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NATION
 
 

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THE FALL AND
EVENTS LEADI TAMIL WAR OF IN AND
RESUMPTI EELAM SOVE
V. Navar
(Member of Parliam

RISE OF THE
NATION
NG TO THE NDEPENDENCE
)
ON OF ERIGNTY
'atnam
ent 1963-1970)

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Copyright reserved First Edition: August 1991.
Price Rs. 150/- S 30/-
Available with
Jegan N. Mohan, Esqr.
103, Cosburn Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4K, 2E8 Canada.
Phototypeset and printed at Kaanthala kamm, 834, Anna Saala

i Madras 600 002. INDIA.

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ΤΟ
PARAMES
my wife, who, true a Hindu Dharma Pathi with me all the trials a turbulen

WARE
to the ideals of ni, smilingly shared ind tribulations of a t life.

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CONT
Preface Introduction Chapter - 1 Chapter 2 Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Epilogue 1977-198 Index

ENTS
(i)
20
32
44
62
73
88
101
113 124 138
151 164 183
197
209
219 236
248
261 274 289 318 340 378

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PREI
few words of explanation - placing this book before it
There exists a perception being waged in Ceylon (now i Lanka) that the Tamils are figh they are discriminated against opportunities by the majority S discrimination was one of the i ed the Tamil youth to take up to the war and the demand for lie far deep in the political an Singhalese conflicts since the this book will enlighten reader to view the war in the proper a achieve this purpose, it will recompense for the labour invol
The book is inevitably in th of one who had been intimately folded, sometimes as an active p or manager of some of the eve For this reason the use of t}

FACE
I
T
i
may perhaps be relevant while the public.
abroad about the war which is Ellegitimately referred to as Sri ting for a separate state because in education and employment Singhalese. While it is true that Enmediate causes which provok
arms, the real causes which led - a separate state for the Tamils d social climate and the TamilBritish withdrawal. It is hoped s of the causes and help them and correct perspective. If it will
be more than an adequate ved in writing and producing it. ae nature of a personal memoir - involved in the story that is unarticipant, sometimes as director ents and an onlooker in others. he first person 'I' could not

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be avoided. If it makes the read to the reader.
This book owes its genesis to people decided at the Parliamer that they no longer needed my se into my shell, I preferred to sp regarded as a sort of self-impose ing myself occupied in collecting project to write a book on the Me race, when my children interven be doing a service of more immed behind to posterity a record of the and the interaction of political sors to the present armed warfare I played in those events, and siI or three survivors from the Fede was the most qualified to write it of that period, from the Tamil more urgently felt need in the c Ceylon. That is how this book b plains, incidentally, the reasons f book - want of adequate docum
Had I been privileged to wr have been possible to avoid the ticularly liked to include some of as the text of the Trincomalee ultimatum to the S. W. R. D. Ba complete texts of the B-C and D dendum to the B-C Pact undertak colonisation of the Eastern Provi tional racial composition of the original draft of the D-C Pact a Arasu Postage Stamps, some O Parliamentary debates, etc., all weight to the narrative. It has n one thing it could not be done f my collection of valuable books, which were left behind in Jaffna, destroyed, not by the Singhales Public Library, but by robbers wh revolutionary freedom fighters.

ing jarring I offer my apology
my children. When the good htary General Election in 1977 2rvices and caused me to draw end the days in what may be d exile in Canada. I was keepmaterial for a long-cherished diterranean origin of the Tamil ed and suggested that I would diate usefulness if I would leave several non-violent campaigns forces which were the precur2. Because of the intimate part nce I was one of the only two ral Party days, they believed I ... A full account of the history angle, will certainly supply a 'ontext of what is going on in egan to take shape. It also exor an obvious deficiency in the nentation.
ite the book in Ceylon it may deficiency. I would have parthe important documents such Resolution of 1956 giving an andaranaike Government, the - C Pacts, Bandaranaike's ading not to carry out Singhalese ince so as to change the tradipopulation, facsimiles of the nd of the revolutionary Tamil f the landmark speeches in
of which would have added tot been possible to do it, for rom abroad, and for another documents, notes and papers, have all been vandalised and e as in the case of the Jaffna ostrut about as Tamil people's

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For the same reasons the w ly from memory. It is possible in the sequences of events mig I would like to assure that they that readers will bear with m
The views and opinions exp entirely mine, and I alone am re to be as objective as humanly of the possibility that other opin in the affairs of a nation. At th tion in discussing controversia this nature are not altogether tingly trodden on somebody' apologise.
My thanks go to my child to engage myself in the pleasu then arranging for the publica
Mr. K. Sachithananthan, propi for the excellent work he has attention he has bestowed in volume speedily.
Montreal, Canada January, 1990

riting has had to be done entire.
· that some mistakes in dates or at have crept in. If there are any are quite unintentional and hope e and be forgiving. pressed in the following pages are esponsible for them. I have striven
possible, but I am also sensible tions can be held equally sincerely he same time, subjective inclinail issues in politics in a book of avoidable, and if I have unwits corns I have no hesitation to
ren for first giving me the idea rable occupation of writing and ation of this book. I must thank rietor of Kaanthalakam, Madras, done and the care and personal bringing out this neatly got up
V. Navaratnam
iii

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INTROD
EMOCRACY is a sacred least that is how it is per
in rhetorical politics. Ye in all the vocabulary of the Er
Its claim to virtue is more of the abuses to which it is put. Na cept itself. All manner of qua distinguish different brands of people's democracy, dynastic de Islamic democracy, and what things are done and then dem or justify all manner of sins of c conduct of the affairs of a natio injustices and the oppression o is most glaring and disconcer observe the manner in which tł world treat their national m democracy.
One may well be excused, tl question: what is democracy? I politician who does not declare be he a dictator, autocrat, a He

UCTION
word in the modern world - at ceived by those who invoke it et it is the most ill-used word nglish language. Eten than not overshadowed by pot only the word, even the conlifying adjectives are used to democracy - Social democracy, mocracy, Christian democracy, not. The most undemocratic ocracy is invoked to cover up ommission and omission in the -n state, to shield from scrutiny f millions of people. The abuse tingly eye-catching when we ne so-called democracies of the inorities under a veneer of
herefore, for asking the cynical Nobody knows. For, there is no
himself to be a true democrat, errenvolk cultist, or a genuine.

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espouser of people's causes, e great democrat. A benevolent tually ensure the benefit of i rightfully claims that he did t} on the other hand a wily des of his own family circle, clan, clusion of others in his state, ai in due process of democracy. to what exactly is democracy
The dictionary may tell y or practice of political, legal, citizen of a state shares equa privilege and duty, and has his elections and other guaranter ideal. But does this definition
It says that the sanctions right to equality under democi is another word for counting o be more appropriate to say cc South Africa it is the privilege it is the privileged heads of th privileged heads of the descen the Jutes, the Normans, et England, in India it is the p speaking north, in the Unite privileged heads of European claims to be democracy) it i members of a selective politica European Russia, in Canada it i Saxon origin, and so on.
The definition of the ideal and equal sharing may have b coln in another form when he under democracy, and before Lafayette and his co-rebels of tł cried out for freedom, equalit living in a visionary world of t with the real world. They coul weak was a temptation few m to resist, that in statecraft the theorists of the brand of men

nd the crowds acclaim him as a statesman does things which acall the citizens of this state and zem quite democratically, while pot does things for the benefit
class, group, or tribe to the exad he too claims that he did them
We are naturally bewildered as
pu that democracy is the spirit or social equality so that each lly with the others in political
right to do so protected by free es. This is the definition of the of the ideal accord with reality? for protecting the individual's cacy are the elections. Election f heads. Reality tells us it would punting of privileged heads - in d heads of the whites, in Ceylon e Singhalese, in Britain it is the dants of the Angles, the Saxons, C., concentrated in southern rivileged heads of the Hindi:d States of America it is the i origin, in Russia (which also s the privileged heads of the al organization concentrated in s the privileged heads of Anglo
with its emphasis on equality een restated by Abraham Lindeclared his vision of America tim might have been echoed by e French Revolution when they
and fraternity, but they were heir own, they failed to reckon lnot realize that exploiting the en have the will or inclination
sinister influence of political like Kautilya, Machiavelli and

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i
bre
Nicholas Chauvin had taken a fir world of reality. Hence it is that i the France that we see today, or in our contemporary world, is a the ideal.
Perhaps there is something philosophy of democracy from tl ly developed as a device for the g composed of homogeneous soci adopted for the political organi comprising of a variety of people for a variety of reasons, ethnicit and whatever.
Fundamentally it works on th of heads 51 per cent of populati remaining 49 per cent. The sy modern times, known as the elec 35 per cent, sometimes even less, the fate of the 65 per cent or m quent phenomenon in modern
Clearly democracy is faulted demonstrated as early as in the t ardent and outspoken advocate a philosophy and the supremacy trial in accordance with the dem cess in Greece for the 'crime' philosophy to the youth of Athe to death on a counting of heads executed in the due process of d who witnessed the trial records ty Socrates in his address to thej penalty observed: "I am much m of votes cast on each side, for I did be by so few votes but by a gre only thirty votes would have acq I have been cleared on Meletus' that, if Anytus and Lycon had no he would have been fined a thous ing a fifth of the votes." (Apolog that very early time the very pi ancient Greece had grave misgivi
van

rm and permanent hold of the the America we see today, or
for that matter any country Far Cry from the definition of
g inherently wrong in the he beginning. It was originalovernance of small city states ieties of citizens. Today it is zation of large nation states es divided among themselves Fy, language, religion, colour
pod
e principle that by a counting on can decide the fate of the ystem of counting heads in toral system, is such that, say, - can get the right of deciding ore, and this is not an infreday elections to legislatures.
Somewhere. That it is so was time of Socrates. Socrates, an nd teacher of democracy and of the rule of law, was put on nocratic rules of judicial proof teaching democracy and ns, convicted and sentenced of a jury of 501 members and lemocracy. His disciple Plato that after the verdict of guilury in counter-assessment of aore surprised at the number A not think the decision would at many. As it is, a Switch of uitted me. I think myself that charges, and it is clear to all ot joined him in accusing me, sand drachmas for not receivry). Here we see that even in Copounders of democracy in ings about the working of the
t

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system, that they suspected di itself to abuses, wrong decisic use an American slang, whee and public life.
This was in the fifth cent millions of wrong decisions v Called democratic Countries much injustice and death an human beings, all by Counting
lt Cannot be denied that th of the national decision-ma therefore the victims at th discriminatory actions unde sions are very often the nat part of it is that this shuttir feature under the rules of der ever hope to get into the eche cess and influence decisions to merge with the majority, portant corollary to the wC assimilation.
One of the most sinister democratiC Countries is the te encouraging, and sometimes means, distinct sectors and cc about their distinctiveness a merged or absorbed into the tor of population. Generall minorities in a given state wh cess. They are subjected to su to abandon their separate lan tity, memories of a historic pa them conscious of being the Culture, because the Success dent on the homogeneity of
Whether this is good or b rather is whether the pe democracy for the people. Hi people do not willingly and e

amocracy was capable of lending ins, injustices, Corruption and, to ling and dealing in affairs of state
ury B. C. Since then how many would have been taken in the sothroughout the world, and how i suffering, caused to millions of heads in the name of democracy?
le vast majority of those kept out aking processes in effect and e receiving end of unjust and r the guise of democratic deciional minorities. And the worst ng out is virtually a permanent nocracy. Can national minorities }lons of the decision-making pro2. It depends - If they are willing 7es. And that brings us to an imorking of democracy, which is,
characteristics of the so-called 2ndency to foster assimilation by forcing by all manner of devious ommunities to give up and forget nd separate identities and to get mainstream of the dominant secy speaking, it is the national nich become targets in this prohtreatment as would force them guage or religion or ethnic idenast and all that which go to make e proud possessors of a distinct
of democracy is largely depen
the population.
ad is not the question. The issue ople exist for democracy, or lman nature is such that a proud asily give up their language and
4.

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culture without a fight. They re which they see an attempt to ass Hence the tensions and conflicts the Tamils resist the imposition o the many state policies since Brit see in them the potential of assi
majority mainstream; in India the resist the imposition of Hindi a: because they see in it ultimate as dian Hindi-speaking mainstrea pearance of their own separate la in Canada, in spite of an official ingualism, and in spite of the exist French-speaking province of Qu sidious forces of assimilation slov ing into their society, and they reasons to fear being overwhelme into the vast English-speaking Ar only the remaining nine province of the United States south of the are putting up a stiff resistance a by the Spaniards South of the F north of it; in Cyprus the Turks a assimilation by the Greeks; in Bui
ma have been fighting for over tv tion into the Burmese mainstre where the Act of Union of 1707 ingling had emasculated and virtu Scottish languages and assimilatic chmen into the mainstream of A parently complete producing wh. and purposes, one homogeneous now hear nonetheless rumblings tionalism and a demand for a r tionhood after 280 years of unio how hard national and cultural
In every one of these case peoples, proud of their language, proud of their heritage and cultu a glorious nationhood. Such peop their ancestral culture which

esist policies and actions in similate with all their might.
we see around us:- in Ceylon of the Singhala language and ish withdrawal because they
milation into the Singhalese e non Hindi-speaking sectors ; the all-India link-language similation into the North Inn and the eventual disapnguages and distinct cultures; | national state policy of bilence of a largely autonomous ebec, the French see the invly and imperceptibly creepresist it because they have ed and ultimately assimilated nglo-Saxon population of not !s and two territories but also border; in Spain the Basques against possible assimilation Pyreness and by the French re putting up a fight to resist ema the Karens of Upper Bur
vo decades to resist assimilaeam. Even in Great Britain,
and the consequent commcally wiped out the Welsh and on of the Welshmen and Scot
nglo-Saxon England was apat is seen to be, for all intents English-speaking people, we s of an upsurge of Celtic narevival of their separate nan with England. It just shows pride dies. s the resisters are ancient proud of their historical past, re, and cherish memories of le cannot be forced to change is in their blood, nor can

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they be expected passively tol tity is being destroyed with ca. ings of some spurious democr has no effective means of recC tect their distinctiveness. Th democracy in multiracial, SOCieties.
Taking the Tamils of Ceyl is concerned, their fear of as perience is very real. As agai misinformation is being disse Or with Conscious motivation migrants from South India. Singhalese race is not found a Ceylon while over 50 million the Tamils in Ceylon are migr 'newcomers' are disrupting democracy in an otherwise ho Nothing can be farther from
The story of the earliest shrouded in the deep mists of cient Chronicles of the Sing respects, as many Scholars do, that when the legendary anc in the island by boat, possibly of the first millennium B. C. tİ tribes of Tamils. It is not clear of these Tamil tribes, who may were autOchthon OuS tO the isl There is internal evidence ir Tamils, Scanty though it may Wells and the scholars he has ( they say that early Dravidians the Southern shores of the M. spread out in migrations in pre a fairly large number of words are also Common to the Tamill Oxford English Dictionary (Ety picked out nearly a hundred there are more of them. The O Origins as Old Frisian, Old

Ook On While their distinct idenlculated design to suit the work racy. Unfortunately democracy inciling itself to the need to prois accounts for the failure of
multilingual or multicultural
on, with whom alone this book Similation based on actual exinst this reality, however, much minated, in genuine ignorance that the Tamils of Ceylon are The implied suggestion is; the nywhere in the world except in Tamils are found in India, ergo ants from India, and that these
the harmonious working of mogeneous Singhalese Ceylon. the truth.
Tamil settlements in Ceylon is prehistory. If we accept the anyhalese as authentic in some they contain evidence to show estor of the Singhalese arrived somewhere in the earlier half he land was already peopled by Whether the early progenitors be Called the proto-Dravidians, and or had come from outside. h the literature of the ancient be, which indicates that H. G. Iuoted from may be right when and many other tribes peopled editerranean from where they :historic times. Again, there are in the English language which language. Sitting down With the mological edition) I have myself such common words. Possibly . E. D. Would trace them to Such Dutch, Nordic, High or Low
6

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Germanic and so on, but does I are recent borrowings such as th 'rice, "anicut' 'catamaran', etc., w associations. How such comme olden times is a fascinating stud of the British Isles, whom G. M. and the later Frisians, Nordics,
many early peoples who contrib to early English speech in its der later times, are likely to have ha ranean among or in close prox tlements. It would not be unnat been common among them all ar On their migrations. Such word among the tribes which set out fi wandering through Europe and tl tually settling in the British Isle dians) striking out to the Euphra Indian sub-continent. This is the the presence of a large number o and English languages. The pro have settled in India and the isla or less contemporaneously and Indo-European (also called the Mediterranean, Iran and India millennium B. C.
However, from that early pe the Singhalese chronicles are a c innumerable wars fought bet Singhalese for hegemony over ti wars they established themselv
Obviously this is not the a length on this aspect of history, w fully in another book I am work at all it is only to make the re
mistaken notions about Tamils i indigenous to Ceylon as the Sin habitants of Ceylon than the Sin history would not be helpful to a ethnic conflict that is ravaging

not go beyond. None of them he Anglicized Tamil words like
hich are the result of colonial on words entered English in y. The earliest known settlers Trevelyan calls the 'Iberians', the Cermanic tribes, and the =uted a large number of words velopment to the language of Ld their origin in the Mediterimity to Dravidian tribal setLural for many words to have nd to have travelled with them ds would have been current From the Mediterranean, some ne Iberian Peninsula and evens and others (the proto Dravites valley and thence into the only plausible explanation for of identical words in the Tamil to-Dravidians are believed to and south of it (Ceylon) more I many millennia before the Aryan) tribes arrived in the in the course of the second
riod down to medieval times Dmpendium of accounts of the Eween the Tamils and the he island. After the medieval es in different parts. ppropriate place to dwell at =hich I hope to deal with more King on. If it is touched here cord straight and to correct n Ceylon. They are as much ghalese are, and far older inghalese. To distort this fact of
proper understanding of the the country.

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The General Election of
World War II history of Ceylo of a once peaceful and prosp of constitutionality and the ri try. So-called governments we tional or moral right to gove of state power became tainte planted and took the place O new era which reeks of the s flesh and putrefying bodies bodies,
It was this general elec daranaike, who had earlier in glamour of being the world's again installed as prime min most machiavellian governin Within a year her governmer and Constitution, subject Singhalese pledge for the fai tain had transferred power. S put an end to the rule of law, structions to the judiciary hov eagerness to have absolute pC the hands of her own Singha scheme drawn up and ille Republican Constitution of Country illegally changed Singhalese "Sri Lanka", ther Ceylon was a Singhalese Cou dealt with as such. *She deci that her actions were in purs started to overthrow the estal
The backlash was Swift a and ironically it came from new scheme was in the sta
* It is because of this unilateral and illeg Singhalese name as much as they do the to the island as "Ceylon" and their pa

III
1970 is a watershed in the Postn. It marks the fall from paradise erous nation. It saw the eclipse ule of law in governing the coun!re set up with no legal, Constiturn. Institutions and instruments d with illegality, and might supf law. Above all, it ushered in a tench of clotting blood, burning
- human blood and flesh and
tion which saw Sirimavo Ban1960 basked in the Sunshine and first Woman prime minister, once ister. This time she headed the nent the world had ever seen. ut ignored and flouted the queen to which and accepting the thful observance of which, Brihe usurped absolute power and Her ministers started issuing inw cases should be decided. In her wer permanently entrenched in lese feudal class, she had a new agally proclaimed it as "The 972". She had the name of the from "Ceylon" to the purely eby signifying to the world that untry and should be treated and ared, through a minister of hers, uance of the Revolution she had olished Constitution of the state.
nd did not take long in coming, her own people. Even while her ge of preparation, in 1971, the
all action that the Tamils spurn the use of the so-called new constitution, and prefer to refer rt of the country as "Tamil Elam."
8

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enraged Singhalese youth ro rebellion against her governme mother of three children, put it unconcealed ruthless repressio of young men and women, the fl. and killed. The new era commer unprecedented nature and viol
Astrologers are still heard to of the new era is not the fault o: which ruled over the year that us if you add up the digits of the y get 8 (1970: 1 + 9 + 7 + 0 = they say 8 is the number denot And certainly no psyche is nee permeated the life of the nation 1970.
The astrologers may be righ evil or whatever that clung to th when Sirimavo Bandaranaike wa tion of 1977 and Junius Richard as Prime Minister. The Saturnin took a still firmer hold on the
With Sirimavo Bandaranaike Constitution of 1972' also we Jayawardene proclaimed, also il a still more brand new 'Constitu executive president, a veritable of American, French, and Britis minister was reduced to that of Jayawardene promptly installed arbiter over the destinies of all Tamils, Muslims, Malays, Burgh Court, the judiciary, and all associated with democratic gove ings in the new dispensation.
A matter that evokes hilari of the state in the new era. demolished the very foundation name from 'Ceylon' to the 'Dem J. R. Jayawardene, the arch cap

se up in fratricidal armed ent. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, a t down with an iron hand and
n. She had tens of thousands ower of Singhalese youth, shot aced with state atrocities of an
ence.
say that the traumatic nature f the lady but that of the stars shered in the era. It seems that Fear to a single digit total you 17, and then 1 + 7 = 8), and ing Saturn, the planet of Evil. ded to tell us that evil indeed - since the general election of
at, after all, for the trauma or e nation did not go away even Es defeated at the general eleca Jayawardene succeeded her e malevolence intensified and country. : gone, her illegal 'Republican nt spinning for a six. J. R. legally, what he claimed to be tion of 1978' providing for an scissor and paste hotchpotch h vintage. The office of prime a glorified clerk or secretary. himself as President, the sole the communities, Singhalese, ers. Parliament, the Supreme . the institutions normally ernments became mere trapp
pus laughter is the re-naming Sirimavo Bandaranaike who I of democracy changed the ocratic Rupublic of Sri Lanka'. italist and destroyer of trade

Page 22
unionism, went one better a Democratic Socialist Repub bination of everything that
This time the backlash action by the injustices of Sirimavo Bandaranalike and for political power, and wit educational opportunities governments in succession rebellion.
A full-scale Civil War is are being written. It has tak Tamil War of Independence
Why did this happen?
Until the end of World W Colony famous for its tea g grandeur of its scenic beau All Communities lived on t munal harmony prevailed in Tamils and the Singhalese, shaken in 1915 when the causing riots. The British Col tial law and brought in a Pur the Singhalese violenCe.
After the War was Over pulling out of India. As part ( an independent country in
In preparation for this ev of a Dominion in the previ« of a Royal Commission head Constitution Order in Coun to pass from the status of a nion of the Statute of Westm form of government respons model. Parliament was to CC legislature. The legislature v ed the House of Representa elected by the people by th chise and an upper house (

ind changed it once again to "The lic of Sri Lanka, a grandiose com
his state is not.
Came from the Tamils. Spurred to Tamil-baiting resorted to by both J. R. Jayawardene in their rivalry in all avenues of employment and closed to them by all Singhalese , the Tamil youth rose in armed
in progress even as these words cen on all the characteristics of a
Var II Ceylon was a British Crown ardens, golden beaches, and the ty. Life was serene and peaceful. erms of absolute equality. Comgeneral, particularly between the though this harmony was rudely Singhalese attacked the Muslims onial administration imposed marnjabi Regiment from India to quell
he British initiated the process of )f this process Ceylon also became
1948.
ent Ceylon was granted the status ous year on the recommendation led by Lord Soulbury. The Ceylon Cil, 1946, under which Ceylon was Crown Colony to that of a Domiinster type, provided for a Cabinet ible to Parliament after the British nsist of the King and a bicameral as to consist of a lower house Calltives whose members were to be e exercise of universal adult franalled the Senate which would be
O

