Balanadarajah Iyer
Encyclopedia
Kandasamy Balanadarajah Iyer also known as Sinna Bala (June 6, 1957 - August 16, 2004) was a Sri Lankan Tamil activist and writer who served as the media secretary for the Eelam People's Democratic Party
.
on June 6, 1957 to Veeramani Iyer, a member of Jaffna's small Tamil Brahmin
community. He began his political activities in 1972 with the Tamil Students Organization. He was married to Jegatheswari Balanadarajah and had three daughters: Madhura, Abhira, and Viveka.
and worked for the Sri Lankan Tamil nationalist movement, advocating for the liberation of Tamils from the Government of Sri Lanka. He was a comrade of the founder of EROS, Ratnasabapathy. After the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students
merged with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
, he left EROS and the LTTE. He then joined the Eelam People's Democratic Party
and worked with founder Douglas Devananda
to promote the rights of Jaffna Tamils and Eastern Tamils
. He also contested the 2000, 2001 and 2004 elections in Jaffna unsuccessfully for the EPDP
. He utilized the pseudonym "Ilaiyavan" when writing.
by gunmen believed to be members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
. Iyer and an associate were killed by two men on motorcycles who shot at him with pistols. Iyer was shot him in the face and chest. His murder was the second major murder of a journalist in Sri Lanka
in 2004
Eelam People's Democratic Party
The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:...
.
Personal life
He was born in Uralu, JaffnaJaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
on June 6, 1957 to Veeramani Iyer, a member of Jaffna's small Tamil Brahmin
Tamil Brahmin
Tamil Brahmins are Tamil-speaking Brahmins from Tamil Nadu who have settled in other South Indian states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka...
community. He began his political activities in 1972 with the Tamil Students Organization. He was married to Jegatheswari Balanadarajah and had three daughters: Madhura, Abhira, and Viveka.
Political life
He became a leader of the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of StudentsEelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students
The Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students , also known as the Eelam Revolutionary Organisers, is a former Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka. Most of the EROS membership was absorbed into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1990. The rump, which continues to use the EROS name, has...
and worked for the Sri Lankan Tamil nationalist movement, advocating for the liberation of Tamils from the Government of Sri Lanka. He was a comrade of the founder of EROS, Ratnasabapathy. After the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students
Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students
The Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students , also known as the Eelam Revolutionary Organisers, is a former Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka. Most of the EROS membership was absorbed into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1990. The rump, which continues to use the EROS name, has...
merged with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
, he left EROS and the LTTE. He then joined the Eelam People's Democratic Party
Eelam People's Democratic Party
The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:...
and worked with founder Douglas Devananda
Douglas Devananda
Kathiravelu Nithyananda Douglas Devananda, commonly known as Douglas Devananda, is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician, Cabinet Minister and leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party. Originally a Sri Lanka Tamil militant who fought against the Sri Lankan government for an independent Tamil Eelam, he...
to promote the rights of Jaffna Tamils and Eastern Tamils
History of Eastern Tamils
History of Eastern Tamils of Sri Lanka is informed by local legends,native literature and other colonial documents. Sri Lankan Tamils are subdivided based on their cultural, dialects & other practices as into Northern, Eastern and Western groups...
. He also contested the 2000, 2001 and 2004 elections in Jaffna unsuccessfully for the EPDP
Writing
Iyer was the publisher of Tharkeegam, the mouthpiese of the Eelam People's Democratic PartyEelam People's Democratic Party
The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:...
. He utilized the pseudonym "Ilaiyavan" when writing.
Death
On August 16, 2004 he was gunned down in ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
by gunmen believed to be members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
. Iyer and an associate were killed by two men on motorcycles who shot at him with pistols. Iyer was shot him in the face and chest. His murder was the second major murder of a journalist in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
in 2004