War hero Gen. Janaka Perera and Wajira at eternal rest

Maj. General Janaka Perera (left) with his wife Wajira

The family memorial for the late war hero Gen. Janaka Perera and his wife Wajira, sits silently at a cemetery in Panadura.

Gen. Perera, his wife Wajira, Dr. Raja Johnpulle and his wife Dr. John Pulle, lawyers, professionals and 35 other individuals were assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber at the opening ceremony of the former’s office in Anuradhapura town on October 6, 2008. 

Maj. Gen. (retd.) Perera was the Opposition Leader of the United National Party (UNP) in North Central Province.

He had been the UNP candidate for the Chief Minister post in 2008 Provincial Elections in North Central Province, which was marred by violence. In the run-up to the above mentioned elections, the celebrated General was a vocal critic of the military strategy pursued by the government and favoured a judicious mix of political initiatives with military manoeuvres to resolve the ethnic strife.

He joined the UNP just before the August provincial election and was declared its chief ministerial candidate.

However, the ruling combine led by President Rajapaksa secured majority and Maj. Gen. (retd.) Perera became the Leader of the Opposition.

Dr. Rajah Johnpulle, the Anuradhapura district organizer for the UNP, was a Tamil UNP activist.