The Sansadaya has been holding the commemorative event on every February 16 at New Town Hall with funds collected with difficulties.

This year, when it had asked for the booking, the Sansadaya has been told that the hall has already been booked for the day, by loyalists of Rajapaksa to hold an event to remember Vijaya.

Therefore, it had to hold the commemoration on February 15, instead of on February 16, the day Vijaya was killed.

Veteran film director Dharmasiri Bandaranayake delivered the commemorative lecture.

Vijaya’s widow, ex-president Chandrika Kumaratunga and former minister Jeevan Kumaratunga too, participated.

When contacted, a member of the Sansadaya said Rajapaksa has either shown his political bankruptcy by this act, or that he had been misled by someone.

It will be the first time that Rajapaksa will be attending a function to remember Vijaya, and during the 10-years he had been the president, he had never supported Vijaya’s commemorative events.