Piyadasa Ranasinghe

Devabandhanage Piyadasa (4 April 1946 – 15 November 1989: ), popularly known as Piyadasa Ranasinghe, was a Sri Lankan political activist who was killed by army forces. He was the organising secretary and a member of the JVP party in the period 1970–1989. He was also known as Dibba, Sudu Mama and Dunuwila.

Family background and early life He was born on 4 April 1946 in Pahalawatte of Warapitiya village in Walasmulla, Sri Lanka as the third child of the family with seven siblings. The father Devabandhu was a farmer by profession. His mother Wijesiri was a housewife. Piyadasa received his primary education at Egodabedda Maha Vidyalaya, Hambantota, and from Kiramba Dhammananda Maha Vidyalaya up to grade 8 and his higher education at Weeraketiya Central College. He was a hostel student at the school and was once the student leader of the hostel.

With the banning of the JVP in July 1983, Piyadasa and Athukorala, who were not involved in public politics, were elected to the Politburo. It was through the commitment of both of them, that the JVP was able to build a good network of organizations within a year by meeting undisclosed activists on district committees in person. Meanwhile, they were joined by a number of activists who were not open to the security forces. Piyadasa also coordinated relations between the JVP and Minister Ronnie de Mel which was an unofficial affair on behalf of Rohana Wijeweera. Even after the ban, there was an informal discussion between Rohana Wijeweera and Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel in the second week of February 1984 through Piyadasa's coordination. The meeting ended on November 12, 1989, at noon as the government imposed a night curfew on November 12, 1989. After the meeting, Saman Piyasiri Fernando, Lalith Wijerathna, Gamanayake and Wijeweera left in a car. Shantha Bandara went his separate ways. Piyadasa and Somawansa Amarasinghe left for Madawala in a separate vehicle to retrieve some money that had been kept for security. On the way back, Somawansa descended Mount Trinity whereas Piyadasa Ranasinghe and H. B. Herath were arrested at Galaha's house on the same day. He was detained at the Mattegoda camp after being tortured and killed on November 15, 1989.