Page 23
composed of Senators partly ele partly appointed by the Prime M of Representatives were regulat tary Elections Order in Counci
These constitutional meas dependence. The Orders in Cou Crown, and the Crown could no The paramount power to legislat Parliament of the United Kingd nounced that power Ceylon cou dent. That happened a year lat
In 1948 the United Kingdom Independence Act renouncing th and the island became complet maining link with Britain was British Sovereign was also King arm of Ceylon's parliament as co He was represented in Ceylon by political power was transferred
Since the Singhalese were in of heads, transfer of power to Ce terms that the Singhalese were th to the exclusion of all other comr What power Britain had acquire cient Kingdoms (one Tamil and to ritories she now handed over in Singhalese. By that one act the S political and physical dominion time in history. What they could during the two thousand years obtained by political intrigue cooperation of Whitehall.
Ever since 1948, the year Br been going through a trauma of ed in which thousands have los thousands uprooted from their 1 attributable to the British indiffe trusteeship. The victims are Tar Ceylon. And why would the T tragedy in the wake of the s

1, 1946 he Cerns to the
ected by the lower house and inister. Elections to the House ed by the Ceylon Parliamen1, 1946. ures did not yet mean inncil were laws enacted by the at give what it did not possess. e for Ceylon was vested in the Lom, and unless the latter reLld not become truly indepener. Parliament passed the Ceylon he right to legislate for Ceylon, Lely independent. Its only rethe common Monarch. The of Ceylon and constituted an onstitutional head of the state. - a governor-general. Thus full
to Ceylon. the majority upon a counting ylon really meant in practical le sole recipients of that power nunities inhabiting the island. 1 by Conquest of the three anNo Singhalese) as separate tera consolidated entirety to the inghalese achieved complete over the Tamils for the first not achieve by force of arms of recorded history they now and deceit, thanks to the
ritain pulled out, Ceylon has turmoil, unrest, and bloodsht their lives and hundreds of nomes, which are all directly !rence to their much vaunted nils, the entire Tamil race in amils have to suffer all this -called independence? The

Page 24
answer lies in the story Of interest, ambitions of men, a tion, all of which Combined t ticipated in the process of ti the blame in equal measure
Britain was in a hurry to the Indian Ocean they coul of India. They no more had a It is true that at the time Of i assurance of Continued pos Ceylon, but they must have long. The Only interests they the shipping routes which vestments in the tea and ru would be best safeguarded future rulers of Ceylon whic jority people. That is how th the time in their ignorance O were no longer of any use to All the legal polemics indulg and all the rhetoric that acc were by the way. The stark f the Singhalese.
The re COrd Of the Tamill as the most shameful perfo) main in history to the everl
At a time when the high the most unselfish devotion tC was called for this inane lead interests and those of their and political acumen, its inc are the toiling masses in t Eastern Provinces and in th its shortsighted concern onl Colombo, its childish faith schoolboyish belief in parli Sulation against inroads into expose the leadership to th Tamil people at the most cr

the political bungling, the selfnd the urge of history for domina2 make the three parties Who paransfer of power to Ceylon share
be rid of an island possession in d not hope to hold after the loss hy military interests in the region. he transfer of power they had the session of naval and air bases in known it would not continue for were anxious to safeguard were
touched Ceylon and their inober plantations. These interests by ensuring the goodwill of the can only be the Singhalese maley seemed to have calculated at f the Singhalese mind. The Tamils them and they just did not count. ed in during Constitution-making lompanied the transfer of power act was that Britain was partial to
2adership of the period stands out rmance of the century. It will reasting shame of the Tamil race.
Lest Calibre of Statesmanship and the interests of the people at large ership only looked after their Own class. Its woeful lack of foresight lifference to the real people who he villages of the Northern and e Plantations of Central Ceylon, y for the Tamil vested interests in in Britain's sense of justice, its amentary debating skill as an inTamil rights, all these Combine to e charge that they betrayed the itical hour in their history.
12

Page 25
The betrayal becomes all t} remembered that these leaders i warnings of the most experience of all time, Sir Ponnampalam Ra
Sometime about 1929/30, a Legislative Council over his motio Commission Report on political r ed to Jaffna a disillusioned and the elders of Jaffna to his reside Chunnakam, and spoke to them o ner in which the Tamils have been and the Singhalese. He warned t] Singhalese and never again to pla vaunted British profession of the Both would woo the Tamils so lon would not hesitate to betray the terests have been fulfilled, he sa
Ramanathan had good reason were being wooed to make comm in a national agitation for constiti most Singhalese leaders of the Ce other organizations entered into Ramanathan and other Tamil lead in which seats in the proposed le between the Singhalese and the T tion of history rather than one ba and was tantamount to a sole Singhalese would never seek to Tamils. In giving evidence before sion the Singhalese leaders, ther universal adult franchise, while o inghe the labour leader, advocate ing into account its recent intro success, proposed a legislature el sal adult franchise when they ma The Singhalese leaders fell for th
* S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and J.R. Jayaward Ministers, were genral-secretaries of this bo
13

ne more heinous when it is had before them the explicit d and farsighted Tamil leader
manathan. fter his defeat in the then n to reject the Donoughmore eforms, Ramanathan returnbroken man. He summoned nce at Ramanathan College, f his experience and the man
let down by both the British nem never again to trust the ce any reliance on the muchso-called White Man's Trust. ng as it suited them, and both e Tamils when their own in
id.
to be bitter. When the Tamils on cause with the Singhalese utional reforms the then topylon National Congress* and ) a solemn agreement with ers stipulating a certain ratio gislature would be allocated amils. The ratio was a reflecsed on population strengths, emn undertaking that the exercise dominion over the the Donoughmore Commisefore, opposed the grant of ne Singhalese, A. E. Goonaslit. The Commissioners, takoduction in England and its ected on the basis of univeride their recommendations. e unsolicited gift, conscious
ene, who later were to become Prime dy at different times.

Page 26
of the potential of their peopl at the time that they were in Whitehall. During the debat therefore, they went back on to abide by their agreement leaders. With the backing of the Legislative Council Ram Report was defeated. Oh, whi the public galleries, which is memory!
The experience gave Sir P. future. It is this which made h leaders and later generation arithmetical process of Count once a sovereign and inde kingdom before the arrival of going to become a minority p of a hostile majority which wa Tamils.
He was right, for now for to be referred to in Constitutic as a "minority" and the Sing the Tamils had always been ei Tamils" and the Singhalese ei Or "Kandyan Singhalese". Th the history of the country. Th try Singhalese, and the Kan ferent peoples, OCCupying t territories, and belonging kingdoms,
The Donoughmore Repor By introducing universal adu Country that had been arbitr Own Convenience it reduced ferior people and a minority working of democracy. What ed was Completely lost On the tain Wanted to pull out. P jealousy, self interest, class in ordinate thirst for po

2's superior numbers. It was said
league with the Governor and e on the commission's Report, their plighted word and refused with Ramanathan and the Tamil the British Official Members of anathan's motion to reject the at a sad face I saw that day from 3 still indelibly engraved in my
Ramanathan an insight into the im warn his Contemporary Tamil s. He foresaw that by the mere ing heads the Tamils, who were pendent people in their own the European powers, were now eople permanently at the mercy is thirsting for dominion over the
the first time the Tamils begin Onal papers and state documents halese as a "majority". Till then ther "Ceylon Tamils" or "Indian ther "Low Country Singhalese“ is nomenclature has its roots in le Ceylon Tamils, the Low Coundyan Singhalese were three difhree distinct and well-defined
to three different historical
t changed that pattern radically. lt franchise in a heterogeneous arily unified by Britain to suit its the Tamils to the status of an inwith all its implications in the Ramanathan then saw and warnTamil leadership at the time Brierversity, ambition, arrogance, terest, vested interest, and an inWer - all Of these played
14

Page 27
their part in the dishonourable { of the leadership. It led to Singh
D. S. Senanayake, the shrew leader who outman Oeuvred the TI Conquest for his people possible, Order. He was a leader endowed in statesmanship and politica academic knowledge and book-le ability to judge character of men no formal education, he was able in Constitution- making like Si Soulbury. He saw the weaknesses favourable disposition of Whiteh adroitly. When the Soulbury Com dations in his favour and the Re voting in the legislature, he was a tact was called for in dealing Wi were to see a fruition of his achie jolery, praise, and even promises to make promises, to win over th into accepting the Report. We ne is discussed elsewhere in this boo) launched on an experiment in d
The geographical situation of the shipping routes of the India some strategic importance and CC normally are neither warlike in happy-go-lucky life, and the admini be runnning on aid funds. And S notice of its existence. In global te ble spot.
Suddenly, in the middle of 19 a rude awakening. The Smoke a August '83 attracted world at throughout the world screamed Tamils being attacked and killedi in vehicles and public transport Men, women and children were r alive, hundreds of thousands rend of thousands fled the country.
15

und despicable performance alese political Conquest.
d and cunning Singhalese amils and made this political was a politician of no mean with an in born horse-sense manoeuvre rather than 2arning. He had an inherent and situations. A man. With 2 to mesmerize such pundits r Ivor Jennings and Lord of the Tamil leaders and the all and played his cards very mission made its recommenport came up for debate and astute enough to realize that th the defeated Tamils if he vement. He used flattery, caof reward without seeming e Tamil leaders one by one ed notanticipate here what K, but that is how Ceylon was emocracy.
Ceylon, straddling as it does n Ocean, has vested it with ommercial value. The people Or war-minded; they lead a stration is widely rumoured to O the world at large took no rms Ceylon was never a trou
83, the world was roused to nd blood of the Black Julytention. The mass media with harrowing accounts of in their homes, in the streets, and in the tea plantations. sported to have been roasted ered homeless, and hundreds

Page 28
It was a small-scale-holoc Great Holocaust in Europe in to have been burnt to ashes i whatever the size of the holo concerned seem to have hit up get rid of their own citizens th human beings made no differ ed to be democratic.
It is sometimes very nice a speak, read, and write about de virtues. That it has some virtu Conditions cannot be denied. held up as an ideal form of g it may be regarded as heresy o make us close our eyes to its ciencies, particularly for col population and ethnic diversity to be counted, but it has no I have no value in the count.
In Ceylon democracy is a world that you cannot. transp and trappings of parliamentar in an alien soil that is of a to cidentally, Sir Ivor Jennings witnesses to the failure were foresight when they were w
Ceylon. Nature did not make t to enable it to produce enlighte
majority people that grew on i amount of ingenuity and expe devising a constitutional sch ultimate analysis, it cannot t works it is endowed with wise a nings and Soulbury made the i They regretted their mistake
What, then, is the alterna
The reader is introduced i something of the exercise in

caust. It brings to memory the which six million Jews are said n gas chambers. In both cases, caust may be, the governments Don the same "final solution" to ey did not want. That they were ence. Both governments claim
III
and intellectually exhilarating to emocracy, and to praise its many ne and merit of its own in given It is so universally praised and overment that to speak against or sacrilege. But that should not inadequacy and the many defiuntries with an assortment of y. True, heads are still continued meaning to those whose heads
e dismal failure, proving to the lant the institutions, traditions y democracy suited to one land tally different composition, Inand Lord Soulbury who were driven to bemoan their lack of orking on the constitution for Ehe soil of Ceylon that fertile as ened leadership from among the E. It is axiomatic, no matter what ertise you may bring to bear in aeme for a democracy, in the hrive unless the majority that and enlightened leadership. Jenmistake of taking it for granted. when it was too late. tive ? to the following pages to learn n alternatives, and the events
16

Page 29
which form the background. It is this exercise to hit upon some a problems of the Tamils was in Tamils who witnessed Ceylon status and who were imbued w British, European, and America Wrong to say that they even che for the parliamentary system of and traditions associated with th had a peculiar appeal to the inti a moment to realize that Britair pire to provide the funds for the therefore, necessarily revolved bushes of Constitutional devices that the exercise did not work,
Ever Since the enactment of 1948, when D. S. Senanayake los and the Sinister design and inte Party (UNP) came to be known lawful means within the bounds do the damage caused by th COOperating with the Singhales by the Singhalese betrayal of th from the Tamil leaders. Persuas. tary debating skill, pleading, dia resistance, nOn-Violent non-CO Civil administration to a halt in t thern and Eastern Provinces - in The Singhalese would not bud
What was worse, in 1968 the Tamils themselves, contrary to Cupied with the enjoyment of Government, and were bogg parliamentary politics. Gone W tion and non-violent struggles fo in a hopeless situation, with thei ranks in the hope of getting this forcing them to see the hypoc GOvernment. It was a forlorn he Comrades in the several campa What was as plain as one's opé
1.

important to bear in mind that lternative as a solution to the dulged in by a generation of emerging out of its Colonial ith the thoughts and ideals of in thinkers. It would not be far }rished a Sneaking admiration government. The institutions e British parliamentary System allectual. He never paused for enjoyed the luxury of an emm. The search for alternatives, round and round the dubious . However, the reader will find
the Ceylon Citizenship Act of st no time to show his real self, 2ntions Of his United National l, the Tamils have tried every 3 of so-called democracy to unheir leadership's betrayal in e in the transfer of power and a trust they begged for and got ion by oratory and parliamenalogue, Solemn pacts, peaceful Operation, even bringing the he Tamil homeland of the Norone of these were of any avail.
ge.
elected representatives of the ) their mandate, were preocpower in the UNP dominated ed down in the moraSS Of ere the days of peaceful agitar Tamil rights. The Tamils were r future as dark as ever, I broke leadership back on track and Irisy of their UNP partner in ope. On the one hand, my own igns in the past refused to see 'n palm. On the other, it was

Page 30
as clear as ever that the Singh share even an iota of the powe to them.
Again, the Great Question
I Came to the Conclusion t solution for the ills of the Tamil Singhalese and establish the homeland territory of the a roughly covers in modern ti Eastern provinces. There is no separate state had flitted acro: Tamils from time to time from down to my time. But it had nev
for various reasons.
However, it fell to my lot, i. public pronouncement for the house in Parliament telling b Singhalese people that we ha peaceful persuasion, that we ha at every turn, and that the Tam to separate and establish their
It was a call to the Tamil pe There were no illusions about th the people may have to make a to endure. But that is unavoid master which always extracts a has to reconcile itself to a fate Order that the next and the r children's children, may live as respect, and honour. The impor State where voice Could be ra Tamil lives wherever and when dangered. Such a voice alone v and heeded in international fO
More than a decade has go is a matter of immense perSOr younger generation, the flowe taken it up in real earnest and
1.

halese would not ever agree to 2r that Britain had bequeathed
is: What is the alternative
hat there would be no lasting s unless they separate from the ir own government in their ncient Tamil kingdom which mes the Tamil Northern and other solution. The idea of a SS the minds of some thinking Sir Ponnampalam Ramanathan ver been given serious thought
in June of that year, to make a first time from the floor of the oth the Tamils as well as the ave exhausted all methods of ve been betrayed and thwarted ils nOW have no alternative but
OW in State.
ople to gird up and work for it. he tremendous sacrifices which nd the suffering they will have able. Freedom is a hard taskheavy price. One generation 2 of suffering and sacrifice in next, their children and their s a free people in dignity, selftant thing is a Sovereign Tamil ised in defence of Tamils and ever they are ill-treated or envill be listened to with respect rums, which we now lack.
ne by since that call. Today it all satisfaction to me that the er Of Our precious youth, has | are waging a bloody war for
3

Page 31
that ideal. The world calls it ac be more appropriate to call it TE It will decide the destiny of the anything other than complete
It is to be hoped that the Hi of the War, as well as the brave will not waver, and that they v anybody who may intervene to Sovereignty and independen negotiable and would brook n

ivil war, but in reality it would Le Tamil War of Independence.
Tamils, which cannot ever be freedom and independence. gh Command and the Leaders freedom fighters under them, vill make it perfectly clear to
· suggest compromise that the ce of Tamil Ceylon is not ) compromise.

Page 32
"For a nal that she
СНАР
AMIL custom in the heroi
quired that a suitor for th A vide himself with a thali with two of the canine teeth of a can he win her hand, and only to be hung round her neck. Th society woman wears is a modif tooth thali, but it is made of go
Somehow courage and man] extricably associated and inter represent the quality required o ty. At first, in primitive times, h
of his lady and his offspring agai life, but as civilisation develope ed it has come to be needed in country, of his culture, of his values above life. That is why t great store by it, and that is wh picture the tiger as representi Tamil warrior and his ever-read through every foe that crosses lady's neck is a daily reminder
20

tion to be free, it is sufficient
wills it."
-- de Lafayette
on the French Revolution
TER I
c age of the ancient Tamils ree hand of a maiden must prosymbol of wedlock) mounted .tiger he has killed. Only then such a thali will she consent e thali which a modern Tamil ied replica of the same tiger's
old.
y valour and the tiger are inwoven in the Tamil mind to fa man to serve the communie needed it for the protection nst the depredations of jungle d and communal life expandwars for the protection of his language, of everything he le Tamil race has always laid y their ancient books always Lg the intrepid fighter in the y eagerness to maul and tear his path. The thali around his

Page 33
What is so special about t that its speakers in Ceylon ar
wage war to defend it, to maul threaten it? No, Tamils do not a quite aware that there is no hu is not equally jealous about its culture and which is not e safeguard its heritage, and the they are also proudly conscic their language, something w]
world can lay claim to. Tamil languages of the world.
History has seen many a ci blossom in the world througho a period of time, and then peris even pass out of men's memor ravages of time. Tamils in this t the language in the same form ancestors in the second mille millennia earlier in primitive which has survived is evidenc tained in the first millennium of time there were other great equally lofty heights, but all none of them is alive like Tami has been so jealous of this uni they zealously preserved an vicissitudes resulting from con and ethnic minglings, onslaugh clout, and whatever. It is this the race which is now showin Independence.
This uniqueness is also be suaded many European schola The Italian Father Beschi, Caldwell, the Englishman Rev. eminent scholars. It is Caldwel dian to denote the family of lan and spoken in the south of In
Western, North-Eastern and C word "Dravida" to give a o

he Tamil language and culture e prepared to take up arms and
and tear through the foes who laim anything special. They are
man society in the world which s distinct identity, language and qually ready to wage war to
Tamils are no different. But yet, sus of something unique about nich no other language in the - is the oldest of all the living
vilisation, language and culture put the ages, flower, flourish for -h and disappear from the earth, y. Tamil alone has survived the wentieth century AD still speak and in the same way as did their anium BC, perhaps a couple of times. Their ancient literature e of the great heights it had atB. C. Of course, at that period : languages which had attained of them are extinct today, and 1. The Tamil race down the ages queness of their language that
protected it through all the quests and invasions, migrations ts from languages with political extraordinary characteristic of g itself out in the Tamil War of
hind the attraction which perrs to take to the study of Tamil. the Scotsman Bishop Robert G. U. Pope, are some of the most I who first used the word Draviiguages given birth to by Tamil lia and certain parts of Northentral India. He only used the onvenient name to a family

Page 34
1
of languages which could not ! and other linguistic families, a there was a race of people by tl the term has now come to be speakers of the Tamil langua Telugu, Malayalam, Tulu, Brał py choice - "Dravida" is a Sar derogatory meaning - it has g the language of scholarship th We shall therefore stick to it.
In the distant họary past, ! of India (1500 B. C.), the Dravid continent of India and the n Whether they were indigeno outside is still a fascinating su The probabilities are that the
H. G. Wells would tell us the Mediterranean was still a
currents had not opened up tł ed along the south shore of th ple which included the Dravid and the Italians. Their compl light brown to dark brown. T. to have an affinity to the T
glutinative.
In course of time the Dra Basques settled down on bo Italians went to north shore, along the Nile. The first Euro appear to be French-speaking some Francophone personal n Dorval(the name of the air po a corruption of the purely Ba the way.
The important fact of hist Aryans appeared on the scen Ceylon was inhabited by the spoke the Tamil language and religion. The Singhala languag only populated areas at that ti

De grouped in the Indo-European and never meant to suggest that ne name of Dravidians. However, = erroneously applied to all the age and its offshoots Kannada, nui etc. Although it is not a hapnskrit word with a derisive and Tot into such widespread use in hat it is now too late to reject it.
long before the Aryan invasion lians had peopled the entire sub-eighbouring island of Ceylon. us to these parts or came from bject of debate among scholars. ey were not indigenous. that in prehistoric times, when landlocked sea, and the ocean ne Straits of Gibraltar, there live Mediteranean a brunette peoians, the Basques, the Egyptians exion varied in tints from very he Basque language is believed amil language, both being ag
vidians migrated eastwards, the th sides on the Pyrennes, the - and the Egyptians developed opean settlers in Canada would
Basques who have left relics in ames among French Canadians. rt area in Montreal) is probably sque name Duval. All this is by
ory is that centuries before the e in India the island country of
Dravidian people. The people a worshipped Siva of the Hindu Fe had not yet been evolved. The me were the north-central parts
22

Page 35
in and around modern Anura belt in the south. The rest was ranges, or dry and arid waste
with the populations speaking the Hindu religion, and ruled
Time wrought changes in th events led to the setting in mot of the population. One was th the island during the reign of Er India (264 B. C. - 227 B. C.). TIE island of a band of seven hund: of India. Whether the latter e introduction of Buddhism, it is however, set up a settlement of the new religion, imported w Tamil country in India for wive land where chance and adverse knows to what ethnic group the tainly not Aryans, for the Ary very white in complexion. It is p Indian dialect that had been in Aryans. With the wives came they helped to swell the numb natural, too, that they establis! course and possibly intermarri dian population. Inevitably in society, but eventually the new into the indigenous fabric.
Divisive forces tend to evol cilable factions. Whether in pri modern civilized world,religior And converts to a new religion among the indigenous Tamil p Buddhism found themselves ri from the parent body. Simulta their Tamil wives and relativ foreignness, also considered t different and tended to live af
The new religion, Buddhis helped to create a sense of on of being different from the ole

dhapura and a narrow coastal inaccessible jungle, mountain land. Recorded history begins the Tamil language, following over by Tamil kings. e tribal make-up of society. Two on of a process of polarization e introduction of Buddhism in nperor Asoka in Bihar in North he other was the arrival in the red marauders from some part vent preceded or followed the
hard to tell. These marauders, their own in the island, adopted omen from the neighbouring es, and began a new life in the 2 winds had cast them. Nobody y belonged. But they were cerans who came into India were Iossible that they spokea North ifluenced by the Prakrit of the hordes of Tamil relatives, and ers of the new settlement. It is ned close commerce and interLed, with the indigenous Dravithe beginning it was a mixed comers were largely absorbed
Ive a polarization into irrecon
mitive tribal societies or in the a is always a dividing influence. are aggressively fanatical. From opulation the new converts to ather removed and segregated neously, the new settlers with jes, being conscious of their hemselves as being something part.
m, united the two groups and eness and common awareness d parent community which, in

