The Second Commemoration of Comrade Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne was marked with the Launch of booklet “Is the Vaddukkodai Resolution a Reality Today?”
The Vickramabahu Memorial Committee commemorated the second death anniversary of Comrade Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne on 25th July at the CSR auditorium, bringing together political activists, human rights defenders and members of the Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP).
Comrade Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne was one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent Trotskyist leaders and remained committed throughout his political life to the principles of international socialism, working class unity and democratic rights. He consistently argued that the struggles of workers, peasants and oppressed communities could not be separated from each other. He continued to oppose authoritarianism, communalism and neoliberal economic policies while encouraging democratic participation and political debate.
Dr. Vickramabahu also played a significant role in shaping progressive discussions on Sri Lanka’s Tamil national question. He was among the few Sinhala political leaders who consistently recognized the Tamil people as a distinct nation with the right to self determination and argued that a just and lasting peace required addressing the root political causes of the ethnic conflict. Throughout the civil war and the post war period, he campaigned for equality, devolution of power, accountability for human rights violations, and the protection of democratic freedoms for all communities. His unwavering advocacy for democracy, minority rights and reconciliation made him a distinctive voice in Sri Lankan politics and earned him respect across ethnic and political divides.
The event also marked the launch of the booklet “Is the Vaddukkodai Resolution a Reality Today?” in both Sinhala and Tamil.
The Sinhala edition was written by Comrade Ranath Kumarasinghe, General Secretary of the Nava Sama Samaja Party, while the Tamil edition was translated by Comrade S. Sivagurunathan.
During the ceremony, Comrade Ranath Kumarasinghe presented copies of the booklet to prominent human rights defenders Dr. Nimalka Fernando and Brito Fernando.
Guest addresses were delivered by Dr. Nimalka Fernando and V. Thanabalasingham, former Chief Editor of Thinakkural.
Representing the Nava Sama Samaja Party, speeches were delivered by Comrade Ranjith Gamage, Comrade Sundaram Mahendran, Comrade Ranath Kumarasinghe and Comrade Nadaraja Jenagan.
The commemoration served as a tribute to the life and political legacy of Comrade Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne while providing a platform for the launch and discussion of “Is the Vaddukkodai Resolution a Reality Today?”.
