The paper will analyse the intergenerational influence of forced disappearances and uprisings of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) of 1971 and 1987-1989 in relation to the context of the enforced disappearances in the two cases and how this has shaped the memory of the events. While the civil war (1983–2009) has generated extensive scholarship, the state violence that characterised the JVP-era, particularly in Sinhala-majority communities in the Southern Province, has received far less attention, revealing deeper patterns of selective memorialisation in Sri Lanka’s history. Drawing on forensic citizenship, political repression theory, and post-memory studies, this research investigates how second- and third-generation descendants (aged 20–50) understand inherited trauma and challenge historical erasure through everyday memory activism. The study uses trauma-informed, participatory methods—including photo elicitation, photovoice, collaborative art-making, and participant-led storytelling—alongside archival research and testimonies from organisations such as the Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Office on Missing Persons. The case studies in Hambantota, Tangalle, and Colombo indicate that families turn personal loss into a political resistance expressed in subtle but enduring ways. They disrupt official histories of colonialism, via cultural activities, ritual practices, and organising communities to establish new histories of memory. The findings also demonstrate how ambiguous loss—grief without closure—shapes political identities, reinforces mistrust, and influences contemporary civic engagement. Overall, this study contributes to peace and conflict scholarship by illustrating how intergenerational memory practices foster resilience and encourage accountability where formal justice processes remain weak. It further offers culturally grounded insights relevant to Sri Lanka’s political transitions and advances methodological approaches for researching intergenerational trauma in postcolonial contexts.

Authors:
Indeewari Kanchana Galagama, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

About the Presenter(s)
Indeewari Kanchana Galagama is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya and a PhD researcher at Massey University, studying memory, violence, and intergenerational responses to JVP-era enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/indeewari-kanchana-galagama-5a1ba22ab/

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