Page 36
Course of time, helped to eVO. and a new language.
Buddhist scriptures and li belonging to the Prakrit gro Northern India and One in whi mons. The missionary monks from Asokas' Nalanda Universi Other related Prakrit dialect ( tre in Kanchipuram in the Tan ing the Tamil language. This fa Over the rock-hew n. Cave dwe still to be found in Ceylon. T stating the name of the There and that of his patron. The ev people also saw a parallel evO the missionary Buddhist m repositories of learning and ki have made the main COntribu the new language. It is only grammar and language struct family of languages with a voc Sanskrit and Tamil,
Ceylon thus saw the eme and the Singhala language. It i any date, but the process most time when Buddhism came to has no literature which is ol years. As late as 1815 A. D. Ceding the Kingdom to the Br. Chiefs, the Adigar Ratwatte, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandarnaike, ar. names in Tamil. There are hi signatures of Singhalese King time of the Polonnaruwa Kin Singhalese Kings VijayabahU jabahu II, the Treasury accou in Tamil. All these facts go to a long drawn-out process.
Time has, however, ves character of a race. They ha separate Singhalese race.

ve a new Community of people
erature are all in Pali, a dialect up of Aryan tongues spoken in Ch the Buddha delivered his SerWho Came to Ceylon were either ty in Bihar speaking Pali Or SOme or from the great Buddhist Cenhil Country of South India speakict is attested by the inscriptions ilings occupied by these monks he inscriptions are all in Tamil (monk) Who OCCupied the Cave olution of a new Community of lution of a new language. Since onks were in those days the nowledge,it was they who would tion to the process of evolving natural that they patterned its lure on Pali and the Indo-Aryan tabulary drawn mostly from Pali
gence of the Singhalese people S, of Course, impossibie to assign probably started at or about the Ceylon. The Singhala language der than Six Or Seven hundred Nhen the Kandyan Convention itish was signed by the Kandyan ancestor of the Prime Minister ld one or two others signed their storical documents bearing the s which are in Tamil. During the Jalom (10 - 12 CA. D.) under the I, Parakrama Bahu I, and Gants and documents were all kept establish that the evolution was
ed the new people with the lve Come to be spoken of as a
24

Page 37
Those of the original indige the proselytizing efforts of th tinued to remain Tamil and Hil after more than twenty centuri Hindu. After the coming of the few have embraced Christianit
These circumstances could r development of friendship and m peoples. Instead, they kept alive and enmity which had charact
The Mahavamsa is a Buddhi of Ceylon, both Singhalese and language in the 9th century monk by the name of Mahana Dutta Gamini (also known as Du quisher of the Tamils, the hero the Culavamsa, also by a Buc language, makes Parakrama Ba having held sway over the Tam himself was half Tamil. Both C venom against the Tamils that tagonism and enmity between t down the ages.
Fanned thus by the writings ed by the periodical invasions South India, and nursed by the the Singhalese princes, the permeated the entire course o. South India did not bring about Ceylon as is generally believed. harden the feeling of antagonism already there.
In the 11th and 12th Centur of the Tamil country in South Ir vasions against Ceylon. As a n under Chola occupation and gc of a century. When the Chol Singhalese prince, Vijayabahu, Kingdom. The bulk of the occup
25

nous population who resisted e Buddhist missionaries Conindu. At the present day, even es, they still remain Tamil and European powers, however, a y.
not have been Conducive to the hutual respect between the two : the conditions of antagonism erized the early beginnings.
st chronicle of the early kings i Tamil, composed in the Pali A. D. Its author is a Buddhist ma. The mOnk makes Prince ttugemunu), the reputed vanpf his poem. A later chronicle, ldhist monk and in the Pali hu I its hero of the poem for Lils as well although the King thronicles spew out so much t it is not surprising the anhe two peoples have persisted
of the Buddhist clergy, fuellfrom the Tamil Kingdoms of dynastic rivalries and wars of enmity lasted through and f history. The invasions from any migration of Tamils into The invasions only helped to n against the Tamils which was
ies A. D. the Chola Emperors dia launched a number of inmatter of fact, the island was overnment for three quarters a power in India declined, a recaptured the Polonnaruwa ation forces returned to India.

Page 38
Of the large Tamil armies Ceylon with the several wave and people returned to India. to add to the population of Ce identity, Large numbers were milieu and became Singhale: a number of people would at
In a reverse process, P. Singhalese expeditionary fo Kingdom in South India unde danayaka Lankapura. The arr; and his second in Command w reCOrds, hOwever, do not sh returned to Ceylon. Presum were absorbed and assimilat
It is again a fact of histor mercenary armies and person Tamil, Telugu and Kannada C Java and Malaysia. They wer Singhalese areas. One of the 400 Tamil families from Sout and settled them amidst the Western Coastal area of the is have today been assimilated i
The point is that the Sin Tamils is not because that th have resisted and are still CO) assimilation. They aspire to f assimilated and become Sing to the problem of the Tamils the British to provide the lab ber plantations, Prime Minist have remarked to some of hi who were brought to Ceylon Portuguese and by the Dutch should we be worried about the British? They cannot rema Sums up the attitude which is between the two peoples.

and other people who came to is of invasion, not all the troops Large numbers remained behind ylon. Not all retained their Tamil assimiliated into the Singhalese e, as the family names of quite test today,
urakrama Bahu I sent a large rce against the Tamil Pandyan ir the Command Of General Danny was defeated and the General ere captured and beheaded. The ow that the Singhalese troops ably the remnants of the army 2d into the population of India.
y that the Singhalese Kings had al bodyguards recruited from the Duntries of South India and from e given lands and settled in the later Singhalese Kings got down h India to peel cinnamon barks Singhalese people in the Southland. All these foreign elements nto the Singhalese mainstream.
|ghalese animosity towards the ey are Tamils but because they ntinuing to resist the process of orce the remaining Tamils to get halese and Buddhists. Referring who were brought to Ceylon by Our for work in the tea and ruber Sir John Kotelawela is said to is colleagues once, "The Tamils by the Singhalese Kings, by the have all become Singhalese. Why he Tamils who were brought by in Tamils for long." That remark at the bottom of all the Conflicts
26

Page 39
Over the centuries internec quito, drought, famine and oth Tamils to the north and east of i large concentrations, establishe own, and enjoyed relative peace. from the Singhalese. These jung between the two peoples.
The dawn of the 17th centui ing nations of Europe appear in t were attracted to the island by tl They found a prosperous Tamil I of Ceylon which had existed for cording to Professor G. C. Men survived the conquests of the Po Vijayanagara rulers, and came it was conquered by the Portugi pelled the Singhalese to move so centres of Anuradhapura and land".*
In the western maritime pari Western and Southern Provinc Singhalese Kingdom with a king at Jayawardenepura Kotte. This Tamil Viceroy named Alakeswa ruled from Gampola to defend tl King of the Jaffna Kingdom Alakeswara later became the Sir Alagakonara who ruled over the came to be known as the Kotte Jayawardenepura Kotte that th Jayawardene had shifted the Cap The Kotte Kingdom was also co
Portuguese rule over the con na and Kotte Kindgoms was shoi them from the Portuguese and e close of the 18th century when
* G.C. Mendis: "Ceylon Under The British
Colombo (1944) - Introduction.
2
7

ine warfare, the malarial mosher natural causes drove the the island where they lived in ed a separate Kingdom of their - Thick jungles separated them gles were a formidable barrier
ry saw the ships of the seafarthe Indian Ocean waters. They ne cinnamon trade of Ceylon. Kingdom in the north and east
more than five centuries. Acdis, a Singhalese historian, "It andya, the Singhalese and the to an end only in 1621 when uese. The same invasion comouthwards leaving the ancient Polonnaruva as a no man's
t of Ceylon, which is now the ces, the Portuguese found a having his seat of government e city had been founded by a ca of the Singhalese King who he Kingdom against the Tamil
whose navy had laid siege. nghalese King by the name of - western maritime part which
Kingdom. It is to this city of he Government of President -ital and Parliament of Ceylon. onquered by the Portuguese.
quered territories of the Jaffetlived. The Dutch conquered stablished their rule until the the British ousted the Dutch.
: The Colombo Apothecaries Co., Ltd.,

Page 40
By the Treaty of Amiens in 1 to the British Crown.
In the mountainous centi had established another King from South India who had h This Kandyan Kingdom was dependence. It had manager the European powers, but th intrigues and plots. Finally Singhalese Chief Minister tot occupied his Kingdom, and The whole island of Ceylon t
For the entire duration cupation of the Jaffna and K cupying powers had maintain respective territories. The i respective territories, and the no chance to show up. The Br beginning even with regard Kingdom territory.
In 1833, however, the Bi pleading administrative conv tions of a Royal Commission the three conquered territo political entity of a Crown
ministration in Colombo un they did without asking the
conqueror in history ever di
This was an epoch-makir two thousand years of hist brought under the effective c tralised government. At no t history had any King, whethe cised effective power over th Some of them had made bom Sovereign and Emperor of Governor responsible to none ed the whole Colony from

802 these territories were ceded
ral part of Ceylori the Singhalese gdom. Its King was a Tamil prince Lis seat of government in Kandy. the last bastion of Singhalese ind to beat off repeated attacks by Le King was bedevilled by palace in 1815 he was betrayed by his he British who captured the King, annexed it to the British Crown. Lhus became a British possession. of the Portuguese and Dutch ocotte Kingdoms' territories the oced separate administrations in the people were contained in their e Tamil-Singhalese animosity had itish continued that system in the to the newly annexed Kandyan
ritish put an end to that system enience. Upon the recommendaheaded by a Captain Colebrook ories were unified into a single
Colony with a centralised adler a British Governor. And this wishes of the people. Perhaps no
ng event. For the first time in its Cory the whole of Ceylon was ontrol and administration of cenime in the past during that long er Tamil or Singhalese, ever exere entirety of the island although Ibastic claims to being universal all Lanka (Ceylon). The British : but his Sovereign in England rulColombo as one political entity.
28

Page 41
It is this event which made Kingdom of Jaffna a minority in the Combined numbers of the Sin the Kotte and Kandyan Kingdom quences to the Tamils. What was to the British proved to be the dependence and sovereignty. It e. the Tamils and lure large numb homeland and migrate into the Si to revitalize the Centuries-old en
When Lord Macaulay's scher English-educated clerks to man go fices was introduced in Ceylon th an excellent material for their them in large numbers for emplo In their wake Others Came out of to establish themselves in the le. and trade. The English planters fou turned out to be very good tea-ma them in their plantations,
Since Ceylon under the Britis single administration for all intel ferences never affected the mob much So, that towards the close o Tamils who had ventured out almo, remained in their traditional home try had no attractions for the Sin find it of any potential value for dint of hard work and perseveran Out achieved a Certain measure of helped in the development and p areas where they happened to Capital city of Colombo.
Generally speaking, the Singh lovable and friendly people with a The two peoples mixed freely, and a relationship of friendliness and m as neither had any political powe common feeling of being subject helped to Create an atmosphere
29

the Tamils of the northern a unified Ceylon as against fghalese in the territories of S. It had far-reaching conseadministrative Convenience e death knell of Tamil innabled the British to exploit pers of them to leave their inghalese Country. It helped
mity of the Singhalese.
me of education to produce Vernment and mercantile ofle rulers found in the Tamils
purposes. They recruited yment throughout Ceylon.
their traditional homeland arned professions, business 1nd that the nOrthern Tamils lkers and employed many of
h was One Country under a ints and purposes, racial difpility of the population, so f British rule the number of st equalled that of those who eland areas. The Tamil Counghalese, nor did the British economic development. By Ce the Tamils who ventured economic advancement, and rosperity of the Singhalese live, more particularly the
halese by nature are a most in easy-going outlook in life. there existed between them hutual understanding SO long r in the Country, Perhaps a peoples under an alien rule for friendly coexistence.

Page 42
* The emergence of politica that atmosphere completely. departure in sight, the Tamil Singhalese areas was availed every political faction among supremacy among themselves disastrous events which follo Ceylon - disastrous not only to as well and the whole of Cey
The British withdrawal le also concerning Tamils, but Ta are people whose forefathers homes in the Tamil country comparatively recent times a mise of permanent settlemer
The then Madras Presiden State of Tamil Nadu and the was the recruiting ground of t plantations in Ceylon, South dies, Burma, Malaya, Fiji, eto under a system of indenture ment of India and taken to th ding that they would be pern to which they were taken.
| Men and women in the Ceylon, settled in the mount and made to. cut and clear th mountain slopes. It was all ma machinery was unknown. Th with coffee, and later turned i The men worked between te the women plucked tea leav before sunrise or collected lat The settlement areas had no buried between the tea bush
Towards the close of the these early settlers and later a in number. They were all per were part of the fabric of Ce Community. They were all bo

l movements, however, changed With the prospect of the British presence and prosperity in the of as a convenient scapegoat by the Singhalese in their feuds for . Therein lies the cause of all the ned the British withdrawal from the Tamils, but to the Singhalese vlon.
ft a legacy of another problem,
mils of a different category. They z had been uprooted from their of South India by the British in nd brought to Ceylon on a proit in Ceylon. icy, which included the present greater part of Andhra Pradesh, he British for labour for all their Africa, Mauritius, the West In., whole families were engaged in agreement with the Governese countries on the understannanent settlers in the countries
ir thousands were brought to ainous parts of Central Ceylon, housands of acres of jungle and anual labour in those days when Le cleared land was first planted nto Tea and Rubber Plantations. a bushes and rubber trees, and res from high mountain slopes ex at the foot of the rubber trees.
cemeteries, so their dead were es to provide nourishment. British rule the descendants of rrivals were more than a million rmanent citizens of Ceylon and eylonese society like any other rn in Ceylon, had grown up in
30

Page 43
the plantations for generations other country outside their pla. franchise and elected nine Mem 1947. They had representatives though appointed by the Govern of the Donoughmore Constituti Constitution their elected Memb Government.
British policy, therefore, was vulnerable position in which they when they departed from Ceylo of 1833 for the plight of the Ce recruitment system for that of districts. Following that depa: categories. It is true that no expl the comforts of the exploited, diplomacy could have averted the discharge of her trust.
31

, and had never known any antations. They exercised the bers to the first Parliament in - in the previous legislatures
ment before the introduction pn. Under the Donoughmore per was even a Minister in the
s directly responsible for the - left both categories of Tamils
n, the Colebrook unification eylon Tamils, and the labour the Tamils of the plantation rture tragedy struck both piter in history ever cared for but a little more competent e tragedy. Britain failed in the

Page 44
CHAP
he introduction of the Sol T the foundation for the tr Ceylon. The history of
eventual fall is the history of t the blackest chapter in Tamil
The Success of political fre onial peoples in the modern wo ty on the part of the hitherto country in accordance with the written rules of civilized condl does not mean a licence to devi of Ceylon, unfortunately, the S ly won freedom, not to build a from where the British left, but of history and revive the Mah
Why this was so is probably is valued most by a people who and battle for it. It may be a vi American War of Independen struggle as in the case of India Cerned made tremendous sacr
3

PTER 2
ulbury Constitution in 1947 laid agedy that befell the Tamils in its birth, its decline and its he tragedy itself. It constitutes Singhalese relationship.
edom and independence to colprld always presupposes an abilisubject people to govern their e universally understoodbutunuct and decency. Independence ate from those rules. In the case inghalese leaders used the newhealthy and prosperous nation to go back into the Middle Ages lavamsa antagonism.
due to the truism that freedom fight for it, who make sacrifices olent war as in the case of The ce, or it may be a non-violent . In both cases the people conifices, and they knew what the
2

Page 45
value of political freedom was, ai of the independence they fough there was neither a war, nor sacrifices, nor anything. Freedon Singhalese on a platter, as it wer dian struggle.
When World War II was in its parent to most political observer: to undergo a change in its patter able to hold on to her far-flung i Movement in India was shaking Empire with Gandhi, Nehru, and dian freedom fighters in prison, unable to get his writs run in ar.
In Ceylon, the British Suprem Asia, Lord Louis Mountbatten, h dy, Admiral Layton was in overa the civil administration of intern a Board of Ministers headed by I to checks by three British Secretar independence was in the air.
D. S. Senanayake chose an municate with Whitehall and rai independence. Whitehall replied to await the conclusion of the W
Whitehall requested the Board o stitutional scheme which would b by a Royal Commission to be app The Board of Ministers, com Singhalese Ministers, submitted British system of Cabinet Govern acceptance without any Commis is well known that the draft scher Ivor Jennings, then Principal of th
When the War came to an end pointed a Royal Commission und count Soulbury with terms o constitutional scheme of the Boar in Ceylon, if necessary, and to re
33

nd they made a great success at for. In the case of Ceylon a non-violent struggle, nor n was simply delivered to the re, in consequence of the In
concluding stages it was aps that the Empire would have n, and England would not be territories. The "Quit India" the very foundations of the hundreds of thousands of Inand the Viceroy Lord Wavell ay part of India. me Commander of South-East
ad his Headquarters in KanIl control of the island, and al affairs was in the hands of D. S. Senanayake but subject ries. The imminence of India's
opportune moment to comise the question of Ceylon's . that the matter would have Tar. After further exchanges if Ministers to submit a conve examined and reported on ointed at the end of the War. iposed preponderently of a scheme modelled on the ment and insisted on its total sion having to examine it. It me was the handiwork of Sir e Ceylon University College. . Whitehall, nevertheless, apler the chairmanship of Visf reference to study the d of Ministers, hear evidence :commend proposals for the

Page 46
reform of the Constitution. D. S Colleagues decided to boycott ly and formally. They had lo with the Commission in Colc
In view of the later accept Scheme in its entirety the qu the need for a Royal Commiss tion would be that Whitehall Tamil-Singhalese conflictin Ce Scheme was a completely Sir British did not wish to appea Tamils and Other minorities. TI tiCal Conflict in India, the Hir to be different. In India they minority, while in Ceylon the majority. The difference prob possible acCusation.
Whatever the reason for t the Soulbury Commission vi public Sittings in the principa. portant minority Communities their Organizations.
The Ceylon Tamils were n under a single leadership Or Ol groups holding different polit in different directions. By a general was represented by G Support at the grassroots level. ty. He had already started adv representation for all the Comn The formula came to be know Fifty Demand. The moderates Arunachalam Mahadeva (lat Senanayake's Board of Minister stitution. The moderates stoo Singhalese without Condition
There was, however, one th tionalists and the moderates, na that the Tamils must have the part of Ceylon. Factually til
V.

S. Senanayake and his Ministerial the Commission - only officialng and protracted negotiations ombo privately.
ance of the Board of Ministers estion may be asked, what was ion? The most plausible explanawas aware of the existence of a Bylon and the Board of Ministers' ghalese proposal, and that the ar as having not Consulted the heir Solution to an almost idenldu-Muslim problem, was going were going to be partial to the y Were going to be partial to the ably made them sensitive to a
he appointment may have been, sited during 1944-45 and held l Cities Of the island. All the ims made representations through
ot politically united at the time rganization. There were several ical Opinions and which pulled nd large, Tamil nationalism in . G. Ponnampalam with popular He had a charismatic personaliOcating a formula for balanced nunities in the future legislature. in as G. G. Ponnampalam's Fiftyamong the Tamils were led by ter, Sir), a Minister in D. S. “s underthe Donoughmore Cond for full cooperation with the S.
ing in Common between the naamely, both believed very firmily : right to settle and live in any he North and East remained
34

Page 47
predominantly Tamil, and ther It is this belief which turned out thinking and which has cost the millions of rupees worth of pre
Efforts were, therefore, mac varying political opinions into tO putting fOrward a united dem mission on behalf of the Ceylo set up for the purpose at a meet College Hall in Colombo. The was sponsored mostly by G. G. P. Colleagues of mine of the Colom and asked me to sign it as a Conv I was not ready to enter active For another, I did not believe representation was a justifiable ter, it was an effective SOlution third, I was academically attra System of government as the mo racial animosity, being large newspaper article which S. W. R. shortly after his return from Ox. for Ceylon.
The same lawyer friends hac Colombo Law Library for signa told me many years later that the known to them did not wish to a up and signed the notice as a Ponnampalam's formula must Chelvanayakam was eventually A. Mahadeva, S. Natesapillai, a joined the body in a show of Sol their most vociferous political O was Chosen as the leader. Thijs a the Ceylon Tamil Congress par
The ad-hoc body made the Commission. On behalf of the C palam presented the Case as its se the fifty-fifty formula for Parlia marathon address which would a landmark performance if onl
35

est predominantly Singhalese. to be a fatal mistake in political 2 Tamils thousands of lives and Operty.
le to draw in all the groups of One organization with a view and before the Soulbury Comin Tamils. An ad-hoc body was ing in 1944 held at the Zahira notice Convening the meeting onnampalam's supporters. Two bO Bar met me with the notice enor. I declined. For one thing, politics for personal reasons. that the formula of balan Ced e proposition, or for that matfor the Tamil problems. For a Lcted to the idea of a federal st suitable answer to the interly influenced in this by a I. D. Bandaranalike had written ford advocating federal system
taken the notice round at the tureS. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam ese gentlemen for reasons best pproach him, but that he went Convenor since he thought be given the fullest backing. drafted into the ad-hoc body. und the Other moderates alsO idarity in spite of the fact that ipponent, G. G. Ponnampalam id-hoc body later evolved into “ty.
2 representations before the Ceylon Tamils. G. G. Ponnamole spokesman. He enunciated amentary representation in a have gone down in history as y it had espoused a worthier

Page 48
proposal for the solution of i However, it represented the co among all the leaders of the t
The formula simply meant in the legislature to be establi stitution should be allotted to t. being the majority people wh munities put together should b cent.
The thinking that underla community would be in a legislature. After all, had not t. Legislative Councils been sin predominantly Tamil North and their own Tamil representative Tamil presence throughout Ce an effective voice even though hope to elect their own membe the only way to protect interest to build. The formula assume munities could be expected to
It was, indeed, a spurious th been accepted by the Singhale missioners, it would not have m course of events that followed t Soulbury Commission paid Ponnampalam's performance, bi its recommendations acceptin
Ministers in its totality.
Posterity cannot be blame the Tamil leadership of those t for the exercise of the greatest It required thinking in terms o in Ceylon as a whole rather tł of sectarian interests. They natu it is they who have been, and w witnesses and victims of Singl

che Tamil-Singhalese problem. nsensus that had been reached ime.
that fifty per cent of the seats shed under the reformed conhe Singhalese by virtue of their ile all the other minority come given the remaining fifty per
y the formula was that no one position to dominate such a he previous pre-Donoughmore nilarly constituted? While the | East could be expected to elect s, the scattered and widespread eylon would also be assured of by themselves they could never ers on a territorial basis. It was Es which had taken generations ed that all the minority combe united in a given situation. inking. Even if the formula had se leaders, let alone the Comade an iota of difference to the he grant of independence. The
a polite tribute to G. G. ut rejected the formula. It made g the Scheme of the Board of
lif they have a grouse against imes. It was a time that called political wisdom and foresight. f the future of the Tamil race lan in terms of the protection rally have a grievance, because ho continue to be, the helpless ialese misrule and misdeeds.
U)

