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{{short description|Sri Lankan sailor and an astrologer (born 1965)}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2018}}
'''Wijemuni Vijitha Rohana de Silva''' (born 1965) is a former [[Sri Lanka]]n navy sailor and an astrologer. He is noted for his assault on [[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]] [[Rajiv Gandhi]] on 30 July 1987 at [[President's House, Colombo]]. It was claimed by some as an attempted assassination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-30/news/mn-453_1_sri-lankan|title = Sri Lankan in Honor Guard Attacks Gandhi |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=1987-07-30}}</ref> He later contested a general election under the [[Sihala Urumaya]] party in 2000.

==Early life and naval career==
Born in [[Boossa]], Ratgama in the southern province of Sri Lanka; he studied at Gintota Maha Vidyalaya and passed the [[O Level]] examination. Thereafter he joined the [[Sri Lanka Navy]] received his weapons training at the [[Naval and Maritime Academy]] and specialized as a radiomen.<ref name="auto">[http://www.nation.lk/2007/07/29/special5.htm Vijitha Rohana: Courage of his convictions]. [[The Nation (Sri Lanka)|''The Nation'']]. 2007-07-29.</ref> He was stationed at SLNS Elara in [[Karainagar]], [[Jaffna]] taking part in the [[Vadamarachchi Operation]]. In July 1987 he was a [[Leading Rate]] and transferred the Colombo and assigned to the [[Guard of honour]] for the visiting Indian Prime Minister, who was in Colombo to sign the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]] that would result in the deployment of the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]].

===Assault===
Rohana was enraged by the Indian support for the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] and its direct interference in Sri Lanka with [[Operation Poomalai]] and forcing the conclusion of the successful [[Vadamarachchi Operation]] before all its objectives were met. These were sentiments felt throughout the country and continues to this day.

The Guard of Honour was commanded by Lieutenant Mendis who invited the Indian Prime Minister to review the guard as per tradition. Rajiv Gandhi was escorted by Lieutenant Mendis along with Sri Lankan Finance Minister [[Ronnie de Mel]], and Sri Lankan security personnel. Vijitha Rohana swung his ceremonial [[Lee–Enfield]] rifle at the Indian Prime Minister aiming at the back of his neck. Gandhi managed to duck and miss the full brunt of the blow, even though the rifle struck him. Rohana was quickly restrained by Lieutenant Mendis and the Chief Petty Officer of the detachment along with other security personnel and Sri Lankan police.

===Court martial===
Vijitha Rohana faced a court martial headed by K.R.L. Perera, Group Captain Buddhi Siriwardhen and Colonel [[Vijaya Wimalaratne]]. He was charged with attempted murder and acting contrary to navy discipline and insulting a state leader.<ref name="auto"/> Prosecuted by Senior State Counsel Captain Raja Fernando, his defence team included [[Sarath Wijesinghe]], [[Susil Premajayantha]] and [[Donald Hewagama]]. The defence implied that Rohana was not aiming to kill since he could have stabbed the premier with the [[bayonet]] affixed to his [[Lee–Enfield]] rifle at the time. The court martial found him guilty of attempted culpable homicide not amounting to murder and insulting the Indian Prime Minister. He was sentenced to six years in prison, however President [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] gave him a presidential pardon after two and a half years.

==Later life==
After his release from prison he gained a degree from the [[University of Sri Jayewardenepura]] and started his own business.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_lankan-sailor-who-attacked-rajiv-gandhi-sells-hindi-music_1112576|title=Lankan sailor who attacked Rajiv Gandhi sells Hindi music|date=30 July 2007|newspaper=[[DNA India]]}}</ref> In 2000 he contested the general election under the [[Sihala Urumaya]] party.{{cn|date=October 2018}}

He later became an astrologer and claimed that President [[Maithripala Sirisena]] would die by 26 January 2017. This was seen as a part of a conspiracy to assassinate the president and he was arrested again.<ref>{{cite news|title=Astrologer Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni arrested on charges of predicting Sri Lanka President's death|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/90047|access-date=1 February 2017|website=[[Asian Tribune]]}}</ref>

==Further reading==
*{{cite news | title = No regrets for attack on Rajiv, says Lankan guard | url = http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/No-regrets-for-attack-on-Rajiv-says-Lankan-guard/2013/07/30/article1708707.ece | newspaper = [[The New Indian Express]] | date = 2013-08-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160829151404/http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/No-regrets-for-attack-on-Rajiv-says-Lankan-guard/2013/07/30/article1708707.ece | archive-date = 2016-08-29 }}
*{{cite news | title = Looking back at the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord | url = http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/looking-back-at-the-indosri-lanka-accord/article538650.ece | newspaper = [[The Hindu]] | date = 2010-07-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160825154321/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/looking-back-at-the-indosri-lanka-accord/article538650.ece | archive-date = 2016-08-25 }}

==See also==
*[[List of assassination attempts on prime ministers of India]]
*[[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]]
*[[Vadamarachchi Operation]]
*[[Operation Poomalai]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Facebook|vijitharohanaw}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV-A9BDd1HY Rajiv Gandhi escapes an attempt on his life by a Sri Lankan Naval Cadet]. Wilderness Films India Ltd.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtvJX98V-9o Interview With Sri Lankan Soldier Who Hit Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi]. [[Thanthi TV]].
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIzdm726d2s The soldier who hit Rajiv Gandhi does not regret his act]. [[ABP News]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rohana, Vijitha}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sinhalese politicians]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Navy sailors]]
[[Category:People who were court-martialed]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan assassins]]
[[Category:Failed assassination attempts in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Failed assassins]]
[[Category:Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]
[[Category:Filmed assassinations]]
[[Category:Failed assassination attempts in Asia]]
[[Category:Assassinations in India]]

Vijitha Rohana - Revision history

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