 In 1983, de Zoysa starred in Lester James Peries's film "Yuganthaya" alongside Gamini Fonseka.The role of socialist Malin Kabalana in the movie closely mirrored de Zoysa's own beliefs, his last role was that of Aravinda in Dr. Tissa Abeysekara's film viragaya

At the time of his abduction and murder, de Zoysa was the head of the Colombo office of the Inter Press Service He lived in the Welikadawatte housing estate with his mother, Dr. Manorani Saravanamuttu and associate A. V. Karunaratne.In the early morning of 18 February 1990, an armed group broke into their home, and forcibly removed de Zoysa and drove off without explanation.