Page 49
During the thirty five years ments behave as though the or to eliminate the Tamils from been made a doubtful right in tion of them has been deprived have been taken away and Colc under Government-funded pro deprived of recognition and th language if they aspire for Gove ment. Their jobs under the Gov. and given to the Singhalese. Th reCruitments. Admissions tO un learning are either denied to th unavoidable minimum. As a Cro find themselves denied state p
Naturally the later genera wisdom of the political leaderso hundred years of foreign o presented the first opportunity lost freedom. In neighbouring I. ed availed itself of a similar opp by establishing a separate stat leaders had failed to think of a in Ceylon,
It is not that such thoughts d a matter of fact, after the Soulb dations were made known, G. to the Secretary of State for the Commission's proposals were n forced to press for a federal con a futile last minute visit to Lon
The truth is that the leader from Colombo's affluent Tamil cerned with preserving the sta dreaded the prospect of being u change in the pattern of living resulted from any form of divis interests in Colombo and othel been influencing their politica obsession with them. The great
37

Since the British left Governly function of government is ceylon. Their citizenship has their Own motherland. A secof franchise rights. Their lands »nized with Singhalese people ects. Their language has been ey have to learn the Singhala !rnment or mercantile employ2rnment have been taken away ey are debarred from all fresh iversities and places of higher hem Orrestricted to the barest wning act of despotic rule, they rotection of life and property.
tions began to question the f those times. After nearly four ccupation and rule history to the Tamils to regain their ndia a minority similarhy placortunity and found protection e. They wondered why their similar solution for the Tamils
id not occur to the leaders. As ury Commission's recommenG. Ponnampalam sent a cable Colonies suggesting that if the Dit revised the Tamils wOuld be stitution. He followed it up by don.
s were drawn almost entirely society which was more contus quo of its interests. They prooted and the revolutionary which must necessarily have ion. Concern for their vested Singhalese areas has always l thinking, and had been an tragedy is that this obsession

Page 50
persisted to the present day
went up in smoke and rivers
This was the obsession the the Singhalese leaders were The debate on the White Pap tional proposals showed the leaders succumbed to it.
In India political proposal and either accepted or reject ties, the Indian National Con and the Indian Muslim Leagi These parties decided the des however, the question wheth cepted or not was left, not to could have been ascertained ! to an obsolete State Council v previously in 1936. During t in the country had undergor Council could not be said to could its Members be said to the people. The Board of Mi decided to abide by the deci
At the debate on the whi 1946, Arunachalam Mahade Thiagarajah and others of the
mitted a complete somersault up before the Royal Commis old stance of cooperation wit palam was away in England n the Imperial Government to C ticipate in the debate.
The Singhalese leaders il their powers of persuasion to situtional proposals. Speaker S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, A. the first Speaker of the Hous de Silva, and many others, m tion with the Singhalese to v appealed, pleaded and cajol begged: "Please trust us and

until the objects of that interest
of blood ran along the drains. at beset the Tamil leadership, and not slow to sense and exploit it. ser containing the new constitueir cunning and how the Tamil
s of this nature were considered ed by the two great national pargress as representing the Hindus ue as representing the Muslims. tinies of their peoples. In Ceylon, er the White Paper was to be acthe wishes of the people which py holding a general election, but vhich had been elected ten years hose ten years political opinion le a significant change, and this have reflected that change nor have represented the wishes of nisters and Whitehall, however, sion of this old State Council. te Paper in the State Council in eva, S. Natesapillai, Jeganathan
moderate school of thought comfrom the position they had taken sion, and reverted back to their Eh the Singhalese. G. G. Ponnammaking a last-minute effort to get hange its attitude. He did not par
n the State Council mustered all urge the acceptance of the conafter speaker, D. S. Senanayake, F. Molamure (who later became e of Representatives), George E. ade fervent appeals for cooperaJork the new constitution. They sed. Almost parrot-like they all 1 give us a chance to prove that
38

Page 51
we are worthy of your trust." - " whether we are worthy descend race or not." - "Please let us w whether we cannot overcome it us give this constitution a trial, your fears are unfounded." D. S. to say that Tamil Kings had Singhalese Kings had ruled the always lived in amity.*
The speeches of the Tamil M prostitution. They all advocate trusted, and that full cooperatio the new constitution. S. Natesa our case before the judge (the judge has ruled against us, and
can do. The Tamil pundit that h the poetess; Kittathayin vettena you want, forget it instantly). J spoke of armed rebellion. A cumstances, he said, would have we cannot do that; therefore Singhalese and work this new c people, he added, is to trust the
The State Council resolved to All the Members representing favour.
An interesting account of a this voting was going the rounds Some prominent Tamils like S. J. V. Naganathan, Handy Peringar eleventh hour effort to persuad State Council to vote against the
mised them that he would vote a a reception at his official reside
While he was seated on the lav distinguished visitors, he notice occupant of a car that drove up t known that Natesapillai had been
* For fuller extracts of these speeches from th
address to the Tamilar Suyadchi Kalagam.
39

Please have faith in us and see lants of the mighty Singhalese Fork this constitution and see Es shortcomings." - "Please let and we will prove to you that Senanayake even cited history - ruled the Singhalese, and e Tamils, but the people had
embers are a study in political d that the Singhalese must be n should be extended to work pilai's theme was: We placed - British Imperial Power), the there is nothing more that we ze was, he even quoted Auvai
mara (If you cannot get a thing Teganathan Thiagarajah even ny other people in the cire risen in armed rebellion, but - let us cooperate with the onstitution. My advice to my e Singhalese.
accept the new constitution, the Ceylon Tamils voted in
revealing episode concerning in political circles at that time. - V. Chelvanayakam, Dr. E. M. nayagam and others made an de the Tamil Members of the
White Paper. Natesapillai proagainst. D. S. Senanayake held nce on the eve of the voting. vn surrounded by a group of ed the turbaned head of the he driveway. He had probably a persuaded to vote against the
e Hansard, see my inaugural presidential
1969.

Page 52
White Paper, Natesapillai alig ing up to the group when Sen. and exclaimed in a half whisp ear of the aproaching gentlen Minister." The die was Cast. voted in favour of the accep other people, as Jeganathan T resorted to violence, but not they have been nurtured in th They bided their time to vent elections held in 1947 unde members of the old State Cou defeated by S. J. V. Chelvanay, nampalam; Mahadeva and returned to politics.
One is tempted to won weakness of all minorities Whether as a virtue or of n minorities tend to behave, pl all the Countries where Parlia satisfactorily the majorities, f trust and reciprocate by doi Societies Cannot do Otherwis adage that trust begets trusti ly, economically, politically, a civilized nation. It was only exhibited arrogant intoleran di Smemberment.
The recommendations of implemented quite expeditio the two Orders in Council of sitution Order in Council and tions Order in Council. Ceylo the British Crown. General E were held in 1947.
Because the new Constitu system of government on the to Organize a single well-de Singhalese nationalism but nationalism. The Ceylon

hted from his car and was walkanayake turned to his neighbour er but loud enough to reach the nan, "Ah, here comes our future
The following day Natesapillai tance of the White paper. Any Thiagarajah had said, would have the Tamils of Ceylon, because he ways of democratic behaviour. their anger. At the first general r the new Consitution all these ncil vWere routed. Natesapilai was akam, A. Mahadeva by G. G. PonJeganathan Thiagarajah never
der whether it is an inherent to be trusting of the majority. ecessity, that is how numerical acing a trust in the majority. In amentary democracy is working or their part, always respect that ng nothing to betray that trust. e than to follow the well-known if they want to advance Culturaland in international standing as in Nazi Germany that the State ce, and Germany paid for it by
the Soulbury Commission were usly. Buckingham Palace issued 1946, namely The Ceylon ConThe Ceylon Parliamentary Elecn thus became a Dominion under Elections for the first Parliament
tional scheme envisaged a party British pattern, efforts were made 2fined political party to reflect under the cloak of Ceylonese National Congress, to which
40

Page 53
D. S. Senanayake, his son Dudley Kotelawela, A. F. Molamure and and the Singhala. Maha Sabha daranaike was the leader, were
National Party (UNP). The Tami and S. Natesapilai joined this pa hoc body which had been set i representations to the Soulbury Ceylon Tamils became a perma name of the Ceylon Tamil Con palam as its leader. The Tamils districts were already organized gress(CIC).
All these parties fielded cai at the General Elections in 194 ty of the seats, and its leader D. the first Prime Minister of th Ceylon was not completely ind
When D. S. Senanayake was Whitehall for consitutional ref independence. He had been told for complete independence aft
Majesty's Government in Britai necessary legislation passed by t By Ceylon it was said to have b the important communites whi Ceylon must jointly make the re quest Britain would consider th
Here was yet another opport last, for wise leaders to avail terested in the Tamil race and pe ed to have come forward to ser seize it even now, for such was trust.
D. S. Senanayake had a faithi Oliver Goonetilleke, one of the of the time. Possibly on Gooneti business of Cabinet-making ke tions for the grant of independer
41

Senanayake, his nephew John I J. R. Jayawardene belonged, ., of which S. W. R. D. Banmerged to become the United l moderates like A. Mahadeva rty. On the Tamil side, the adip for the purpose of making ' commission on behalf of the nent political party under the gress(TC) with G. G. Ponnamof the hill country plantation under the Ceylon Indian Con
ndidates on their party labels 7. The UNP secured a majoriS. Senanayake was appointed e new Dominion of Ceylon. cependent as yet. carrying on negotiations with orms he was pressing for full that if Ceylon made a request er the General Elections, His n would consider getting the he Parliament at i Westminster. een intended to mean that all ch make up the population of equest, and only on such a rese grant of full independence. tunity, and most definitely the pf if they were genuinely ineople. But the men who claim
ve the Tamil people failed to s their psychotic addiction to
ful adviser in the person of Sir astutest and wiliest diplomats lleke's advice he set about the eping in mind Britain's condince. He constituted his Cabinet

Page 54
to include Singhalese, Tamil, Burgher Ministers as represen Sundaralingam, M. P. for Vavur was supposed to represent th
There was considerable op Sundaralingam joining the
meeting at the New Town Hal people why he had accepted Ministry. It turned out to be a at which the opposition forces na), S. J. V. Chelvanayakam (K. (Kopay), Dr. E. M. V. Na Kumaraswamy (Chavakachche of Parliament all elected on the party ticket, clashed with the The oppositionists demanded Cabinet. Sundaralingam stubb broke up in a pandemonium.
One of the first acts of Prim to introduce a resolution in th grant complete independen unanimously, C. Sundaralingan the Tamils joined in the reques Kingdom Parliament enacted th nouncing for ever its right to le the legislature in Ceylon the dependent nation. On Febru ceremony at Torrington Squar Square) in Colombo, the Duke Union Jack and hoisted the Li fying the transfer of power.
That last act Sundaralingan the final seal placed on the fat in Ceylon. The last remaining s Tamils might have used to their ment was bartered away by a T the Tamils changed their ru Singhalese. One can imagine turning in his Samadhi grave i his compatriots.

Muslim, Malay, European and tative of all the communities. C., aiya, was the Tamil Minister who
e Tamils. eposition in the country against Government. He convened a 1 in Colombo to explain to the - D. S. Senanayake's offer of a particularly boisterous meeting led by G. G. Ponnampalam (Jaffankesanturai), C. Vannisingham ganathan (Senator), and V. ri), who were the new Members enewly formed Tamil Congress e supporters of Sundaralingam.
that Sundaralingam quit the prnly refused, and the meeting
L
I
Le Minister D. S. Senanayake was e Cabinet requesting Britain to ce. The Cabinet approved it ngave his consent to signify that t. In December 1947 the United ne Ceylon Independence Act reegislate for Ceylon, and making
Soverign Parliament of an inlary 4, 1948, in a glittering e (now renamed Independence of Gloucester hauled down the on Flag of the Singhalese signi
ngiving his consent constituted ce of his people, the Tamil race shred of a trump card which the
advantage at an opportune moamil Minister. By that single act Llers, from the British to the Sir Ponnampalam Ramanathan n disgust of the intelligence of

Page 55
For all that, Sundaralingam di for long. He resigned after a fe disagreement with the Prime Mini ning the Tamils of the hill country ment side it was said that he wa reasons. Whatever the reasons m Tamil people were concerned, the retrievably before he quit the GC
Years later, when the languag ingam was stricken with remorse. that it was he who had let down t given his Consent to the independ never have granted it, and the Tam in which they find themselves t writing the statements with tears f said D. S. Senanayake was his trus drafted many speeches and state trust that his friend the Prime Mil the Tamils. Like Soulbury, he to Senanayake been alive he would ne such blatant misuse of the Const
It is Sometimes in Credible to se tellectual powers, learning and exp duty of taking decisions affecting tions, allow their decisions to be g pen to have in friends in power, ho to believe that the personal attribu quate safeguard against anythi substitute for something more per are blessed with immortality. It is motives are attributed to the action not be the slightest doubt about S his expression of regret. But what when the very existence of the threatened2.
43

id not remain in the Cabinet w months allegedly over a Ster On SOIme matter COn Cerplantations. On the GovernS asked to resign for other ay have been, as far as the a damage had been done irDvernment.
2 law was passed, SundaralHe issued public statements he Tamils, that if he had not lence request Britain would ils would not be in the plight oday. He said that he was or the fate of his people. He ted friend for whom he had papers, and he had implicit mister would mever let down O believed that had D. S. ever have Countenanced any itution.
e how men of very greatinperience, when Cast with the the fates of peoples and nauided by the trust they hapw they persuade themselves tes of the friends arean adeng going awry or are a manent, or that the friends in such Circumstances that hs of public men. There may undaralingam's sincerity in t good can lamentations do Tamil people in Ceylon is

Page 56
CHA
uite early in the life o dent Ceylon, the capa
tion democratically a test, particularly that of the In England, from where the sy vance of certain traditions an ten, always governed the cor the success of the system. It a pillar of Parliament. In Cey be established. Instead of m Ceylon chose a path which re system is unworkable in this
A situation arose in which colours, that it was not interes tion and its laws in the b Democracy, that it would no Parliament even to tamper w be irksome to its members. A
was the first and the beginni legislation in which the UNP ding of a ruling party's maj licence to tyranny and des

PTER 3
f the first Parliament of indepenacity of the party system to funcand un-arbitrarily was put to the party in power, namely, the UNP. ystem was borrowed, strict obserd standards which, though unwritaduct of political parties ensured
became a valued institution and Flon such a reputation was yet to making an effort to establish it, esulted in demonstrating that the s country. a the UNP showed itself in its true sted in working the new Constituest traditions of Parliamentary ot hesitate to use its majority in rith the law, if the law is found to As a matter of fact, this situation ng in a thirtyfive year history of P has made it clear its understanbrity in Parliament is that it is a potism. This first situation was
1
44

Page 57
comparatively a small matter, an involved, and yet the UNP found quick legislation.
It arose out of a court decisio ceeding. The law governing the e ment to the House of Represei Ceylon Parlimentary Elections O ly issued by Buckingham Palace Constitution. One of the Clause qualifications of candidates for didate who is "directly or indirect with the Government is disqua Parliament. It is a salutary provisi vent corruption and influence pe aspiring to seats in Parliament an decision concerned the interpr Clause as applicable to a candid the first General Elections.
At the first General Election the Constitutency of Kayts in the ween A. V. Kulasingham, the Ta A. L. Thambiaiyah, an indepen UNP sympathies. Thambiaiyah v row margin of sorne four or five
Kulasingham filed an Electi election on several grounds, bu Thambiaiyah was disqualified i alleged that Thambiaiyah was cl tor of the Ceylon Cargo Boat De such he was interested in the w tracts which his Company had w which was a Government Depart biaiyah was thus disqualified fro Basnayake, the Supreme Court agreed with Kulasingham that T indirectly interested" in contra
with the Government Departme Void.
As the law then stood, the Parliamentary Elections Order i
45

ad no great national issue was it necessary to intervene with
t
on in an election petition proelection of Members of Parliantatives is contained in The rder in Council, 1946, recente to accompany the Soulbury s in it that deals with the diselection provides that a canEly interested" in any contract
lified from being elected to ion of the law intended to preeddling on the part of persons d Ministerial office. The court etation of this disqualifying Late who had been elected at
s held in 1947, the contest in e Northern Province was bet
mil Congress candidate, and dent candidate with known -ras declared elected by a nare hundred votes.
on Petition challenging the at the main ground was that ander the above Clause. He hairman and managing direcspatch Company Ltd., and as Fharfage and lighterage conwith Colombo Port Authority, Ement. He argued that Thamom being elected. Mr. Justice
Judge who heard the case, hambiaiyah was "directly or cts which his Company had ent and declared his election
at judgment was final. The a Council did not provide for

Page 58
any appeal, possibily becaus legislation an Election Judg is always to be a Judge of th thought proper to provide fo Judge's finding.
But the judgment was vel S. Senanayake and his Minis of the UNP. If it concerned might not have been rattled terests of a number of Minis If allowed to stand, many U. ambitions would not be ab. Senanayake, therefore, rush amend the Order in Council ing a right of appeal from a grieved party Could appeal tc days of the Election Courts lodged his appeal, and thre after hearing lengthy argum judgement. Thambiaiyahthu
It was not the amending 1 it, that attracted attention. A tion of the democratic proce detected in new legilsation,t( national interest. But this ac that. It was seen as a sign high the leaders of the principal people were willing to play try at the slightest threat dangerous political tendenc what they could do with the the new Constitution and Inc their hands.
As far as the Tamils were wait for long to know what t S. Senanayake was quick to r and strengthen the power of bill was introduced in Parliar actions taken dealing the de

eacCording to the Scheme of that e who hears an election petition he Supreme Court and it was not ran appeal from a Supreme Court
ry disturbing to Prime Minister D. sters and Members of Parliament only Thambiaiyah perhaps they ... It was believed to affect the inters and Members of Parliament. NP stalwarts with Parliamentary le to contest in the future. D. S. ned a Bill through Parliament to incorporating a new Clause givh Election Judges finding. An agthe Supreme Court within thirty judgement. A. L. Thambiaiyah e Judges of the Supreme Court, 2nts, set aside Justice Basnayake's is saved his seat as M. P. for Kayts.
egislation, or the justification for After all, it is a well-known func}ss, whenever defects or flaws are D take steps to rectify them in the tion of the Government was not lighting the readiness with which political party of the Singhalese havoc with the laws of the counto their interests. It presaged a y. It was anominous portent of immense political power which lependence have concentrated in
2 Concerned they did not have to he UNP had in store for them. D. esort to measures to COnSOlidate his Singhalese people. Bill after ment and a host of administrative 2ath-blow to the Tamils.
46

Page 59
The series of anti-Tamil leg Ceylon Citizenship Act 1948. Citizen of Ceylon. Those who were aliens. It is a unique Citizei not be found in any other den It was manifestly aimed agains in Ceylon. It was also to serve a which were to follow with a vi settlers in the plantations of the described as the most dra CO aginable. Its provisions are so ha ful of Tamils would be able to
Under the provisions of thi Ceylon unless you can establisl and your father was born in Ce If you were born outside Ceyl unless you establish that you before the prescribed date and in Ceylon. If both you and y, Ceylon, then you will have to e and great-grandfather Were bo
These are harsh provisions out as many Tamils as the bure bureaucrats that people go v establishing Citizenship. To estal have to be adduced, and the on bureaucrats is the production persons whose birth in Ceylo. tificates are not available in all ( the system of registering birth records of vital statistics was r 1898 or thereabouts. The resu group of 50 years and over at til bearing Tamil names could I citizenship, nor those under 50 born before 1898. But for Senanayake himself could neve a citizen of Ceylon.
The effect of this law was Ceylon bearing Tamil names v their own motherland, the
4

islation commenced with The It laid down the law defining a cannot satisfy the definition nship law, the like of which canhocratic country in the world. t the Tamils of both categories is a foundation for further laws ew to disfranchising the Tamil : hill country. The Act has been nian piece of legislation imarsh that not more than a hand
establish their citizenship,
is Act, you are not a citizen of in that you were born in Ceylon xylon before a prescribed date. on, then you are not a citizen r father was born in Ceylon Ihat your grandfather was born Our father were born Outside stablish that your grandfather th born in Ceylon, and so on.
deliberately intended to shut aucrats please. It is before the with business which requires olish citizenship legal proof will ly legal proof acceptable to the of the birth certificates of the n has to be proved. Birth cercases for the simple reason that is and deaths and maintaining lot introduced in Ceylon until ult was that persons in the age he time the Act was passed and ever hope to establish their years but whose fathers were his Singhalese name, D. S. *r have established that he was
that overnight all persons in vere made doubtful citizens in land where they and their
7

Page 60
forefathers and their progen history. They will not be acce ve it.
The pattern of anti-Tamil I beginning to reveal itself.
Almost simultaneously w a sister piece of legislation wa Pakistani Residents Citizens of Indian and Pakistani origin tions were permitted to appl "Registered Citizen of Ceylo as a concession to soften the ship Act and as proof of the
of the Singhalese leaders, bu that they required a limited n to remain in Ceylon to work shown them that Singhalese in working the rubber plantat level plains, but Singhalese la estates which are all on the t Tamils alone were the willing estates. This Act, therefore, tinued smooth working of the disruption of the country's e
The debates in Parliamen another illustration of the m leadership. The Tamil Congre of the Ceylon Tamil people. did not speak on the Ceylon himself with merely voting a told me many years later that palam was believed to hav Senanayake to join the Cabi
Chelvanayakam, however spirited attack on the Govern ing and concept which wen legislation. He was so carried at the Government benches weakest section of the Tamils and the meek that are labouri

itors had lived from the dawn of epted as Citizens unless they pro
Legislation that was intended was
with the Ceylon Citizenship Act, as enacted. It was The Indian and nip Act of 1949 by which people
with certain residential qualifica-y for and obtain the status of a on". The measure was spoken of e rigours of the Ceylon Citizengenerosity and good intentions t in reality the true purpose was umber of the plantation workers the tea estates. Experience had labour could replace the Tamils tions which are mostly in the low abour would not work in the tea higher altitude mountain slopes. g and productive workers on tea Ewas intended to ensure the cone tea plantations and prevent any economy.
t. on the two Citizenship Bills are isfortune of the Tamils in their ess was the principal spokesman Its leader, G. G. Ponnampalam,
Citizenship Bill, but contended gainst it. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam that was the time when Ponname been negotiating with D. S. net.
-, spoke at length. He launched a
ment for the machiavellian thinkt behind this cunning piece of 1 away by anger that he shouted 5: " You are now hitting at the -, you are hitting at the innocent ng in the chill and the cold of the
48

Page 61
plantations producing your we stand when our turn comes nex piece of legislation in this serie our language" or words to that e in the next seat, kept on tugging .whispering, "Chelva, don't bu burn your boats." Chelvanayaka import of these words until Senanayake's Cabinet.
The next legislation in t Parliamentary Elections Orders of 1949. After laying down tt Ceylon, D. S. Senanayake by thi tion law once again to provide t defined by the Ceylon Citizen registered as voters and to vote meant that a person would hav a voter and to prove to the sati ficer that he is a citizen of Cey earlier, the Tamils of the plantat to meet that requirement.
It was a simple but brilliantly a whole sweep of the franchise more Tamils of the hill country ed that right until then. They e own to the very Parliament in w]
were, of course, helpless. Indee future Parliaments that this legis calculations of Soulbury and Ivi representation in Parliament, a Delimitation Commission to cai for them, were set at naught ir
At the next annual revision Tamil names in the voters, lists area constituencies were simpl action. The registers of the ni Tamil Members sitting in the drastic reduction of the total n 30,000 to about 2500, 4000
4

lth. We will know where we , we will know when the next
Comes, the one dealing with ffect. Ponnampalam, who was at Chelvanayakam's coat tails :n your boats. Chelva don't
m did not understand the full Ponnampalam joined D. S.
he series was The Ceylon in Council Amendment Act Le law defining a Citizen of s new Act amended the elechat only citizens of Ceylon as ship Act were eligible to be ! at elections. Procedurally it e to apply to be registered as sfaction of the registering ofrlon. Obviously, as explained ion districts could never hope
conceived device which made rights of the one million and plantations who had exercislected nine Members of their hich this law was passed. They d, it was to keep them out of slation was resorted to. All the pr Jennings for these people's nd all the labours of the first
ve out suitable consituencies a one stroke.
of the electoral registers, all of the hill country plantation y scored off by administrative ne constituencies which had current Parliament showed a umber of voters from around or 5000. The Nawalapitiya

