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Socialist Students Union of Sri Lanka (SSU), also known as Samajavadi Shishya Sangameya, is a students' union in Sri Lanka that operates as the students' wing of the Marxist-Leninist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

It is currently a member of the Inter-university Students' Federation.

The SSU was formed in 1968 by Marxist Rohana Wijeweera, initially called Samajawadi Sangamaya, the SSU is the oldest student union in Sri Lanka, and promotes Communism. It was able to start recruiting youths from both universities and independent student councils; by 1970 the SSU was dominant in student politics and was able to operate as the armed wing of the JVP in 1970 especially during the period of The United Front. Shanta Bandara was the founding general secretary of the Socialist Students Union. All the general secretaries who succeeded him (before 1990) were killed in the struggle by the United National Party government that was in power at that time, this included Lalith Wijayaratne, H. B. Herath, D. M. Ananda, Upali Jayaweera, Ananda Idamegama, Dr Nissanka, and Atula Senaratne. The SSU together with the Patriotic Students' Union were banned in 1988. After 1990, the Socialist Students Union was again reformed. Anura Dissanayake was its founding general secretary. Sunil Handunnetthi, Bimal Ratnayake and Mangala Kuruppu became general secretaries after him.

References

1. Gunaratna, Rohan (1990). A lost Revolution: Inside story of the JVP. Institute of Fundamental Studies. p. 23. ISBN 9552600049.
2. C.A Chandraprema (1991). Sri Lanka, the Years of Terror: The J.V.P. Insurrection, 1987-1989. p. 159.
3. "Protests over an opening of private Medical Faculty". Sri Lanka Guardian. April 1, 2009. Archived from the original on Apr 19, 2023.
4. "History of the JVP (People's Liberation Front - Sri Lanka) 1965-1994". JVP Srilanka. Niyamuwa Publiacations. November 2014. Archived from the original on Nov 8, 2023.

External links

• Official website

v t e Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
History	1971 Insurrection 1987–89 Insurrection Grenade attack on Parliament Pallekele Army Camp attack Magazine prison break Temple of the Tooth attack Assassinations 1989–present
Leaders	Rohana Wijeweera Upatissa Gamanayake Saman Piyasiri Fernando Lalith Wijerathna Somawansa Amarasinghe Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Governments	13th Parliament 17th Parliament
Cabinets	Dissanayake
Party institutions	Socialist Students Union Socialist Youth Union Socialist Women's Union Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya Patriotic People's Armed Troops
Alliances	People's Alliance (PA) United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Democratic National Alliance (DNA) National People's Power (NPP)
Factions & spin offs	Frontline Socialist Party Janatha Sevaka Pakshaya Jathika Nidahas Peramuna
Related articles	Attacks Assassinations Matale mass grave Sooriyakanda mass grave Batalanda detention centre Inter University Students' Federation
Communism Portal

• Communism in Sri Lanka
• 1965 establishments in Ceylon
• 1971 JVP insurrection
• Students' unions in Sri Lanka
• Student wings of communist parties