Keerthi Gunathilake

Keerthi Gunathilake Part I - Origins and Missions

In the first part of this interview, Gune discusses the origins of Devasarana; Father Yohan Devananda’s vision for the centre; and Devasarana’s relationship with leftist politics, the church, and the local community,

Keerthi Gunathilake Part II - The Collective Farms

In the second part of this interview, Gune discusses Devasarana's efforts to establish collectivised farming in rural Sri Lanka, especially in the aftermath of the 1971 JVP Uprising.

Keerthi Gunathilake Part III - In a Time of Violence

In part three, Gune remembers the experiences of the Devasarana community and nearby villagers during the 1987-89 JVP insurrection. He also discusses the way the centre and its work became, on the one hand, targeted by the JVP as an obstacle to their struggle whilst, on the other hand, it was viewed by the Sri Lankan authorities as pro-JVP Marxist-revolutionary.

Keerthi Gunathilake Part IV - Aftermath

In the final part of this interview, Gune discusses the aftermath of the 1987-1989 insurgency, the challenges that Devasarana's association with leftist ideology and activism created for the organization, and its change of direction following 1989.