Page 62
electorate, for example, hac 28,000 to about 2000. The re were all those of Singhales stitutencies returned only S General Elections held in thereafter.
In terms of Parliamentar teresting. The Singhalese str ed by the number of seats country electorates. An elect one Member, and an electora one Member. This was mani. architects of the constitutior dependence, Lord Soulbury templated. At least, that is w
The two architects found expression to their disillusio
Sir Ivor Jennings, reputed tion, once gave a radio talk ov tion is that it was reproducer 1951 or January 1952. I reme S. Senanayake would meet h various points that needed cla then declared as his current ting he had the experience he have beer, different. He did
These expressions of opin on the discussions and neg
would lead one to draw the i Senanayake implicitly when constitutional proposals. It w ference to say that when he Royal Commission to the pro rights and Parliamentary rep tion workers D. S. Senanayake as it may, Jennings probably
manner in which his safeguar
The five years of the first decisive period for the Tamils portance for the future of the

1 its total reduced from around etained names on those registers
e voters, so that all these coninghalese Members at the next 1952, and at every election
y seats the result was quite inength in Parliament was increasdenied to the Tamils in the hill corate with 40,000 voters elected ate with 2000 voters also elected festly not the pattern which the nal scheme which ushered in in
and Sir Ivor Jennings, conwhat they said.
occasions in later years to give nment. ly the draftsman of the Constituer the BBC, London. My recollecd in the LISTENER in December ember Jennings recalling that D. im quite often and brief him on rification during the drafting. He view that if at the time of drafnow had, the Constitution would not elaborate how different. ion by the very men who carried otiations with D. S. Senanayake nference that they trusted D. S. they gave the final shape to the ould be an equally legitimate inagreed with Whitehall and the posals concerning the franchise resentation of the Tamil planta
had mental reservations. Be that experienced a rude shock at the d provisions had been thwarted. Parliament was a most vital and . Their leaders recognized its imrace. They understood the trend
50

Page 63
of Singhalese legislation, and They knew that the race was h yet, instead of rallying for c disaster, they went in differen own ambitions.
The situation is a strange co society. The Tamil people are heritage. Why, then, have the potence? A little introspection have ignored the wisdom and th
It is a Tamil poet of the 4th c of wisdom, the like of which literature. The poet said:
'yāthum oore yāvarum
theethum nantrum pira Translated, it means:
All world is my abode, The evil and good oned
The Tamils of Ceylon, part supposed to know better, ignor the vision of the brotherhood o in the first line, it is at least
brotherhood among themselves considering the whole world as regard their traditional homel habitants are equal and where
Instead, Tamil society pres is always nursed by a false pride of every description region-cl what have you. Northern Pro vince, Ceylon Tamil versus the sus Batticaloa, high caste versus educated versus the Swabashacollar worker versus the farm has pervaded the entire socie uniting even in the face of gro

realized its ominous portents. Leading for a tragic doom. And Foncerted action to avert the et directions in pursuit of their
mmentary on the state of Tamil the proud inheritors of a rich ey degenerated into such im
will tell them, it is because they ae moral values of that heritage. entury BC who left them words cannot be found in any other
kelir ar thara vārā
all mankind my kin, loth experience.come not from
External source.
icularly their leaders who are ed both the precepts. Let alone of all mankind as contemplated within their power to practise s, like the Muslims do. Let alone s their village, they can at least Land as one unit where all inno one area claims to be elite. ents a picture of disunity that e that has no logical basis, pride ass, caste, birth, wealth-and vince versus the Eastern Proe Plantation Tamil, Jaffna vers not so high a caste, the English-educated, the trousered white
workers, and so on. Snobbery ety and prevents people from ave danger to the whole race.
ໄດອນ

Page 64
The chasm that divides the of the hill country plantation d They exist as two distinc geographical areas. Historical i economical and vocational o social intercourse or mixing b not suit the colonial rulers o courage it either. Besides, the with a superiority complex tot which was particularly resen
The worst offenders in this never espoused the cause of i they evince any interest in the in the estates. If any of them it suited them. The two sectic on any issue. Inevitably the T upon the Ceylon Tamil leade tunate attitude of the Ceylon which led to the rise of the Ce vice of Pandit Jawaharlal Neh the plantation Tamils.
On the eve of independenc party which represented the C which held out great promise. gave a written undertaking tot Congress that whenever the T interests were threatened he w their cause. It was the first att ween the two sections of the T at the time was such a popular uncrowned king among the C his powerful voice and the tra Indian Congress would certainl would have deterred D. S. Seni suing their programme of an
But the curse that hangs o ple in Ceylon, the craze for of spect, D. S. Senanayake was t time for his opponents to con his adviser were much too s solidarity take shape and grow,

Ceylon Tamils from the Tamils istricts is even more deplorable. E sections in two different and social reasons, and possibly onditions, did not permit any etween them in the past. It did : the European planters to enCeylon Tamils always behaved vards the plantation area Tamil, ced by the latter.
respect were the leaders. They he plantation workers, nor did ir living or working conditions lid, it was only to betray when ins never made common cause amils of the plantations looked rship with distrust. This unfor. Tamils was one of the causes ylon Indian Congress on the adru as the authoritative voice of
ce, however, the Tamil Congress -eylon Tamils took a unique step
G. G. Ponnampalam as its leader the leaders of the Ceylon Indian amil plantation workers or their ould stand by them and espouse empt at forging a solidarity betamil people. G. G. Ponnampalam leader that he was hailed as the eylon Tamils. A combination of ade union power of the Ceylon
y have been a potent force which anayake and the UNP from purci-Tamil legislation. ver the heads of the Tamil peofice, would not permit that propo shrewd a politician to allow solidate their strength. He and easoned men to let the Tamil and not to exploit the weakness

Page 65
of the Tamil leaders. After Sun threfore, D. S. Senanayake ser nampalam.
As it turned out, G. G. Ponna only until he voted against the C taken into the Cabinet soon after of Industries and Fisheries. W Residents Citizenship Bill came Treasury Benches, and he vote joining the Government split th
no qualms. He voted in favour e Elections Order in Council Ame the franchise rights of the one ir Plantation Districts.
It was the unkindest cut of al to all Tamil hopes of ever resisti G. Ponnampalam's powerful voic of course, justified his action and na that the Tamils have nothing opposition for ever. By extending could hope to get something out action Responsive Cooperation. in disfranchising the Tamils of Senanayake would respond wit thern and Eastern Province. W leadership is it that regards a m as worth only three wretched fa ship is it that fools itself into belie the Tamils were going to be calle palam lived long enough to see
To give a solemn undertaki Tamils numbering more than a m and protect them, and then tot of their distress and peril was th sincerity and opportunism in p the traditional distrust which districts had of the Ceylon Tam
But it is a game two parties ca tation districts waited for almos the same coin. After the Gen
53

daralingam left the Cabinet, at out feelers to G. G. Pon
mpalam was in the opposition eylon Citizenship Bill. He was Ewards and appointed Minister hen the Indian and Pakistani E up for voting he was in the d with the Government. His e Tamil Congress, but he had of The Ceylon Parliamentary endment Bill which took away nillion and more Tamils of the
1, the third blow dealt in a line ing Singhalese aggression. G. e was effectively silenced. He, d told a public meeting in Jaffto gain by remaining in sterile g their cooperation alone they of the situation. He called his In return for his cooperation the plantation districts D. S. h three factories in the NorThat a bargain! What kind of million or more human beings actories? What kind of leadereving that that was all the price ed upon to pay? G. G. Ponname that was not all. ing to a weak section of the million people, to stand by them petray them in the very hour
e clearest manifestation of inolitics. It helped to aggravate the Tamils of the plantation ail leadership. en play. The Tamils of the planst thirty years to pay back in
eral Elections in 1977 their .
S

Page 66
leaders meted out what in eve the Ceylon Tamils. The circu identical.
Checkmated at every turn, this time under the newly fo Front (TULF), turned once aga tion districts for adventitious s tunist politics. In a doubtful sho in reality) between the Federa gress and the Ceylon Workers as its joint Presidents the resp ties, S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, G daman, as a sort of a Triumvira It was obviously yet another ai ween the two sections of t weaknesses as the earlier atte objective of exploiting the trac the plantation districts. Like D. of the UNP, destroying the ear Ponnampalam as a Cabine Jayawardene, also as leader of tempt by appointing S. Thonda of Rural Industries. If J. R. footsteps of D. S. Senanayake, 1 ple of G. G. Ponnampalam, bo of uniting the two sections of tł spect of the two sections actiu bargaining lever to achieve Mi justified his betrayal of the wr of the plantation district by pl by responsive cooperation wil tain some benefits for his peop betrayal of the Joint Presiden that his first duty was to prote palam lived to see the Singhale Tamil rights, so did Thondam Singhalese mobs go on the ran his victim before attacking or Tamil or a Tamil of the planta
The parallel is so striking, a: ple so disastrous, that it shoule
5

ry detail was poetic justice to mstances were cent per cent
the Ceylon Tamils in the 70's, rmed Tamil United Liberation in to the Tamils of the plantaupport in their brand of opporw of unity (which was not there 1 Party, the Ceylon Tamil ConCongress, the TULF appointed ective leaders of the three par.G. Ponnampalam and S. Thonte to lead the Tamils as a whole. :tempt to forge a solidarity bethe Tamils. It had the same
mpt, and it aimed at the same le union power of the Tamils of S. Senanayake, the then leader
·lier attempt by taking in G. G. t Minister, this time J. R. the UNP, destroyed the later at
man to his Cabinet as Minister Jayawardene followed in the Chondaman followed the examth cases destroying any hopes ne Tamils. In both cases the prong in concert was utilized as a nisterial office. If Ponnampalam Etten undertaking to the Tamils eading his new belief that only Eh the Singhalese could he oble, so did Thondaman justify his tship of the TULF by pleading ect his own people. If Ponnamese making further inroads into nan live to see that when the apage no goon ever stops to ask
killing whether he is a Ceylon tion districts. nd the consequences to the peoi engage the attention of every

Page 67
man and woman who put themse serve as a warning to eschew oppo to serve the Tamil people honest gullible people, easily Swayed by adherents of the personality cult tation for unprincipled politics to people is, therefore, all the great price in the Black July-August themselves to endorse unprincip
This, then, is the true impori "The evil and good one doth ex} ternal source." If the words 1 philosophical meaning, they hav mundane affairs as politics. The Ti that they have a house to clean. It before the Jews of Europe realize Tamil poet's words. Before that, the and debaters, like the Tamils. Hi Tamils have a close affinity. Both ed in close proximity in the and reason, both have common charac It is to be hoped that the Tamils w good example of the Jews for the
To come back to the course Congress got split in the middle a palam joining the Government an hill country plantation. One secti nuing the resistance to the Singh led by S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, M.
niasingham, M. P. for Kopay, Sivap Dr. E. M. V. Naganathan, Paramanayagam, General Secret walked out of the Tamil Congress a meeting of the executive. V. Chavakachcheri, stood by Ponnal a Parliamentary Secretary.
The dissident group which lef to campaign for the launching o emerge as the Ilankai Tamil Arası to in English as the Federal Party
55

lves forward as leaders, and -rtunist politics, if they desire ly. In Ceylon the Tamils are
platform oratory. They are and hero worship. The tempexploit this weakness of the er. The people paid a heavy '83 because they allowed led politics. t of the Tamil poet's words, perience come not from exhave a deep and sublime Fe also a relevancy in such amils shall have to recognize cost six million precious lives d the truth enshrined in the e Jews were also great talkers storically the Jews and the are ancient peoples who livcient past. Perhaps for that teristics, good as well as bad. Ell draw inspiration from the È preservation of their race. of events, the Ceylon Tamil Is a result of G. G. Ponnam
betraying the Tamils of the .on which believed in contiialese plans for domination 2. for Kankesanturai, C. Vanvalan, M. P. for Trincomalee, Senator, and Dr. V. K. ary of the Tamil Congress, i amidst scenes of uproar at
Kumaraswamy, M. P. for npalam and was later made
t the Tamil Congress began ' a new party which was to i Kadchi popularly referred
P

Page 68
The Members of Parliame hill country plantation distric ingam, C. V. Velupillai, Rama Nadarajah (a Ceylon Tamil I districts), continued to sit in P. uppermost in their minds was tion arising from the disfran
They consulted S. J. V. Ch a high regard. They respecte an eminent lawyer and Queen tible integrity and for his esp advice they also consulted otl and in India. It was the genera a clear violation of Article 29 be challenged in the Courts o tion Districts Tamil communit
Article 29 of the Consti which conferred on the Parli powers. It was also the device to safeguard and protect then legislation. It provided that Pa peace, order and good gove which conferred a benefit o while not conferring the sar other communities, and any | subject to a disability or disa other communities also subje vantage, were declared void. requirement of a two-thirds stitution.
The contemplated legal i declare that the Ceylon Ci Parliamentary Elections Ord were violative of Article 29 i against the Plantations distri Indian origin. This was to be a made to lay the foundation :
At the next annual revisi Kodakanpillai applied to hav registered voters as a voter i

at representing the Tamils of the ts such as S. Thondaman, Rajalnujam, S. N. Subbiah, and K. V. awyer settled in the plantation irliament. The question that was
how to deal with the new situachising law. elvanayakam for whom they had d him not only because he was l's Counsel, but for his incorruppusal of their own cause. On his 1er legal opinion both in Ceylon lopinion that the new laws were } of the Constitution and should f Law. The leaders of the plantay decided to resort to legal action. .tution was the legal provision ament of Ceylon its law-making
· by which the framers intended minorities against discriminatory arliament may make laws for the rnment of Ceylon. But any law r advantage on one community ne benefit or advantage on the aw which made one community Edvantage while not making the ct to the same disability or disad
The Article also laid down the 5 majority to amend the Con
action was to ask the courts to tizenship Act and The Ceylon er in Council Amendment Act n that they were discriminatory cts Tamil Community of recent test case, and preparations were Por it. on of the Electoral Registers one e his name entered in the list of na Parliamentary Constituency
56

Page 69
in the District of Kegalle. The Parliamentary Elections who we Mudannayake, made order refu could not prove that he was a C by the new law.
A team of lawyers worked O spirit of national service. S. Nade Colombo Bar (latera Q. C. and Sé Case free. He was assisted Canagarayer, who did much of
Kodakanpillai filed action in appealing against the Order of I missioner. The Case Came to be Mudannayake. A number of at evidence on behalf of Kodakan Thondaman. S. Nadesan argue The Attorney General, Sir Al Government. After protracted a of Kegalle, N. Sivagnanasundarar new laws did violate Article 29 accordingly allowed Kodakanpi
The Government thereupon Court by way of writ procedure Judges heard arguments and hel vires of Parliament. They accor of the Kegalle District Judge.
Kodakanpillai appealed to th Committee of the Privy Council the interesting findings of the C of recent Indian origin settled Ceylon were not a "community 29 of the Constitution since its iC ed. It was generally believed att of an infant nation recently gran edge over its detractors in attrac
However, being a judgment C
The Table in "Ceylon Faces Crisis" showing plantation district electorates uvas reprod
57

Assistant Commissioner of is the registering officer, one sing his application since he itizen of Ceylon as required
in the case with devotion in a san, a Senior Advocate of the enator), agreed to Conduct the by a young Advocate, T. the spade work.
the District Court of Kegalle
efusal of the Elections Comknown as Kodakanpillai vs. fidavits was filed by way of pillai, including one from S. d the case for Kodakanpillai. lan Rose, appeared for the urguments, the District Judge n, delivered judgment that the and were, therefore, void. He llai's appeal.
took the case to the Supreme . A Divisional bench of three ld that the laws were not ultra dingly quashed the judgment
e Privy Council. The Judicial dismissed his appeal. One of ommittee was that the Tamils in the plantation districts of " as contemplated in Article lentity could not be ascertainhe time that the Government ted independence enjoyed an ting sympathy and tolerence.
if the British Sovereign on the
the reduction in the number of voters of uced from Mr. Thonda man's affidavit.

Page 70
advice of His Majesty's Privy did not make provision for a of Ceylon who alone was an - it had a number of implicati obligations and political Succ manent settlement in Ceylor time of recruitment of labc nothing in the end. It was tant responsibility for the affecte East Africa challenged that at fected people at the doorste
The lot of the hill Count quarter of this century was, i. was almost similar to that of Rupee Companies and the England which owned the machines producing tea and 1 at least received attention by maintenance, but not these working conditions were del
The Indian National Con Jawaharlal Nehru to Ceylon look into the Conditions of the like orphan children. None of Indian, or the Ceylonese-took pean Planters drove them like work for the poorest wages. their work in the plantations agents who recruited them in though they were themselves no notice of them. Jawaharli first step to improve their lot a trade union which would lic as their principal spokesman
The people accepted the Indian Congress in the early '3 Peri Sundaram, George R. M. X. Pereira, etc. Among then leader who Could be said to ha interests the Congress was int. ed to an affluent and leading

Council - Ceylon's Constitution
Privy Council to advise the King arm of the Parliament of Ceylon Ons in thé realm of international lession. All the promises of per) which Britain had given at the bur in India nOW amounted to amount to Britain disowning any d people. Years later, Uganda in titude by dumping a similarly afps of Britain herself.
ry plantation Tamils in the first indeed, very hard. Their position the serfs in Tsarist Russia. The Sterling Companies based in plantations regarded them as rubber. The inanimate machines way of periodical servicing and human beings. Their living and plorable beyond description.
gress in about 1930 sent Pandit
as its unofficial ambassador to se Tamil workers. He found them the Governments-the British, the k any interest in them. The EuroCattle and exacted the maximum The Kanganis, who supervised and who, in most cases, were the India, behaved like slave Owners Tamils. The Ceylon Tamils took all Nehru advised them that the was to organize themselves into ook after their interests and act
advice and founded the Ceylon 0s. Some of its early leaders were otha, Natesa Iyer, H. Nelliah, F. n, Peri Sundaram was the only ve belonged to the people whose 2nded to take care of. He belong
family of the plantation areas.
58

Page 71
He was a Barrister called to the B the Law of Persons and Property a Law Graduate of the Universi became a Minister in the last Be Donoughmore scheme. Peri Sunda of the indifference and superior Tamils and their leadership. Georg the Colombo Bar, and F. X. Pereir in Colombo. Bothwere members centred mainly in Colombo. Nates. nalists. These were the leaders wh try plantation Tamils in the proce Commission.
The Suthanthiran newspaper Natesa Iyer. During his time it was ombo, and was devoted mainly to tation workers.
At or about the same time Virakesari with the help of some I community of Sea Street, Colomb built it up as a popular Tamil nat:
In contrast, one cannot fail to I a single national Tamil daily news the present day, which the Ceylon Own. It is illustrative of their genet and lack of cooperative enterpris
The politics of the '40s was hi ed round the country to which th plantation districts owed their a charged that their allegiance was and as evidence they pointed out name of their organization, the Besides, the above named leaders gress, with the exception of Peri Si India not wishing to give up their try. They were really not settlers i the plantation areas. Their succes appropriately decided to drop the name of the organization to "C There is no denying that, in spite o
59

ar in England, a Lecturer in at the Ceylon Law College, Fy of London, and later he ard of Ministers under the ram was an outspoken critic ity complex of the Ceylon ge R. Motha was a lawyer of a a prominent businessman of the Bharatha community a Iyer and Nelliah were jouro represented the hill counedings before the Soulbury
was founded and edited by a daily published from Colthe cause of the Tamil plan
- H. Nelliah founded the members of the Nagarathar
0. As its first Editor Nelliah ional daily newspaper.
pe struck by the absence of paper, then or even now at
Tamils could claim as their ic qualities of individualism e and initiative. ghly emotional, and revolve Tamils of the hill country llegiance. The Singhalese to India and not to Ceylon, to the word 'Indian' in the Ceylon Indian Congress. of the Ceylon Indian ConIndaram, opted to return to roots in their mother counn Ceylon like the Tamils of sors in the leadership very 'Indian' and to change the eylon Workers Congress". of refutations, the old name

Page 72
did have the possibility of a reflected the true nature and
The Ceylon Workers Co the Citizenship and Disfran Thondaman, Rajalingam, Ab jam, S. N. Subbiah, Vellayan, recollect. Most of them were decided to boycott the Indiar ship Act (IPRC Act) with a vi had called upon the people ni
tions which would expire so was a challenge to the Gover million odd people who, acc citizens of Ceylon but were
The failure of the Privy leaders to intensify their cam decided on a mass Satyagra ridors of the Senate Buildin Minister's Office with hund country plantations. The M. ridors day and night for days applications was drawing nea When the deadline was abo Government was still Continl the Satyagraha and advised
There was the inevitable thousands of applications registration of Indian and ) bundles of them were stack to process them. As far as the was of no consequence. Its own time once the principle it wanted was to see a finalit was free to take the number leave the rest for time to SC
without any threat of sudde
No figures have been ma of applications submitted u.

misconception. The new name composition of the organization.
ngress (CWC) during the time of chising legislation was led by S. lul Aziz, C. V. Velupillai, Ramamuand others whose names I do not Members of Parliament. They had and Pakistani Residents Citizenew to making it unworkable, and pt to make any applications under ave two years to submit applicametime in the middle of 1951. It nment to see what it can do with Ording to the new laws, were not physically present in Ceylon.
Council effort drove the CWC paign against the IPRC Act. They ha campaign, and filled the cortg which also housed the Prime reds of volunteers from the hill PS and volunteers sat in the Cors on end even as the deadline for r. The Government ignored them. ut a month or two away, and the ling to ignore, the CWC called off
the people to apply.
eleventh hour rush. Hundreds of poured into the Office for the Pakistani residents. Bundles and ed roof high. It would take years Government was Concerned time ited the Government to take its of the IPRC Act was accepted. All y to the status of these people. It of people it wanted to keep, and lve. In the meantime the wheels Nould be running on cheap labour in or violent disruption.
leavailable as to the total number nder the IPRC Act. But by about
60

Page 73
July 1964, that is, about the time ment referred to later, only abc million odd people had been re ship of Ceylon. They were knowr by Registration" as distinct fra descent". The rest became the ca as the "stateless", because they according to the laws of India non to the new law of Ceylon, and These "stateless" human beings horse- trading between two Pri:
61

of the Sirimavo-Shastri Agree
ut 130,000 persons out of a gistered and granted citizen:
in law as "Citizens of Ceylon om "Citizens of Ceylon by tegory of Tamil people known vere neither citizens of India citizens of Ceylon according Britain had disowned them. later became the objects of ne Ministers.

