The Insurrections of the J V P 1971 and 1987 – 89

I read the interview by Sandun Jayawardana with the JVP leader in the Sunday Times last week.

I was the Commanding Officer of the Air Force Station at Diyatalawa in 1971-73 and Director - Ground Operations from 1980-1988. During my tenure as a Director, I was appointed Coordinating Officer - Hambantota District. I was appointed Base Commander - Katunayake Air Base until my retirement in August 1990. Whilst Base Commander I was appointed to coordinate the Mahiyangana District. I mention my credentials to highlight that I had firsthand experience of JVP activities in these areas.

When the insurgency broke out in April 1971 the rank and file of the Air Force were not aware of the “gathering storm”. We were unaware that some of the lower ranks of the Air Force had been infiltrated by the JVP. Providentially for us, the JVP activists in Wellawaya scored an “own goal” by attacking the Wellawaya Police Station 24 hours ahead of their “H” hour. This gave us time to fortify our defences.

An element of intelligence was obtained and few of the JVP “safe houses” were raided and occupants arrested. We realised that the young activists were generally ill-prepared and had no firepower except for shot guns and improvised grenades. On interrogation, it emerged that they had been indoctrinated by visiting lecturers whose identity was not known. Within weeks normalcy was restored, and the Services were better armed and its manpower increased.

The situation in 1987 was different. The JVP had learnt its lesson. The economic standing outside Colombo and a few other large cities was in a deplorable state. The Services were drawn into the conflict in the North and East. The tragedy of “Black July” in 1983 strained the defence establishment to the hilt. In this scenario, the JVP had been making inroads.

Apart from spreading its modus operandi amongst those in their 20's and late teens, they had also brainwashed the minds of schoolboys.

As far as the JVP hierarchy was concerned, it was “all systems go” and were awaiting the opportune moment. This came in the form of the Indian “parippu drop” which demoralised the bulk of the Services, and the arrival of Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi to sign the accord which was repulsive to President JR and self-respecting Sri Lankans. This was the moment the JVP was eagerly awaiting. They followed the example of Adolf Hitler and commenced a blitzkrieg in the entire country with ferocious “insanity” South of the Bentota River stretching upto Kumana in the East and the Sabaragamuwa Province.

At this stage the Government decided to appoint Senior Service Officers to co-ordinate each

Administrative District. In accordance with this decision I was gazetted as the Co-Ordinating Officer of Hambantota District. The day the insurgency broke the JVP assassinated Member of Parliament of Tangalle Jinadasa Weerasinghe and burnt to the ground the residence of MP for Ambalantota Dr P M B Cyril. Bus depots were set ablaze along with the buses. All light poles (wooden) were cut down, trunk roads were blocked by felling trees, shops had been ordered to close and Public Servants to keep away from work. The strategy this time was to avoid direct confrontation with the nation’s defence mechanism but harass the public to a state of despair. Grama Sevaka Officers were directed to hand over their resignations under threat of death. School Principals were ordered to confine themselves to their offices whilst the students were encouraged to stone all passing Police or Military vehicles. Parents of servicemen were ordered to get their sons to desert under threat they will be killed if they do not obey.

These were not empty threats, in that, some parents were shot dead and so were a few public servants. If the JVP hierarchy suspected anyone of being of assistance to the services, they were shot dead. Only a handful of persons could attend these funerals.

This was the level of depravity of the JVP. Any sane person will agree that this aberration in our history could not have been overcome wearing kid gloves. It is a fact that a desperate situation calls for drastic action.

Our President has said “One country, one law”. In this context I was horrified to see the JVP commemorating their fallen heroes whilst the Tamils in the North are not permitted to commemorate their dead. Both organisations had treasonable objectives. As an octagenarian now, I do hope that saner counsel will prevail in future.