Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda of Sri Lanka

As a teenager, Devananda was influenced by the political work of his father, a member of the Sri Lanka Communist Party and his uncle K.

Devananda was re-elected to Parliament in October 2000, in December 2001 and again in April 2004.

Douglas Devananda is the only moderate Tamil political leader, who has been protesting against the LTTE atrocities in Sri Lanka, for the past 15 years continuously.

Devananda was born in Jaffna on 10th November 1957, as the second of the four sons and one daughter of Subramaniam Kathiravelu.

Devananda had his primary and secondary education at the Jaffna Central College, where his mother was a teacher, till her death.

In 1970, at the age of 13, Devananda joined the Maanavar Peravai (Students Federation), being distressed by the then government's scheme of standardization of marks for admission to universities.

From Jaffna, in 1974, Devananda was sent to Colombo for further studies under K.

When the July 1983 anti-Tamil riots broke out, Douglas Devananda was an inmate of Welikada prison.

While Devananda was in India the EPRLF members were captured, tortured and killed by the LTTE.

Later while Devananda was making preparations to leave Tamil Nadu and resettle in Sri Lanka, once again fraternal organizations, envious of his new party and with the intention of crippling the EPDP, were conspiring and hatching a sinister plot to get him arrested in India.

When Padmanabha was assassinated by the LTTE in Chennai on June 19th in 1990, these very same forces were disappointed to discover that Devananda was in Sri Lanka, weeks before the incident.

Douglas Devananda was re-elected to Parliament in October 2000, in December 2001 and again in April 2004, and is continuously representing the Tamil community in Parliament since August 1994.

In October 2000, Douglas Devananda was appointed as the Minister of Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the North, and Tamil Affairs, North and East, in the People's Alliance Government headed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

In October 2004, Douglas Devananda was one of the main speakers at the conference on "India's Sri Lanka Policy, the Perception of the Problem and the Search for a Solution.

In September 2006 Douglas Devananda was in the Presidential delegation, which attended the Non-Aligned Summit Conference held in Cuba.

Since August 1994, when he was first elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Jaffna District, to date, Douglas Devananda has been involved in negotiations and other activities relating to a lasting political solution to the ethnic problem of Sri Lanka.

During his long and exciting political career, Douglas Devananda has attended many international conferences, meetings, forums, seminars etc.

Once again on June 30th in 1998, Douglas Devananda was brutally attacked by the LTTE mafia detained at the Kalutara Prison, when he visited the detainees who were on a hunger strike to air their grievances.

newly formed organization in return for protection and support.

Douglas Devananda was in business.

for betraying the Tamil cause and openly collaborating with the enemy.

rudimentary politics from his uncle.

with former Tiger Jaffna chief Kittu.

Devananda was blamed indirectly for this debacle.

continues to be loyal to Kumaratunga.

Lanka to effectively de-centralise functional authority.

schemes ranging from Samurdhi to Health volunteers.

taken the changing social structure of Jaffna into account.

called lower castes and worked for their upliftment.

Tamil areas too though not to the extent as in Jaffna.

election is going to be particularly in the Peninsula.

Chennai as well as from the press release of American embassy in Colombo.

through the cadres of his People Liberation Army (PLA.

com): In an interview with the Asian Tribune Minister Douglas Devananda said that that no group in the East should be allowed to carry arms or hold on to lethal weapons.

Minister Douglas Devananda said as the Government is making arrangements to hold elections in the East, it must give protection to everyone including Karuna Group, EPDP, Tamil National Alliance, members of the Muslim and Sinhalese political parties.

provide psychological counselling services to the Northern Province.

Date : 2005-08-26Save Douglas Devananda – a national and international campaign Douglas Devananda is a self-confident idealist, who is a committed fighter against fascism.

When Asian Tribune asked him whether he is the next target of the LTTE, Devananda said that as far as LTTE is concerned they have no such things as prioritized targets.

Devananda was born in Jaffna on 10th November 1957.

Douglas Devananda is a self-confident idealist, who is a committed fighter against fascism.

When asked about Norway’s position continuing as facilitator, Douglas Devananda said that Norway may be in a position to initiate and make the parties meet for talks one more time, but they haven’t got the ability to bring about a successful closure of the Talks to the maximum satisfaction of both the parties.

It is important to remember that Minister Douglas Devananda has narrowly escaped on many early occasions, the last incident was a LTTE cadre was arrested when he was apprehended doing reconiciaton works to assassinate the Minister Douglas Devananda.

destabilization” on other occasions.

Douglas Devananda is a fugitive from justice.

the Tamil cause and openly collaborating with the enemy.

Tamil and Sinhala Service, was killed.

Devananda was behind the shooting.

By contrast, Mr Devananda has been clashing with the Tigers since he and Kittu were the military chiefs of the EPRLF and LTTE respectively, in Jaffna in the mid-1980s.

Secondly, Mr Anandasangaree is neither tough enough nor street-smart enough to defend both himself and a democratic opening, while Devananda is a survivor; almost a survivalist.

LTTE Terrorist leaderVelupillai Prabhakaran Douglas Devananda has worked with and within the state system for twenty years, with three Sri Lankan Presidents from the Sinhala community: Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapakse.

The Sinhalese political class must realise that Douglas Devananda is the last and the only living Tamil leader from the North, who will accept a settlement within the existing Constitutional framework of Sri Lanka.