Page 74
CHA
in the Ceylon Tam O demoralization of the the people. There wa sort with any political ideolo
Congress was now an adjun
The people drifted aimle tion. The ambitious and the leaders in power. The frustral to, Ponnampalam and his fri Government were only Co. roads, post Office buildings, a They refused to read the mea and legislation, no matter hov was being Cut.
The dissident group that gress led by S. J. V. Chelvana Country for support to a ne federal Constitution to repla Ceylon was granted indeper
I got attracted to it like federal idea had been my id

PTER 4
lil front there was Complete people following the break-up of sno Organized movement of any ogy. The truncated Ceylon Tamil Ct. Of the UNP.
ssly without any sense of direc
opportunists flocked round the ed looked for SOme straw to cling iends who had gone over to the ncerned with getting factories, Indjobs to friends and Supporters. ning of the Government's policies w the ground under the Tamil feet
broke away from the Tamil Conyakam started to Campaign in the W Constitutional proposition - a ce the unitary type with which nden Ce.
a needle to a magnet, since the 2al for a long time as mentioned
62

Page 75
earlier - intellectually, though. I the next day he met me in the
invited me to join their group, to Chelvanayakam I had indic templated party should do to o them ready to proclaim a stat union. My joining the group tot of those activities. A. Amirthalil though yet a young law studen
C. Vanniasingham, Dr. E. M. an interim constitution for the jective of the party was to be the Tamil-speaking state within the of Ceylon.
The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Freedom Party) was formally il 1949, at a meeting held at the Union Hall at Maradana il Chelvanakayam as its founder Naganathan and myself as Secretaries. From that time Onwa All leaders and supporters labo the Party and make it a powerf
The present generation of T women born after independenc than the Tamil-baiting and the he under the Successive Governmer why a federal System and not a
Frankly, thirty-five years ago some day we might be able t Singhalese leaders and convert system is the most suitable to t hoped that they would realize t the territorial integrity of the isl alternative solution. We believ goodwill On both sides, it was pc the Tamils unitedly to build a p. in modern world terms out of thought that the Singhalese wou drive the Tamils too far that th
63

wrote to Chelvanayakam, and Law Courts at Hulftsdorp and Which I accepted. In my letter ated what I thought the conrganize the people and make 2 and negotiate for a federal ok me directly into the vortex hgam was already in the group it at the Ceylon Law College.
, V. Naganathan and I drafted party to be launched. The obattainment of an autonomous framework of a federal union
Kadchi (the Ceylon Federal naugurated on December 19, Government Clerical Service In Colombo with S. J. V. President and Dr. E. M. V. the founder Joint General rds there was no looking back. ured incessantly to organize ul force in the country.
amils, especially the men and :e who know of no other life orrors of killings and burnings hts since then, are prone to ask,
Completely sovereign state?
, we all honestly beiieved that O Convince a generation of them to our view that federal he conditions in Ceylon. We hat at least in the interest Of and country there is no other 2d that, given the necessary issible for the Singhalese and rogressive democratic nation the diversity of Ceylon. We ld be sensible enough not to By would not try to aim at in

Page 76
the Twentieth Century what til sand five hundred years.
We looked at Canada and became admirers of the way t their multi-racial societies. C like Ceylon. Professor K. C. W system as a very successful Government.* It did not strik touched on the ethnic aspec ethnic problems did not surfac worked the system when he
But the one-third of a cent makes one ponder whether, li the founders of the Federal Pa. duct for granted, because it h requisite even federalism Co peaceful co-existence of multily a constitutional device; it c duct on the part of peoples a
This is not to say that civil for the success of federalism. there must be no attempt at f mere bringing together into a Component units, which are divergent in their ethnic mak etc., as to make then look at does not prevent the fear of numbers by the larger. The at at the root of the trouble in C is also the cause of the franc Canada. In the former the proc ly planned by the majority ai of government. In the latter th its head in spite of a century C and although there is no cons majority. Even Switzerland do from this fear,
The United States of Ame
* K.C. Wheatre: "Federal Constitutions", C
6

ney could not attain in two thou
Switzerland from a distance and hose Countries were faring with anada is bi-racial and bi-lingual Wheare presented the Canadian model for a federal system of ce us at the time that he never it in a federal system. Possibly ce in any of the countries which Wrote.
ury of Singhalese rule, however, ke Soulbury and Ivor Jennings, rty had also taken civilized conas shown that without that preuld not Create the climate for racial Societies. Federalism is oncannot Survive sub-human Connd leaders in power.
ized Conduct alone is sufficient Yet another pre-requisite is that Orcible racial assimilation. The in artificial union of two or more themselves so different and e-up, in language, race, Culture, One another with antagonism,
assimilation of the Smaller in tempt at forcible assimilation is eylon. The fear of assimilation ophone-anglophone friction in less of assimilation is deliberatehd is aided by the unitary form e fear of assimilation has raised of federal system of government cious attempt on the part of the es not appear to be entirely free
rica is sometimes held up as an
Daford University Press, London.
54

Page 77
example for the successful wor there the position is quite diffe rule and condition of citizenshi United States took care in laying ing of a new race of people to e - the American race. Whatever
may have come from, they came original ethnicity and get assi classification. That is not the ca in Canada. And it will never b
In India the successful wor. largely due to the skilful distrib has eliminated any assimilatory wise emulation or the America India's Constitution in fixing or dia use as lingua franca has the already been demonstrated on a as the enlightened policies of t constitutional provision in regai be enforced, the success of fed There is no prospect of any Ne
The Tamils are a self-respec ple. Federalism was thought of at ing through the transition from o existence. It was a most opportu and the Tamils could jointly la sperous and progressive moder either of them jeopardizing t) culture, where both could flou framework of a united country. domination or assimilation b Singhalese as the majority peop from the Tamils. Modern con outlook in race relations, and fe vide an excellent medium to outlook.
Unfortunately there appear thinking on the Singhalese side. who had been thinking in the idealism, fell under the influen tionalism. The consciouness of i
65

king of a federal system. But ent. There assimilation is the ). The founding fathers of the f the foundations for the forginter the books on ethnology part of the globe the people with a leadiness to shed their milated into the new ethnic se with the two major peoples e the case in Ceylon. king of the federal system is ution of linguistic states. This - tendencies. Even so, the unn example by the framers of he language (Hindi) for all Inpotential for problems as has number of occasions. So long he Nehrus continue, and the cd to language is not sought to eralism may endure in India. :hrus arising in Ceylon. eting and proud nation of peo
a time when Ceylon was passcolonial rule to an independent ane time when the Singhalese
y the foundations for a proEn democratic nation without heir respective identity and arish side by side within the Tamils would have no fear of y the Singhalese, and the ble could have nothing to fear
ditions called for a modern ederalism was believed to progive expression to such an
ed to be no signs of a similar Even S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, se terms in his early days of ce of extreme Singhalese naabsolute power which the new

Page 78
Constitution gave them prev with others. Instead, the urge objective of Singhalese natio Ceylon a Singhalese counti religion of the people. It can elimination of the Tamil ele string of anti-Tamil legislation periodical pogroms against th ly clear that they were detern Tamils to submit to a slow pre the country, or to be physica
The Tamils are the larger still in the country. They h homeland territory. The Bur Australia en bloc. Once the Ta their attention to the next mi was made in 1915 to suppre presence thwarted it at the ti resist when their turn came.
In the face of such an outr part of the Singhalese lead federalism was an absurdity. It vinced that what once appea really not suitable or feasible partners in a federal union. I ment in 1968 to declare for t House that the objective of th ment of their own state in the revert to this later.
The pattern of Governme to what appeared to be a Ma element from the island. Citi first but only two of the many being assailed. The weaker se Tamils was dealt with first, al parent. Far more insidious wa successive Governments.
The Tamils' opposition to understood by observers who conditions in Ceylon. The a

ented any inclination to share it
was to take advantage of it. The nalism has always been to make y with Buddhism as the only n only be achieved by the total
ment. As the years rolled by, a 1, administrative actions, and the e Tamil people made it abundantained to achieve it by forcing the ocess of assimilation, or to leave ally destroyed.
of the two remaining minorities ave a historical strength and a ghers have already migrated to
mils are eliminated they can turn nority, the Muslims. An attempt ss the Muslims, but the British me. They would be too small to
ageous national objective on the Lers, for the Tamils to talk of
was even suicidal. I became conired to be an ideal solution was with the Singhalese as the other chose an opportunity in Parliahe first time on the floor of the Le Tamils would be the establishir traditional homeland. We will
nt measures seemed to conform ster Plan to eliminate the Tamil zenship and Franchise were the fronts on which the Tamils were ection of the plantation districts nd the motivation was quite ap.s the colonization policy of the
) colonization is not generally
are not adequately informed of id-giving foreign countries are
66

Page 79
particularly innocent of the ef ment takes it for granted that the aid for the general good C injustice Or harm to any sect
Recently in 1983 the Fore MacEachen, happened to vi Madura Oya Colonization SC. Canadian aid. The Minister wa scheme benefited the Tamils a not know that its aid has cause by aiding the Government O. predominantly Tamil area transform it into a Singhalese foreign governments quite tragedy that is overtaking the
Further, the foreign count the relief of distress have no aid or gifts are being utilized f were intended. When the dist ment for Ces it Cannot be Other a recent Case for example, that distress the gift articles wer Reagan Administration of the national relief agencies sent th porary shelter for the Tamil homeless in the Black JulyMinisters and Members Of Par Singhalese thugs and 'Colonist their villages and farms and lands are reported to have use to the thugs. The Tamils who became shelterless refugees. transported the thugs and 'c Singhalese hOmestO Batticaloa vided by the IMF funded Mah
Such misuse of foreign eq bitterness that foreign Countri suffering on them.
To the Tamils Colonization i termination, because it is used
6

fects of their aid, giving governthe recipient government uses if the Country, and not to cause On of the people.
sign Minister of Canada, Allan sit Ceylon to inaugurate the heme. It is a scheme built with ls reported to have said that the Ls well. Obviously Canada does d a great injustice to the Tamils Ceylon to colonize a part of with Singhalese people and : area. It is an example of how innocently contribute to the * Tamils.
ries which give aid or gifts for way of knowing whether their or the purposes for which they ress itself is caused by Governwise. How can they know, as in instead of being used to relieve e used to Cause distress? The United States and other interousands of tents to provide temrefugees who were rendered August '83. The Government liament who took some 20,000 s' to drive out the Tamils from settle the Singhalese on those d these tents to provide shelter were driven out of their lands The trucks and vehicles which olonists' from their far-away are reported to have been proaveli Development Board.
uipment is the source of Tamil es provide the means to inflict
SSynonymous with physical exas an instrument to take away
7

Page 80
the one and only means availa security of their lives, their ve accident that in pursuance of planned, state-funded (with fore onization schemes are concent Eastern Province on the east thousands of colonist familie Singhalese west coast. The dial when these colonization schem. ed predominantly Tamil area areas, so that when the Singha Tamils have no place to seek
When we talk of security of ty of the individual lives of Ta country with an organized gov the security forces of the state property. Not so in Ceylon. In from that basic human right. armed forces of the state, whi fact that there is a part of the c which is predominantly Tamil
When the Singhalese start tered throughout the Singhales the mobs and the police and ar ombo or other large cities whe refugee camps. They are then
North and East and to their owI are secure.
Thrice within the last thir itself was forced to acknowledge Tamil refugees by ship to the N lives. The Police and the Arme them protection, they even joi
Tamils.
In 1958 more than 20,000 T fled from their homes in Color killing by thugs and the securit two refugee camps at the Roy
Hall. An army of goons estimat manner of lethal weapons, w

able to the Tamils to ensure the ry existence as a people. It is no Government policy all the state eign aid), and state-executed colirated in the traditionally Tamil
coast of Ceylon, and tens of es are transplanted from the polical intent becomes apparent nes are found to have transformas into completely Singhalese lese resort to mob violence the sanctuary. E life, we literally mean the safeamils. Citizens in any civilized Fernment look to the police and for protection of their lives and Ceylon the Tamils are excluded Tere it is not the police, nor the ch protect Tamil lives. It is the ountry, the North and the East,
that gives them security. their pogroms, the Tamils scate part of the country elude both -my personnel and rush to Colere they gather and crowd into sent to their homeland in the i people. Then alone their lives
ty-five years the Government e this fact by having had to send Torth and the East to save their d Forces not only failed to give ned or connived in killing the
Tamil men, women and children mbo and its environs to escape Ey forces, and were herded into al College and the Saraswathy sed around 500, armed with all as reported to be assembling

Page 81
somewhere south of Colombo latter Camp. The refugees ther Royal College camp, but the
group of prominent Tamil cit General, Sir Oliver Goonetille. action to save the lives of the
On the Governor-Gener Minister, S. W. R. D. Bandarana revealing decision, that is, to S of their homeland' in the No
The Prime Minister asked th and road transport services, th and the Ceylon Transport Boa Trincomalee and Jaffna. The all armed escort was provided as on the 250-mile journey to Ja. Comalee. The Prime Minister a Forces to provide the escort. E reason that all their men were the island, but in actual reality their men, in the event of an at Singhalese attackers to sav
As a last resort, the Gove unusual step of sending the rel circumnavigate the island to rea turai. Nine foreign ships lying bour were requisitioned, the 20 taken on board under Cover of before dawn,
Some of the refugees were east Coast, and the rest disemb North. Only then did these refugees and homeless in the regarded until then as their mc become sensible that their lives of Hitler's Europe, whom the migrant ships disgorged on the dreams, these desperate Tamil
* For a full account see Tarzie Vitachi: "E.
6

in preparation to march on the
te were hurriedly moved to the danger was still imminent. A
izens met the then Governor
ke, and urged him to take quick
refugees.
'al's intervention the Prime ike, took a most significant and send the refugees to the safety rth and the East.*
he two state-Owned Overland rail e Ceylon Government Railway rd, to transport the refugees to uthorities of both refused unless they feared Singhalese attacks ffina and the 150 miles to Trinsked the Police and the Armed Both refused ostensibly for the : deployed on duty throughout y because they would not trust attack, to point their weapons e Tamils.
2rnor-General decided on the fugees by sea. The ships had to Ich TrinCOrnalee and Kankesanat anchor in the Colombo Har2,000 men, women and children darkness, and the ships set sail
out down at Trincomalee on the barked at Kankesanturai in the starving souls in rags, made very country which they had otherland, breathe free air and have been saved. Like the Jews Palestinian Jewish illegal ime shores of Eretz Israel of their s fell to the ground and kissed
mergency 58"
9

Page 82
the earth of their beloved Tam.
During the 1977 August pog from Colombo to Kankesanthu the Sri Lanka Shipping Corpor
The year 1983 has just witr Tamil refugees. The pogrom oft more brutal and blood thirsty.
The fascist and racist elem Members of Parliament of the p City of Colombo an army of Sing of a funeral for some soldiers r. an action between Governme fighters. Straight from the cem City in a murderous rampage tl the Black July-August '83. The homes and shops and killed t bodies, or burned them on the
women and children in burni. roasted them alive. Tamil-owi tourist hotels and business es demolished and burned. Sectio ed Forces joined the thugs al declaration of a state of Emer curfew only helped them to ent their murderous activities with * In a high security prison i detenus who were locked up slaughtered and their bodies mu allegedly under the instigatio guards and jailors. These were custody and held in prison unde Act, but against whom (except f not lay charges or bring them be and convicts of the prison, how necessary to deal with Tamils w not.
This orgy of sanguinary viole of the country and engulfed the where tens of thousands of Tan
70

eil country. erom, Tamil refugees were sent rai in three ships belonging to ation. nessed the third sea voyage of he Black July-August '83 is far
ents among the Ministers and arty in power brought into the ghalese thugs under the pretext eported to have been killed in
nt troops and Tamil guerilla etery the thugs went about the nat launched the Holocaust of ey dragged Tamils out of their hem, and dismembered their streets. They locked up men, ng motor vans and cars and ned houses, shops, factories, stablishments were smashed, ns of the Police and the Armnd shot Tamils at sight. The gency and the imposition of er Tamil homes and carry out i ease. .n Colombo, fifty-three Tamil in cells were pulled out and itilated by Singhalese convicts n and supervision of prison men who had been taken into er the Prevention of Terrorism or two) the Government could :fore Courts of Law. The jailors ever, decided that no law was hether they were terrorists or
ence soon spread to other parts nill country plantation districts nils fled the tea estates where

Page 83
they were labouring for the Gov. these estates are owned by th murdered and burned, and thei robbed.
The extent to which Tamil-b tervening twenty-five years sin figures. An estimated 3000 Tamil more than 5000 homes and busil than 100,000 Tamils rendered hC in over 25 refugee camps. Figure number of Tamils who fled the C dia, Canada, Malaysia and Sin Zealand, and many European CC West Germany, but they are belie
The soldiers and thugs would in the refugee camps, Sabra and C ly intervention of the Prime Minis dhi. The Government not only ti refugees to safety, it even stoppe to Jaffna and other Tamil areas. T only because they were taken b the North by ships which Mrs. ( significantly enough, Trincomal these refugee ships.
The unprecedented death to related to a new philosophy that W of the Buddhist clergy in the nar that recalls Adolf Hitler's "Final blem. The Western press and radic monk's preaching that it is no do ing of Tamils.
The moral, therefore, is obvic to the Government to enforce law lives. When the Government itsel sense in looking to it for protectio) own country with a predominantl alone gives them protection of life from Singhalese mob violence. security, not the Government's E
71

rnment and the country. All e Government. They were r belongings plundered and
aiting had grown in the ince 1958 is reflected in the s were killed Or burned alive, less houses destroyed, more meless refugees and herded s are not available ab Out the ountry to seek refuge in Ingapore, Australia and New untries such as France and ved to be in many thousands.
have carried out a massacre hatilla style, but for the timester of India, Mrs. Indira Ganook no Steps to transfer the 2d all train and bus services he refugees saved their lives y sea to their homeland' in Candhi provided. This time, ee was not a port of call for
of the Tamils is probably as propounded by a member me of religion, a philosophy Solution" to the Jewish pronetworks quoted a Buddhist ubt a sin tO kill, but not kill
us. The Tamils cannot look and order or to protect their f is the aggressor, there is no 1. The North and East is their y Tamil population, and that and the feeling of being safe Its Tamil character is their olice or the Armed Forces.

Page 84
Singhalese colonization Tamil character to disappear, ty for the Tamils also disappe that in the 1983 transfer of T ships did not call at Trincon with its armed Marines and Tamil refugees to disembai evidence of Trincomalee's fa which is the direct result of onization schemes.

of the Tamil country makes the
and with it the last place of safeears. It is not without significance Tamil refugees from Colombo the nalee. The Trincomalee harbour the colonist goons is not safe for rk there. That is the clearest ast changing population pattern, the Government's planned col
72

Page 85
CHAPT
she northern Tamil King
Portuguese overthrew in
comprised of the norther stretch of land along the entire ea Portuguese, and after them the Di Commandment of Jaffnapatam.' Of Trincomalee is On the easter)
The name Trincomalee is the Tamil name tiru-kona-malai (The Tamil name in religious literatu Lord). Both names are derived fr dedicated to Lord Siva that stood at the entrance to the harbour. the ancient times throughout the a Tamil Saiva saint of the sixth O ten hymns in praise of the Lord ( Tamil Hindu King who ruled ov from Polonnaruwa in the twelfth of this Temple. He endowed it wi ing the village of Kantalai and it ed a large number of Brahmin upkeep of the Temple and the ma.
73
 

ER 5
dom of Jaffna, which the the seventeenth century, in part of Ceylon and a long astern Coast of the island. The utch, called this territory The The COveted natural harbour in Coast of this old Kingdom.
anglicized Corruption of the
· sacred angular hill). Its other re is ko-karnam" (Ear of the Om the famous Hindu Shrine On a high rocky promontory The shrine Was SO revered in Tamil land Of South India that r seventh Century composed of the Temple. Gajabahu II, a er the Singhalese Kingdom Century, was a pious devotee h his private estate COmpriss rich paddy lands, and settlpriest families on it for the intenance of regular religious

Page 86
Services. After his defeat in nephew, Gaja bahu fled to tak he died many years later.
The Portuguese demolish Campaign of persecution of frog men have discovered the ruins lying in the adjoining from the demolished Temple were incorporated into the F built, as doorjambs at the ent objects of interest to archael
When the European powe Control of the harb Our at Tril Singhalese Kingdom Of Kand On the port for access to the O The British Conquest of the Singhalese interest in TrinCO Of British rule.
Soon after the Colebrook ritOries in 1833 the British di Vinces for their administrati recognized the Tamil ethnic population of the old Jaffna Ki ty by Carving out two separat where the population would speaking. They are the pres vinces, Although parts of th drawing the boundaries, still Vinces incorporated most of th of the Tamil-speaking populia
The Eastern ProvinCe Wa Districts with TrinCOmalee ar principal towns and Centres O Kachcheri offices were alwa ficers.
In modern times much at river valley projects in underthe economic benefits, they populations. The Eastern Prov its natural features, therefo Singhalese Covetousness.

battle by Parakrama Bahu I, his ce refuge in TrinCOmalee, where
ned the ancient Temple in their the Hindus. In modern times Carved and dressed Stones of the Cean bed. TWO such stOne slabs with Tamil inscriptions on thern Ort Frederick Which the British rance to the Fort. Today they are Ologists.
}rs were fighting One another for Comalee, the Tamil Kings of the were also casting covetous eyes Cean for their sea trade in spices, entire island put an end to the malee, at least for the duration
unification of the Conquered terivided the island into nine proive purposes. In SO doing, they
character of the territory and ingdom, and ensured its Continuie provinces out of that territory not be mixed but entirely Tamil ent Northern and Eastern Proe old Kingdom were left out in it may be said that the two Prohe old Kingdom and the vast bulk ttiOI).
S. Subdivided into tWO Revenue ld Batticaloa as their respective f Kachcheri administraiton. The ys staffed by Tamill-speaking of
tention is paid to multi-purpose developed Countries. Apart from offer a great Scope for settling ince's geographical pOSition and re, made it more attractive to
74

Page 87
On the long western bound there are the North-Central, Ce parts of the old Singhalese Kingd South (now Southern Province Rohana Kingdom of the Singh British conquest it might have Kingdom. The entire stretch of ped by the waves of the Indian O thern boundary abutted the Ta
It is watered by three great p to the Indian Ocean, namely, t tipalai Aru and the Madura inundate the land during heavy alluvial soil is rich and fertile for four hundred years of European grown on this land. Before tha grown so extensively that it cam of the island. A Tamil lyric 'Pattinappalai', refers to large ir South India.
It is this land which the Singh first chose to concentrate all its following the British withdraw systematic colonization of the Singhalese people. It had the ass from the World Bank, Interna Governments of Britain, Canada in the form of loans, grants, equip
Immediately upon becoming dependent Ceylon, D. S. Senana six multi-purpose river valley p aid. He had a faithful collabora P. de Silva, an able Civil Servant a Minister. C. P. de Silva hailed fi the island.
The first project that was take concerned the Pattipalai Aru ri the Indian Ocean at the souther The Government changed the " palai Aru into the Singhalese G ject came to be referred to as the
75

lary of the Eastern Province entral and Uva Provinces, all .om of Kandy. The land in the ) once belonged to the old alese, but at the time of the e belonged to the Kandyan the eastern boundary is lapcean. Only the very small nor
mil Northern Province. erennial rivers which flow inhe Mahaveli Ganga, the PatOya. Their swelling waters rains in the central hilis. The paddy cultivation. During the . occupation thick forests had t, in ancient times, rice was .e to be known as the granary
of the Third Century BC, nports of rice from Elam into
Lalese-dominated Government s attention upon immediately al. It planned to carry out a whole Eastern Province with urance of massive foreign aid ational Monetary Fund, the Land other Western countries pment, materials and services. the first Prime Minister of inyake submitted proposals for rojects to the World Bank for tor in all these projects in C. at the time who later became From the south-western part of
en in hand for implementation ver which flowed through to n end of the Eastern Province. Tamil name of the river Pattial Oya, and therefore the proGal Oya Development Scheme.

