In the late 1980s, Sri Lanka’s current ruling party, the People’s Liberation Front (commonly known as the JVP), led a violent uprising against the government. During this period, killings became widespread, and youth were frequently targeted without any evidence of links to the rebels.
Nayana Priyamini was a young girl at the time, living with her mother, two uncles, and two aunts in Manajjawa, Ambalanthota. Her older uncle, who had connections to the JVP, had already left the village. Her younger uncle worked as a fish vendor. On July 11, 1988, he was shot and killed.
The family saw his body in the hospital mortuary, but they were neither given his remains nor provided with a death certificate. He was only 28 years old at the time of his death. The other uncle later surrendered to a rehabilitation center and remains alive today.