Social Services and Welfare Minister and EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda was lucky for the twelfth time after a female suicide bomber yesterday failed in an attempt to assassinate the Minister but killed his Public Relations (PR) Officer while injuring two more.

The Ministry recalled that Minister Devananda has been in the LTTE assassination list ever since he came into mainstream politics.

the four sons and one daughter of Subramaniam Kathiravelu.

College, where his mother was a teacher, till her death.

Devananda was in Sri Lanka, weeks before the incident.

representing the Tamil community in Parliament from August 1994 onwards.

attended the Non-Aligned Summit Conference held in Cuba.

solution to the ethnic problem of Sri Lanka.

Rajaratnam, the diehard defender of Douglas Devananda has also accused me of an innate urge to retaliate while avoiding the issues of utmost public importance.

My question was whether Devananda has campaigned against Human Rights violations against the Tamils and particularly the murder of the Hindu priest in Trincomalee as an example.

The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Minister Douglas Devananda was shot by unidentified gunmen suspected to be LTTE this morning (Monday the 24th of July.

The LTTE is strongly suspected to have done the killing as minister Douglas Devananda has ever since he joined the mainstream politics, has been a target of the arch rival LTTE.

Devananda had gone to the Kalutara prison with Ms.

Devananda has been knifed on the back of his head.

Social services minister and Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) secretary – general Douglas Devananda has given instructions that the Sri Lankan national anthem should be sung in the Tamil language as well as in Sinhala during official functions held in Jaffna.

any jealous tamil terrorist can chage that.

and Douglas Devananda is a responsible leader.

I dont think Devananda has any real policies.

Douglas Devananda has escaped 13 attempts on his life.

Whatever the reason, Douglas Devananda is a magnificent man with spiritual powers and there is evidence that he is a direct descendant of the Last King of Jaffna.

What surprises me is that when Douglas Devananda is the Chairman of the Special Task Force for the Rehabilitation Development of the North appointed by President Mahinda Rajapakse and whilst he is the only Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament representing the people of the North in the Government, why the Government Media has been giving such publicity to a Leader of a Political party who was not elected to Parliament in 2004 and the members of that party whom he leads have estranged themselves from his party leadership and are supporting the major player in the conflict.

It is time that Douglas Devananda had discussions with President Mahinda Rajapakse to direct the Government media to give prominence only to the Government and not to those who take refuge for reasons best known to them and to set the record straight and it is time that all Tamils get together under the leadership of Douglas Devananda or perhaps under the Leadership of both the major player in conflict and Douglas Devananda to act as common representatives of the people until a election or a coalition.

It is trite learning that Douglas Devananda is too smart to be pushed around.

Minister Devananda has a duty by the Tamils to continue his good work.

Douglas Devananda has reached beyond partisanship to principles, beyond his own self to our very souls.

Without conflict of ideas and ideologies the Tamils would agree that Douglas Devananda is the Guardian Angel of the Tamils perhaps the new Father of the Tamils.

Devananda has reached the highest Office any Tamil can aspire.

Devananda has made so many speeches, some prophetic, some humorous, but all with a vision, all which inspired.

More than anyone else, Devananda knew peoples desire to be attached to some cause greater.

Devananda is duty bound to discipline those around him.

Douglas Devananda is so devoted to our system of Government and our Constitution.

As a former guerrilla who 13 years ago abandoned the fight for an independent Tamil state, Devananda is on the watch for assassins.

The Tamil Tigers website said although Douglas Devananda had declared that he would join any government formed after December 5 regardless of the party, the United National Party would not accommodate Devananda in their government.

The web site said Devananda had declared at many meetings he would join any party government formed since he wanted to serve the people of the area as a Rehabilitation Minister.

Douglas Devananda was at the Aluminum factory.

Vigneswaran, a former parliamentarian and advisor to Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) Leader Douglas Devananda has resigned from the party owing to the 'authoritative and dictatorial attitude' adopted by the EPDP leader.

By Simon Gardner COLOMBO, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Holding talks with the Tamil Tigers' shadowy leader would be a blunder and there will be no peace unless he is killed, Sri Lankan militant-turned-minister Douglas Devananda has warned.

the Tamil people on the need to find a solution to the ethnic problem through negotiations.

Prabhakaran is anti-humanCOLOMBO: Holding talks with the Tamil Tigers' shadowy leader would be a blunder and there will be no peace unless he is killed, Sri Lankan militant-turned-minister Douglas Devananda has warned.

Forty-seven-year-old Devananda was in Chennai in the second week of May for medical consultation.

re-elected to Parliament in the December 2001 elections.

that President Chandrika Kumaratunga brought forward a proposal in 1995 incorporating these three principles.

Holding talks with the Tamil Tigers' shadowy leader would be a blunder and there will be no peace unless he is killed, Sri Lankan militant-turned-minister Douglas Devananda has warned.

Holding talks with Prabhakaran would be a blunder and there will be no peace unless he is killed, Sri Lankan militant-turned-minister Douglas Devananda has warned.

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Holding talks with the Tamil Tigers' shadowy leader would be a blunder and there will be no peace unless he is killed, Sri Lankan militant-turned-minister Douglas Devananda has warned.

Devananda was watching closed-circuit TV footage of visitors in the ministry's offices and hallways when the woman blew herself up, killing one of his aides.