Page 88
An earth dam was Constru called Inginiyagala to form a hu ed Senanayake Samudra (Sea acres of jungle land was cleare WOrkable units; Colonist huts while the low-lying lands were miles and miles Of irrigation Ch to the fields; and a hydro-elec electrify the new townships. Th all allotted solely to Singhalese were moved from their homes from the south-western parts land. The Colonists not only go free, they were also given grai
It must be borne in mind til out by the Government in cle: ment and Land Development la enacted during British rule mé for Such schemes must be sele the districts where the schen
The next project that was Kulam in the Trin Connalee Dis tion tank which had silted and f turies of European rule. It was of Clearing jungle land, Cutting huts and settling Solely Singhal was repeated. While the Gal O of many thousands of Singhale this Allai Scheme brought in til District.
The third project was the irrigation tank known as the Ka A reference to the original Co by an ancient Tamil King is ma at the entran Ce to Fort Frede more thousands of Singhalese land reclaimed by the proce: feature of this scheme is the f its planning. The Colonists' Cot on either side of the main hig Tani town of Trincomalee. The place to the Singhalese Ganta
7

cted across the river at a point uge reservoir which is now Callof Senanayake). Thousands of d, levelled, and blocked up into were put up on the highland e set apart for rice Cultivation; annels were cut to carry water tric power station was built to he blocked-up units of land were Colonists, Thousands of families in the Singhalese areas, mostly of Ceylon, and settled on this it their paddy lands and Cottage nts to develop their allotments,
nat all this activity was carried ar violation of the Land SettleWS. These laws which had been ade it mandatory that allottees cted from among the people of es are located.
taken up concerned the Allai trict. This is an ancient irrigaallen into disuse during the Cenrestored, and the same process g channels, putting up Colonist ese ColonistS as described ab Ove ya Scheme attracted the influx ese into the Batti Caloa District, nousands into the TrinCOmalee
restoration of another ancient ntalai Kulam near TrinCOmalee, instruction of this tank (kulam) de in the stone inscription now rick referred to earlier. Many : Colonists were settled on the SS described above. A special orethought that has gone into tages for miles on end are built hway that gains access to the 2 Tamil name Kantalai has given
awa.
6

Page 89
The next was the restorati Singhalese have renamed it Pad tile land West and north Of Trin the Northern Province border Settlers.
C. P. de Silva, Who as a Civi Colonization policy under D. S. S ment and beComme a Minister ir time the Kantalai and Paduvil C ing implemented, and he was in and Land Development which ting colonists for these Schemes from his home district in the Sc as allottees. They later justifies the most violent atrocities d against the Tamils in Trincoma daralingam, M.P. for Vavuniya, floor of the House in Parliame distributing sticks of dynamite
The most saddening reflecti When the earliest and the bigge. the Gal Oya and the Allai, Wert Cabinet G. G. Ponnampalam wi posed to be protecting the inter known to have Opposed the ma people in the Tamil Province. F well have averted the tragedy th But, as fate would have it, his portance to inessentials like f vocacy of an imaginary right of of Ceylon, all these stood in t shrink from a possible charge
It was left to C. Vannias Spearhead a Campaign of prote ineffective so long as D. S. Senar in the Cabinet when the major But Vanniasingham never relel Short life ended. Once his lone ing a small but vital project for District. A minor irrigation tal Kattu Kulam capable of irrigati
7.

on of the Paduvil Kulam (The laviya) under which all the ferCOmalee town and adjacent to is colonized with Singhalese
l Servant was carrying out the enanayake, had entered Parliathe SLFP Government by the 'olonization Schemes were becharge of the Ministry of Lands handled Colonization. In Selecshe saw to it that young toughs Duthern Province were picked d the selection by Committing uring the frequent pogroms alee. On one occasion C. Sun
threw accusations across the nt that the Minister was seen
tO his men.
on to indulge in is to think that st of the Colonization Schemes, e being pushed through in the as a Minister in it. He was supests of the Tamils, but he is not SS transplanting Of Singhalese Had he done so he might very hat befell the Eastern PrOVince. self-interest, his attaching imactories, his short-sighted adthe Tamils to settle in any part he way. Perhaps it made him of inconsistency.
ingham, M. P. for Kopay, to st against the Schemes. It was ayake had G. G. Ponnampalam Schemes were pushed through. nted in his opposition until his oice even succeeded in salvagthe Tamils of the Trincomalee nk by the name of Muthaiyan ng a few hundred acres in close
7

Page 90
proximity to Trincomalee town colonization according to the patriotic son of Trincomalee, clerk in the Land Branch of t. wind of it and alerted Vanniasi pressure on the Government under the scheme were giver
The colonization schemes the Singhalesization of the Tai The schemes have helped the cultivable and habitable rur Government did not regard tł until the towns are made pred its attention, therefore, to the namely, the port city of Trine
At the time of the transfer simultaneously entered into a tain under which the British re Naval Base of Trincomalee. TI a large extent on the Naval Ba was predominantly Tamil, numbers, and thousands of fa this important employer. More Administration of the Naval E ment of workers from outside the town to preserve its Tami
Soon after S. W. R. D. Ba Minister in 1956, he forced B Bases in Ceylon. The British di left the Naval Base at Trincom. took over the harbour and con to handle cargo and shipping." employed by the British weret the town became impoveris engaged by local firms which p chandler services. Even that
Following the General Ele Dudley Senanayake formed a s in co-operation with the Federa This Government (1965-70) to

a was planned for restoration and e usual Government pattern. A
C. Kodeswaran, then a young he Trincomalee Kachcheri, got ngham. The latter brought such that eventually the allotments n to Tamils of the District.
referred to thus far resulted in mil land of the Eastern Province. Singhalese only to gobble up the al parts of the Province. The ne Singhalesization as complete ominantly Singhalese. It turned
principal town of the Province, comalee.
of power, D. S. Senanayake had a Defence Agreement with Brietained control of their wartime he life of the town depended to se. The local population, which found employment in large
milies owed their livelihood to ! important was the fact that the lase did not encourage recruit: Trincomalee, and that helped l ethnic character. ndaranaike was elected Prime ritain to quit her Naval and Air smantled their installations and ialee. The Ceylon Government verted it into a commercial port The thousands of Tamil workers hrown out of employment, and ed. A fraction of them were verformed stevedoring and shipdid not last long. ctions in 1965, Prime Minister ort of a 'National Government' il Party and the Tamil Congress. ok a fateful decision that spelt

Page 91
the doom of Trincomalee as a T tionalize the Trincomalee Harb
It is a paradox of history that by a Government in which the E ticipating with Minister M. Tiru is the Party which, for sixteen been carrying on an unrelentin Colonization of the Eastern Pro to this measure with full know opening the gates of Trincomal labour from Colombo.
I raised a storm of protest a Federal Party executive. It was m be opposed even if it meant pu or even if it meant the fall of it hundred Party workers from Trir to' Jaffna and invaded the demonstrated, argued, and plea pointing out the impending dang in vain. Tiruchelvam pleaded tha be saved at all costs. A. Amirtha. language with having 'engineer Trincomalee Tamils. The majorit ed by Amirthalingam's rhetorica cerned with saving the Cabinet ] the fate of the Tamils of Trinco by the Minister.
Nationalization of the Harbo the working class population of 1 the composition of the general volved taking over of the steve vices by the state-owned Por operated in Colombo mainly fo Regulations relating to employm be recruited through the local E comalee. The Port Cargo Corpor requirement by recruiting Singl bo Harbour through the Emplos and then after some time maki justments by sending "excess 1 local firms which had been carr
79

anil town, the decision to napour. E this measure was decided on Federal Party was actively parchelvam in the Cabinet. This years since its inception, has g agitation against Singhalese vince. Yet it gave its approval ledge that by doing so it was ee to an influx of Singhalese
nd caused a crisis within the ay view that the measure must lling out of the Government, he Government. More than a ncomalee travelled all the way Party headquarters. They ded with the Party hierarchy yer to Trincomalee. But all was ut his position as Minister must lingam charged me in abusive ed' the demonstration by the -y of the Party executive, moval exhortation, was more conpost of Tiruchelvam than with nalee. They decided to stand
Dur had a disastrous effect on Trincomalee, and therefore on population of the town. It indoring and ship chandler sert Cargo Corporation which r the Colombo Harbour. The Lent required that labour must mployment Exchange in Trination, however, bypassed that nalese labour for the ColomJment Exchange in Colombo, ng internal transfers and adabour" to Trincomalee. The ying out the stevedoring and

Page 92
ship chandler services until brought in were forced to clos labour was thrown out of en
The result was hundreds o bo slums inundated the town their presence was felt in Tri and arson that marked the ho It is a grim reminder of the d those who raised the "Save ] in the old Federal Party, at lea alive.
Yet another aspect of the the Singhalese-dominated G policy of colonizing their Pi from South Ceylon have inflic Province needs be told. It is th in Parliament. It has made minorities' safeguards and th munities representation wor Conceived constitutional sche away from the Tamils in the and given over to the Singhal Let us now consider what col seats in the Eastern Province
When the first Delimitatio L. M. D. de Silva, K. C., the er fame, which was charged with ing electoral constituencies Parliamentary Elections to be Constitution, was collecting e no Singhalese presence in the ing any provision for their rej whole Province was peopled were classified into Tamils ministrative districts, namely, Batticaloa District.
The Commission, therefo seven Parliamentary Constitu Parliament, that is, 5 Tamils ar comalee District and the B

che Port Cargo Corporation was e down, and inevitably their local oployment.
f Singhalese toughs from Colom- of Trincomalee. The impact of ncomalee in the orgy of murder locaust of Black July-August '83. angers of opportunist politics to Tiruchelvam's Cabinet Post" cry ast to those of them who are still
grave injury and injustice which overnments by their persistent rovince with Singhalese people cted on the Tamils of the Eastern he effect on their representation e a mockery of the so-called ne arithmetic of minority com-ked out in Lord Soulbury's illeme. How nine seats were taken
hill country plantation districts ese has already been dealt with. onization has done to the Tamil
an Commission presided over by minent lawyer of Privy Council the constitutional duty of defini in preparation for the first held in 1947 under the Soulbury vidence, the Commission found Eastern Province to justify makpresentation in Parliament. The by Tamil-speaking people who and Muslims. It had two adthe Trincomalee District and the
pre, divided the Province into encies to elect nine Members to id 4 Muslims. Mutur in the Trinatticaloa Constituency in the
30

Page 93
Batticaloa District were both ma Cies because of their mixed p Members. The Commission Ca returning 1 Tamil and 1 Muslin
Accordingly the General Ele Eastern Province returning 9 Me that is to say, 5 Tamils and 4 Mus mission. The two Constituencie elected 3 Members, to wit, 2 Tam stituency and the two-member ( Muslim from Mutur. The Battice Cies returned 6 Members, to Wit two-member Constituency of B 1 Muslim as expected by the C
A second Delimitation Com re-define the Parliamentary Con the new Census figures for the i the mass-Scale Colonization. Oft Oya), the Government had Cre ministrative district for the Sing Vince, and called it the Ampare
The Delimitation COmmiSSiC tion figures warranted two addi the Eastern Province. It made the Singhalese Constituency to elect fered the Other to the Tamils a
The Tamils and the Muslin Members respectively as already tion figures reflected that the Te members and Muslims to 4 1/4t Cording to accepted practice, 5 and 4 1/4 into 4. C. Vanniasingh ty Leader of the Federal Party, w terestS befOre the CommisSiOn Eastern Province approached hir Tamils enjoyed a certain measu thern PrOVinCe they should shC making 4 1/4 into 5 rather than Conceded it after Consulting the accordingly a new constituency Battical Oa District for the Musl
81

de multi-member Constituenopulation, each to return 2 Culated that each would be
l,
Ctions of 1947 resulted in the Embers to the first Parliament, ims as calculated by the Coms of the TrinCOmalee District ils from the TrincOmalee ConConstituency of Mutur, and 1 loa District's five Constituen3 Tamils and 3 Muslims. The atticaloa elected 1 Tamil and OmniSSiOn.
mission was set up in 1959 to stituencies in Consequence of sland's population. Following he Pattipalai Aru Valley (Gal. ated a new revenue and adhalese Out of the Eastern Proai District.
n found that the new populational Parliamentary Seats in : Amparai District into a single a Singhalese Member, and Of(nd the Muslims.
nS at the time had 5 and 4 mentioned. The new populaamils were entitled to 5 3/4th h members. In justice and a C3/4 would have to be made 6, am, M. P. for Kopay and Depuas looking after the Tamil in. The Muslim leaders of the m and suggested that since the re of weightage from the NorW magnanimity and agree to he other way. Vanniasingham : Federal Party executive, and (Nintavur) was created in the
S.

Page 94
At the 1960 General Electi Vince elected 5 Tamils, 5 N Members of Parliament. The the same with 2 Tamil and 1 first time a Singhalese Memb represent a Singhalese electo tell-tale evidence of the motiv Colonization policy,
The transformation of the Tamil Province into a Singhale ther in the next re-definition O which became necessary Bandaranaike's new Republic most ironical aspect of it is tha able to do it With the COinni vai Tamil United Liberation Front
The TULF, it must be reme tially an Electoral Agreement the Tamil Congress leaders Parliament which was forged v at Parliamentary Elections. Af Was abandoned, and was repli of the Ceylon Tamils during th the proclamation of the new Re
Once again a Delimitation re-define the Parliamentary C creased membership of the Re Scheme Of the new Constitutio Delimitation Commission, w hi fOr the Singhaiese in the BattiC the Singhalese Colonization Ol faithfully followed by this third part of the Eastern Province, na The mass influx of Singhalese talai and Paduvil Colonization new popluation figures for the Commission found the figure separate Parliamentary Consti land for it was obviously to Com Trin COmalee Constituencies.
8

ons, therefore, the Eastern ProMuslims, and 1 Singhalese as Trin Comalee District remained Muslim Members. Thus for the er of Parliament Was elected to rate in the Eastern Province, a ation behind the GOvernment's
Eastern Province from being a se one Was carried One step furf Parliamentary Constituencies In Consequence of SirimavO an Constitution of 1972, The t this time the Government was nce of and in Collusion. With the . (TULF).
mbered, is primarily and essenbetween the Federal Party and who were sitting Members of with a view to avoiding Contests ter some time the Federal Party aced by the TULF as the voice he fateful years which followed 2publican Constitution in 1972.
Commission was appointed to onstituencies to meet the inpublican Parliament under the in. The example of the previous ch Created a new Constituency aloa District in Consequence of the Pattipalai Aru Valley, Was Commission in the remaining mely, the TrinComalee District. Colonists under the Allai, KanSchemes was reflected in the TrinCOmalee District, and the S Warranting the Creation of a tuen Cy for the Singhalese. The }e Out of the existing Mutur and The TULF was supposed to be
2

Page 95
looking after the interests of th during the proceedings before
The TULF, however, perp betrayal of the Trincomalee Tan ly bargain with the Commission creation of the new Singhalese Seruwawila Constituency, provid bifurcate the Vavuniya Constit vince. The Commission agreed i ed a new Constituency for Mulla out of the old Vavuniya Constit Commission also created the ne Seruwawila out of the old Mui tuencies.
Why did the TULF enter in voluntarily give up an Eastern seat? The answer lies in the TU earlier, that primarily and esse Electoral Pact between the Fede gress, Its sole aim was to win sea ding their rhetoric, its leaders, d Federal Party and a section of Common national objective or i the Government, and the unin later vested it with the character party that stood for a separate To aspect to be dealt with later.
At the time of the third Delim the TULF's sole concern was to
M. P. for Vavuniya, who was elect and his defeated rival who belor was imperative that both leaders ment if the TULF was to surviv
The Federal Party during th had never been able to capture t only at the General Elections in support from the Mullaitivu sec the seat for the Party defeating Congress who derived his streng If the two sections themselve
83

t
e Trincomalee District Tamils the Commission. etrated the most shameful nils by entering into a coward1. It offered to consent to the 2 electorate, to be called the led the Commission agreed to cuency in the Northern Proto the TULF request and carvitivu in the Northern Province cuency. At the same time the w Singhalese Constituency of cur and Trincomalee Coristi
to this shameful bargain and Province Tamil Parliamentary LF's true character, as stated ntially it is no more than an eral Party and the Tamil Conts in Parliament. Notwithstanrawn as they are from the old the Tamil Congress, have no ideology. It is the events, and formed world outside, which
of a 'Tamil nationalist political amil state. We will reserve that
aitation Commission, however,
accomodate both the sitting ted on the Federal Party ticket, nged to the Tamil Congress. It s must be found seats in Parlia
e many years of its existence he Vavuniya electorate. It was 1970 its candidate with strong tion of the Constituency won the sitting M. P. of the Tamil -th from the Vavuniya section. es were made two separate

Page 96
t
i
Parliamentary Constituencie Contest between the Federa would be eliminated. The TU sion was to be tempted into Tamils of the Trincomalee Di villages to constitute the Seruwawila.
That calculation proved t tions of 1977 held after the Party's sitting M. P. and his Ta Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Co TULF platform, and both v serious contest. It was indeed ning Parliamentary seats for i do not appear to have had ar blem they had created for District in the bargain, nor t taking away the right of the N own Tamil Member of Parliar thirty years from the very fi
The Singhalese Const geographical abomination wit strip of land extending from t the north to the Verugal rive ticaloa border. It encircles th the land side, but otherwise
of the Trincomalee District. I pletely and effectively from a Almost all the Tamil villages stituency of Mutur were inco cy, where the Tamils became Singhalese colonist populatio tuency became a single mem
Just how the TULF was ab this calamity to the Tamils of t Comprehension. Perhaps it wa position of the TULF - the Tam having always held the view tł should have the right to settl it was sought to be justified b sion would have created Seru

es, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya, that 1 Party and the Tamil Congress LF reckoned that if the Commisdoing it, it had to abandon the istrict and offer the Mutur Tamil e Singhalese constituency of
to be right. At the General Elece new delimitation, the Federal amil Congress rival contested the nstituencies respectively on the vere duly elected without any
an achievement in terms of winthe leaders of the TULF, but they
y qualms about the human prothe Tamils of the Trincomalee heir conscience pricked by their Tutur Tamil villages to elect their nent which they had enjoyed for Lrst Parliament. ituency of Seruwawila is a h sinister implications. It is a long he Northern Province border in er in the south which is the Bat
e Trincomalee Constituency on augs the entire eastern coastline t thus isolates Trincomalee comLil Tamil contact in all directions. of the former dual-member Conrporated in this new Constituen
a minority among the majority on. The residuary Mutur Constiaber electorate for the Muslims. le to bring its mind to perpetrate he Eastern Province passes one's as inevitable because of the comail Congress section of the group hat the Tamils and the Singhalese e in any part of the country. But y pointing out that the Commiswawila in any event, that even
84

Page 97
if it did not dosothe Tamils of th of Mutur could not hope to elect because of the changed pattern All this is begging the questi political bankruptcy if not hyp It could not have been unawar be done in the teeth of its opp senting to or suggesting it to be
By conceding Seruwawila th approved the colonization polic that of D. S. Senanayake down Singhalese colonists in the Eas mockery of all the years of op Federal Party against colonizat firmed the Singhalese belief tha Tamil opposition to any measure first oppose and then yield, the the Tamils with faits accomplis, fall in line. The TULF proved in well founded. The General Ele sighted the Singhalese leaders belief.
The first Delimitation Comm to the Tamils of the Eastern Prov ed to 4 in 1977 notwithstandir Tamil people of the Province du the first delimitation. The Trince 1 Tamil, 1 Muslim and 1 Singhale 2 Tamil Members were reduce prevails now, it does not requir that the time is not far away w
may disappear. Whereas the Ea single Singhalese Member in tl now has 2 Members. In the nec 3 Members, and the Tamils reo
Today the Eastern Province It has become the battleground Tamil nationalist resistance. It is the colonizing activities of succ
ments on the one hand, and t. tivities of the Singhalese on th
ds

he dual-member Constituency - their Tamil Member as before, a of the population, and so on. ion, and only highlights the ocrisy, of the TULF leadership. e that suffering something to osition is one thing, and cone done is quite another matter. e TULF not only condoned and
y of all the Governments from awards of mass settlement of stern Province, it has made a position and agitation by the ion. What is more, it has conat they never need pay heed to e or policy, since the Tamils will at they have only to confront and the Tamils will eventually
Seruwawila that that belief is ctions of 1977 proved how farhave been in acting on that
mission of 1946 gave 5 Members vince. That number was reducag the natural increase of the ring the thirty-one years since omalee District in 1977 elected ese, that is to say, Trincomalee's
d to one. In the situation that -e a political pundit to predict
hen even that single Member astern Province did not have a he first Parliament of 1947, it ar future it will probably have duced to 3 or even less.
presents a picture of turmoil. E of Singhalese aggression and s the inevitable culmination of essive pan-Singhalese Governhe forcible land-grabbing acLe other.

Page 98
In the wake of the Black J Singhalese toughs are repor villages of the Kalkudah Con the leadership of Governme Buddhist monks using Goveri villagers from their homes u and the Army, seized their lai These are lands which are ex Madura Oya irrigation schem Minister Allan MacEachen's Tamils also being beneficiarie presumably applied to these ment is making preparations onists on lands to be reclai Eastern Province under the M colonization schemes, Singha tion and protection apparentl of the Tamil -owned devel schemes.
Little wonder that the frus assailed by the Government their own leaders, chose the the nationalization of the Tri tion of the Seruwawila Constit to realize that all the rhetoric onization are nothing more it is a disillusionment that he
The Tamil people now kno word that they have heard, t vince is not yet complete, the poet, Carl Sandbergh, "their again." It is the TULFleaders the creation of an administra to take it out of the control
Government has gladly conc tion for the rape of the North and ignorant leadership of tł the Singhalese begin to cast
North.

ily-August '83, more than 20,000 ted to have invaded the Tamil stituency near Batticaloa under nt Ministers and saffron-robed iment vehicles, driven away the nder protection from the Police ads and forcibly occupied them. pected to be irrigated under the e, and Canada's External Affairs recently reported reference to es of the Canadian-aided scheme private lands. While the Govern; to settle more Singhalese colmed by jungle clearing in the sadura Oya and Mahaveli Ganga lese goons under official inspiray decided to possess themselves pped lands coming under the
strated and helpless Tamil youth,
and its forces and let down by path of militant resistance. After ncomalee Harbour and the creacuency, they appear to have come Es of the TULF leaders about colthan a sham and hypocrisy. But as cost a tremendous price. Dw that Seruwawila is not the last hat the rape of the Eastern Proat, in the words of the American leaders will sell them again and who demanded and pressed for tive District for Kilinochchi and of the Kachcheri in Jaffna. The eded it, and is laying the foundahern Province. The utterly inept ne TULF will live to rue it when their covetous eyes towards the
86

Page 99
Parliamentary representatio quence any more in the context sent-day Ceylon. The story of co aspect of the Government's racia gravated that problem and made

en may not be of any conset of the Tamil problem in prelonization helps to unveil one lly-biased activities which agit more acute and unsolvable.

