P.M. Wijepala, a young man from Manajjawa, Ambalantota, was one such individual. Wijepala was a prominent member of the JVP, with nearly all members of his family also associated with the organization.
During this violent period, Wijepala’s family faced constant harassment from the police and military, who regularly visited their home to search and interrogate them. One morning, while Wijepala was in the yard, an army jeep approached their house. Fearing he was about to be arrested, he attempted to flee. Mistaking his actions as an attempt to evade capture, the military shot and killed him.
The incident left Wijepala’s family devastated. His younger brother, P.M. Ranjith, later recounted the profound impact of the event and shared his experiences of living in a society engulfed by fear and terror during that time.