Page 100
СНА.
pristanral
t
Tou are now hitting the
We will know where v L. legislation in this serie to our language." These were Chelvanayakam uttered in 19 on the Citizenship Bills. It did come true. The language issue Kotelawala was Prime Ministe first Prime Minister D.S. Senar addressed, was no more alive
The events which attende deplorable character of the Ta recounting. Posterity should ] the weaknesses as well as the
Ever since its inception in I availed itself of every possible the danger they were facing fr ed in particular the disastrou state-aided colonization scher the Tamil language. It called o Singhalese domination.

PTER 6
2 weakest section of the Tamils. ve stand when the next piece of es Comes, the legislation relating e prophetic words which S. J. V. -48 in the course of the debates Il not take long for the words to
surfaced in 1955 when Sir John r. It made no difference that the nayake, to whom the words were
ed language legislation and the
mil politics of the time are worth have a proper understanding of e strength of the Tamil people. December 1949 the Federal Party e platform to warn the people of Fom the Singhalese. It emphasizs consequences of the planned nes and the impending threat to n the people to organize to resist
38

Page 101
The Party was only two yea dissolved following the death Senanayake and General Electioi in 1952. It was not sufficiently
General Election as a Party. At t that the General Election platfo tunity in a democratic society to ty to the people.
The Federal Party, therefor Tamil Constituencies of the Nor Not that it had any illusions of m it its duty to warn the people of old leadership and of the diabo leadership.
In spite of the dearth of promi a reasonably good chance of w candidates for all the 14 Tami Eastern Provinces.
S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, the E and sitting Member, contested th cy where he was opposed by S. N.
C. Vanniasingham, deputy le sitting Member, contested at Kop the Tamil Congress candidate (
The Party's iron man and joir V. Naganathan contested at Jaff G. G. Ponnampalam the sitting ! Tamil Congress.
As the other Joint General tested at Kayts where I was oppo the sitting Member who contest didate but who was known to ha leanings.
At Vaddukkoddai the Party': ingam who was opposed by K Member and Minister in the UI
At Chavakachcheri the Party
89

irs old when Parliament was 1 of Prime Minister D. S. as were announced to be held organized to participate in a :he same time it was realized rm presented the best opporcarry the message of the Par
e, decided to contest all the thern and Eastern Provinces. Lass victory, but it considered f the pitfalls of following the lical intent of the Singhalese
ising and loyal Party men with inning, the Party nominated | seats in the Northern and
President of the Federal Party Le Kankesanturai Constituenatesapillai the UNP candidate. eader of the Federal Party and pay where he was opposed by C. Arulampalam. at General Secretary Dr. E. M. na where he was opposed by Member and President of the
Secretary of the Party I consed by Alfred L. Thambiaiyah ted as an indepedendent canave UNP and Tamil Congress
s candidate was A. Amirthal. Kanagaratnam, the sitting NP Government. s candidate was Arunachalam,

Page 102
a school-master (now father-inwas opposed by V. Kumaraswa Tamil Congress and a Parliam Government.
In Trincomalee the sitting N One of those who walked out Chelvanayakam. He had stray then, and the Party was fo javarothiam as its candidate to
At Batticaloa the Party pu lawyer of standing at the Batt.
Other Candidates were simil Tamil Constituencies of the NC and the Federal Party carrie throughout the two Provinces
The Elections of 1952 to thế every other Elections since th tain manner that race interests dominating factor in Parliame Ceylon. Upon the death of D. Senanayake became Prime Min led his Party to victory at the achievements of his Party in Cu Country ensuring a dominant p. one of the election platforms in that his Party has with one stro ingams and Thondamans from Parliament, meaning that the T hill country would never be a Parliament any more.
The Federal Party, on the O attention Con the anti-Tamil raci ment, and on the unitary Con power to pursue such policies, the dangers of Singhalese don forged, and urged them to res rights to land, language, emplc Party's movement. It called up didates who stood for Co-oper support of the UNP policies.
9

law of V. N. Navaratnam), who my, the sitting Member of the entary Secretary of the UNP
Member was Sivapalan who was of the Tamil Congress led by ed away from the group since rced to nominate N. R. Ra
Contest Sivapalan.
forward S. N. Kathirgamar, a CalOa Bar,
arly nominated for all the other rthern and Eastern Provinces, !d on a whirlwind campaign
e Second Parliament, as indeed en, demonstrated in no uncerand racial domination were the Entary politics in independent S. Senanayake, his son Dudley ister and leader of the UNP. He elections on the slogan of the rbing the Tamil element in the osition for the Singhalese. From in southern Ceylon he declared oke of the pen prevented Rajalnever entering the portals of amil plantation workers of the ble to elect their Members tO
ther hand, Concentrated all its el policies of the UNP Governstitution which gave them the It warned the Tamil people of lination that was being slowly ist the steady erosion of their Dyment, etc., by endorsing the Dn the voters to defeat the Canation with the Singhalese and

Page 103
The election results were very entirely unexpected. Vanniasing javarothiam at Trincomalee were candidates who were elected. All leader of the Party were trounc charismatic personality of G. G. Pol gress leader, was still a powerful fo tion. It showed that the electorate il Provinces were not yet ready, nor p to appreciate the gravity of the prol ed. It was a disavowal of the walk-C company from the Tamil Congress terested in the problems of the pli the hill country. It also showed that ne to vote for personalities and no Vanniasingham and Rajavarothiam than an endorsement of the philosophy.
The Party's warnings about C were treated like the "Wolf, Wolf" people by nature are so highly indi that they habitually deceive then danger signals. They wake up only at their door-steps. It is this Tamil Singhalese to adopt measure aft without fear of any upheaval. The steps sooner than they were disp(
Prime Minister Dudley Senana 1953, and was succeeded by his C Kotelawala paid his first visit to J 1955. Alfred L. Thambiaiyah, M. I friend of his, gave him a reception seven islands in the north which C Constituency of Kayts. In a show O appreciation of his promises to pro that backward island, the people 'Cri
He returned to Jaffna Town i reception in the town the Prime Mi language question which was agit the time. He responded by assur Government would never devia
91

disappointing, though not gham at Kopay and Rathe only two Federal Party the others including the :ed. It was clear that the nnampalam, the Tamil Conprce in the popular estiman the Northern and Eastern olitically matured enough, blems which the Tamils facout by Chelvanayakam and and di Sinclination to be inantation districts Tamils Of : the Tamil voters were proit on issues. The success of was more personal victory Federal Party's political
‘olonization and language Cry in the fable. The Tamil vidualistic and self-centred mselves by refusing to see when the flood waters are nature which egged on the er measure against them floods reached their doorDsed to believe.
ayake resigned in October ousin Sir John Kotelawala. affna as Prime Minister in P. for Kayts and a personal at Delft, the farthest of the omprise the Parliamentary f ebullient enthusiasm and ovide certain amenities for owned" him "King of Delft".
in high spirits. At another inister was asked about the ating everybody's mind at ing the audience that his te from the UNP's firm

Page 104
policy of parity of status foi languages throughout the co would not hesitate to legislat necessary.
Kotelawala belonged to D. of political planners. D. S. Sen cian of many decades of serv strategist in long-range politi academic attainments he was sense. On assuming office as dependent Ceylon he gave fir of the political freedom he ha second to none in diehard S would not make it apparent. Singhalese power could wait, in the world so that they could one step at a time. Even before of the last State Council, his ow with J. R. Jayawardene propos alone the official language of Scotched it at the very outset. raise a hornet 's nest, and migł stitutional change he had in m nurtured in this line of thinkin When he made his promise i believed in what he said.
He was soon to discover the He failed to reckon with two f core group who had different was already out in the field 1 UNP from power, and within J. R. Jayawardene who was a Prime Minister.
Bandaranaike was an Oxfo his own ambitions. Being the Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, owning low-country Singhale tions under the Dutch and Bi of a family that descended fro Kandyan Kingdom.

both the Singhala and Tamil untry. He further said that he for that purpose if it became
3. Senanayake's hard core group anayake was a seasoned politiice to his people, and a master cal planning. Despite a lack of a leader with plenty of horsethe first Prime Minister of inst priority to the consolidation id won for the country. He was inghalese nationalism, but he
For him consolidation of the the Singhalese had all the time ltread the long path cautiously, : independence, during the days 'n son Dudley Senanayake along ed a resolution to make Singhala : the country. D. S. Senanayake He knew that the measure would at upset all his plans for the conind. Kotelawala was tutored and ag by his uncle D. S. Senanayake. n Jaffna he perhaps genuinely
at it was not so simple as all that. ellow planners of the same hard ideas. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike eading a rival party to oust the the UNP's own ranks there was Iso an aspirant to the office of
ed-educated intellectual who had son of the Maha Mudaliyar Sir he was the scion of a rich landse family which had held posiitish. He married the daughter m Singhalese royalty of the old

Page 105
This family background mae brand him as feudal. And yet he the backbone of the feudal clas masses conscious of the politi hands. He thus brought about a in a new era in Singhalese hist
Bandaranaike was at one ti Ceylon National Congress, t Kotelawala, J. R. Jayawardene a left it and became the Presiden
Maha Sabha. When the two org the UNP, and its leader, D. S.
Cabinet in 1947 Bandaranaike w Government in the new UNP C
It soon became evident that Company. He probably sensed political prospects if he continu tional Party (UNP), which he wi Party (UNP)-a sarcastic referenc trol, namely D. S. Senanayake, w likely to be at the helm of affair
nephew John Kotelawala, who of the queue for succession.
In 1951 S. W. R. D. Bandarana and left the UNP. It was, indeed parenthesis, it may be of some i and S. J. V. Chelvanayakam were lege, Mount Lavinia, and whe Chelvanayakam wrote to him co action and congratulating him.
Bandaranaike then rallied | elements and all the forces of ex and inaugurated a new political Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He Singhalese people and brought freedom meant anything, veste Common people were being gro Singhalese nation must rise to : to the racial pride of the Singh
He assessed very correctly th
93

de the leftist forces of his day e was the one man who broke sses and made the Singhalese cal power they held in their silent revolution and ushered ory.
me General Secretary of the o which D. S. Senanayake, and others belonged. He later at and leader of the Singhala anizations merged to become Senanayake, formed his first was given the portfolio of Local Government.
he was not happy in the UNP that his future held out no ed to remain in the United Nattily called the Uncle-Nephew ce to the men who were in con-ho was old and infirm and not s for long, his son Dudley and were waiting in line at the top
aike resigned his Cabinet post -, a bold step and a gamble. In nterest to know Bandaranaike
classmates at St. Thomas' Colen the former quit the UNP omplimenting it as a farsighted
his old Singhala Maha Sabha streme Singhalese nationalism
party which he called the Sri e reached out to the masses of E them a message of hope. If ed interests under which the und must be liquidated and the its former glory. He appealed
alese. hat if that pride is to be kindled

Page 106
to a point of sweeping everyt to ignite it and rally the peop Both Bandaranaike and Jayaw when S. J. V. Chelvanayakam Government and referred to the UNP executive when the only official language of the time, and D. S. Senanayake's Now that he was master of hi demolish the UNP with Ban was the spark that he wantec of the Singhalese.
In 1955, when General E and Kotelawala made his pror ty of status for Singhala and opportunity. He announces elected Prime Minister he w ficial language throughOut til eight hours. The slogan "Sing up by every mouth and fired people. It became the subject village and farm and in ever the country.
We may never know w Kotelawala's declared policy known that J. R. Jayaward Singhalese nationalist views. it was he who masterminde which he and Dudley Senanay State Council. Kotelawala h Snake under the grass (polong 1952", and obviously there w However, the fact was that KC language was not acceptable
The UNP executive hurri 1956. The provocation obvio jubilant reception of Bandar position of the Party aris nouncements in Jaffna. Pror meeting including S. Natesa Ministers in the UNP GC

hing before it he needed a spark ble under the banner of his party. ardene were in the House in 1948 launched his attack on the UNP the language issue. Both were in question of making Singhala the Country was raised from time to Counsel Smothered it every time. mself, and needing something to daranaike decided that language i to kindle the fire of racial pride
Elections were round the Corner nouncements in Jaffna about pariTamil, Bandaranalike Seized the i immediately that if he were ould make Singhala the only ofne whole of Ceylon within fortyJhala within 48 hours" was taken the imagination of the Singhalese t of animated discussion in every y Government office throughout
tho Spearheaded Opposition to
within the UNP, but it was well lene Was a man With extreme
On the language question itself }d the 'Singhala only resolution take had sponsored in the defunct as himself referred to him as a ga) in his famous "Premier Stakes vas antagonism between the two. telawala's declared policy on the e to the UNP.
edly met at Kelaniya in February usly was the Singhalese people's anaike's announcement and the sing out of Kotelawala's prominent UNP Tamils attended the pillai and C. Sittampalam (both overnment), A. L. Thambiaiyah
94

Page 107
(M. P. for Kayts), S. M. Rasam and V. Kumarasamy (M. P Parliamentary Secretary). G. group since he had left Kotel
This meeting of UNP exec the only official language of 1 hours as against Bandaran presence of the Tamil leaders a had no impact on the decisio
The Tamil leaders walked ed in a motorcade to Alfre Bagatelle Road in Colpetty, C confabulation. Their childlike tered, and their political futur not so much worried about th Ceylon or its disastrous effect the prospect of having to face ing General Election.
The Federal Party now sto Tamil people. They realized the The wolf has actually entered ed to the Federal Party as the 'Singhala only' decision of bot caused a wave of resentment a the Tamil country of the North the Federal Party rode on the solution conceivable at the ti
The group that walked out was not one that believed in o action outside Parliament. Th having to contend with the Fed Their meeting at Thambiaiyah' sor of many more to come in activities to out-manoeuvre th ed by G. G. Ponnampalam an terests were in common with
They met frequently and party into their group with th a united opposition to the Sing. in reality was to entice the ]

anickam (M. P. for Paddiruppu)
for Chavakachcheri and a G. Ponnampalam was not in this awala's Cabinet long before.
utive decided to make Singhala he country within twenty-four sike's forty-eight hours. The nd their pleas, if any, apparently n of the UNP. out of the meeting and proceedd Thambiaiyah's residence at Colombo. There they went into faith in the UNP has been shate was in a shambles. They were e fate of the Tamil language in on Tamil life, as they were about
the electorate at the forthcom
od vindicated in the eyes of the at its warnings were all justified. the sheep pen. They now lookeir only hope and saviour. The th the major Singhalese parties and anger which swept through hern and Eastern Provinces, and e crest of it. It offered the only
me. of the UNP meeting at Kelaniya - knew anything about political ey were concerned solely with eral Party and retain their seats. s residence was only the precurtheir feverish political juggling e Federal Party. They were join1 C. Sundaralingam whose intheirs. decided to inveigle the Federal e view, as they said, to present nalese. But what they were after Federal Party into an electoral
95

Page 108
agreement to avoid contests at summon a conference of proi Party in it.
One day G. G. Ponnampala the Federal Party M. P. for Trin House of Representatives and ing that conference as one of very shrewdly fixed on Rajav ingham, who was the leade
Members in Parliament at th though they had met quite by harm in efforts to present a u He had no reason to suspect Federal Party.
The Federal Party was qui tremendous responsibility it h to lead the people at this very the Tamil nation; at least thos a clear vision of it. There com when the question is either su Tamils are facing such a time. at such times to read the writi ple correct leadership and sav a time to play the normal game Federal Party saw its role as as speaking people from perishir vival. In 1956 it believed that su ensured by the achievement of state. It had no illusions abou knew that the goal called for and sacrifices.
No freedom struggle can e led and directed by a group of are bound together by a com ideal, and unless they submit an organization. If these elem. are absent, no number of met anything.
The struggle may be wage tion may avail itself of every po
U

E the election. They proposed to minent Tamils with the Federal
m accosted N. R. Rajavarothiam, comalee, in the corridors of the asked to sign the notice convenf the convenors. Ponnampalam arothiam and avoided Vanniaser of the Federal Party's two Le time, but made it appear as chance. Rajavarothiam saw no nited opposition and signed it. that it was a trap laid for the
te clear in its own mind of the sad taken upon itself in offering
critical period in the history of se at the helm of its affairs had Les a time in the life of a people rvival or total annihilation. The
Men of vision are called upon ng on the wall and give the peoe them from perishing. It is not e of Parliamentary politics. The sacred mission to save the Tamilng and to ensure their very surarvival as a people could only be
an autonomous Tamil-speaking it the path to reach that goal, it a long-drawn freedom struggle
ver hope to succeed unless it is dedicated men and women who non loyalty to and belief in the themselves to the discipline of aents of idealism and discipline
coming together can achieve
d in many forums, the organizaossible forum it can pick. It may
26

Page 109
be carried on in the forum of Pa If the organization sends Memb for the purpose and in furtherei - not because it believes the Parliament.
It is true that in Parliamentar called Electoral Agreements. Ir work together on a minimum c separately they hold divergent into an electoral agreement to at tests among themselves. What us get elected under such arrange elected resumes his freedom to the dictates of his conscience, elastic or rigid according to the judicious apportionment of the them stick together, otherwise e
Such an arrangement neces government in a Parliamentary which has the prospect of an a no place in the freedom strugg seeks to make use of Parliam freedom struggle has no use for a electoral agreements between di and even destroy, a freedom mo ed to the Federal Party itself ir
The plight of the Tamils on ti of 1956 was in no small measur opportunist politics pursued by ing an electoral arrangement, a Conceivably have any interest in determined to contest all the el Eastern Provinces and ask the carry on the struggle for the ac Tamil-speaking state which alone the dire consequences of Sing language legislation that was th was not prepared to deviate fr Conferences for an electoral agr its programme for a national str credibility and professions.
97

arliament as well as outside it. ers into Parliament it is solely nce of its objective of freedom at freedom can be won in
y politics there is such a thing ndividuals or parties agree to ommon programme although
views and policies, and enter Poid unnecessary election consually happens when Members ments is, each Member when Conduct himself according to
and that conscience can be e price that may be offered. A e available offices will make each goes in his own direction. sarily belongs to the realm of Democracy, or an opposition lternative government. It has le of a people. A party which ent only as an arena for its an electoral agreement. In fact, vergent elements can damage, vement of a people, as happene the Nineteen Seventies. he eve of the General Election te the result of the selfish and the men who were now seeknd the Federal Party could not
any such arrangements. It was ectorates in the Northern and people for a clear mandate to chievement of an autonomous e could rescue the people from ghalese colonization and the
en looming on the horizon. It om that path. Participating in reement would not only defeat uggle but also compromise its

Page 110
Signing the notice as a C in an embarrassing situation to participate. At the same ti air for the setting up of a "( authorised by agreement to didates for all the electi Chelvanayakam was to be s. Cy of Kankesanturai, which ment, With a View tO aCCOm Contest in Jaffna Town, a COS. torate. The sitting Member home consituency of Point scheme appeared to be intel the sitting Members and t among all the parties and S
The Party decided to seu ference, but to make it perfe desired to be left alone tO di best interests of the Tamil pec at Alfred Thambiaiyah's resic sent Dr. Naganathan and Raj
It was followed by anot suite of rooms at the Galle the Party was represented ingham.
There was a slip-up at bo delegates were prevailed upo mula or another. While dis meetings dragged On till t Chelvanayakam and I rem throughout the night to lear By 5.30 in the morning the C ried the news that a tentati which would be Considered representative meeting to residence of Mr. Justice C. N at 5th Lane, Colpetty.
It was a frustrating piece I pledged to each other betw tricate the Party out of any

convenor, however, put the Party 1. It would have been impolite not me a proposal was already in the Council of Elders" who would be D prepare a Common list of CanOrates. It was rumoured that hifted from his home Constituenhe represented in the first Parliamodating Natesapillai. He was to mopolitan and unpredictable elecfor Jaffna Town was to go to his Pedro, and SO On. In short, the nded to ensure the re-election of o distribute the remaining seats elected independents.
nd its representatives to the conactly clear that the Federal Party O what it considered to be in the ple. This conference was also held lence at Bagatelle Road. The Party avarothiam as its representatives,
her conference in Natesapillai's Face Hotel in Colomb O, at Which Oy a single delegate, C. Vannias
Dth the meetings, and the Party's In to agree to One Compromise forCussions at the Galle Face Hotel he small hours of the morning, hained awake at his residence in about the Outcome of the talks. ity edition of the newspapers carve formula had been arrived at and approved at a final and more be held a few days later at the agalingam (Retired Chief Justice)
Of news. But Chelvanayakam and Teen Ourselves that we would exformula that sought to tie down
98

Page 111
the Federal Party's freedom. T ed the meeting at Nagalingam delegates,
When we arrived at the ho of prominent politicians who comalee and Batticaloa. Na meeting. Chelvanayakam left i the word go, the proceedings clashes between G. G. Ponnam) Federal Party would not surren didates as it pleased. We prefe decide.
Mr. Nagalingam, remarkin of incorrigible fellows", excus and took the two of us to a pri of his large bungalow. He tried to some form of settlement. I us in our view that the Federal test the forthcoming electic Parliamentary politics. The Po struggle and the movement Singhalese domination which unitary constitution in foi demonstrate to the Singhaleset the country in peace without th
Winning the largest number o this issue would be the most ef Tamil people in general en countered it by saying that th Party would win that number o due to his personality, that win not the question that agitated i more concerned about its sur movement. An unprincipled el definitely spell the doom of th people it was guiding. An elec end of the Party, It would co pointed out that in 1952 its wa people and almost all its candid ty did not die; it still lived t redoubled vigour. It is prepared

he two of us, therefore, attendL's residence as the Party's sole
use there was a large gathering
had come from Jaffna, Trinagalingam presided over the most of the talking to me. From
were punctuated with verbal palam and me. I insisted that the der its freedom to nominate canrred to leave it to the people to
gjokingly that we were "a pair ed himself from the gathering vate room in the opposite wing to persuade us to be amenable pleaded with him to bear with Party was not proposing to conon as something to do with arty regarded it as part of the it was carrying on to resist has been made possible by the rce. The Party planned to Chat they cannot hope to govern ne willing consent of the Tamils. f seats for the Federal Party on fective way of showing that the dorse that view. Nagalingam ere was no guarantee that the f seats. I said, with all deference
ning or losing the election was the Federal Party's mind. It was
vival to continue the people's lectoral agreement would most e Party and the struggle of the tion defeat would not mean an ntinue to fight another day. I rnings were not heeded by the Lates were defeated, but the Par
continue its campaign with to take another defeat in 1956,

Page 112
and would continue its warnir realized the danger they wer
Nagalingam was, no doubt nothing that we could do abor concern was the survival Parliamentary seats for a few

ags to the Tamil people until they re facing. , rather chagrined, but there was at it. The Federal Party's primary of the Tamil people, and not v individuals.
100

Page 113
CHAPT
he 1956 General Election v
tested elections ever held challenged leadership of til in government, the emergence of ful leadership of S. W. R. D. Band alternative which held out grea
In the Singhalese provinces, the old and tried UNP and the a battle between vested interests awareness of his rights has been ed to the racial and religious pric and promised to pander to theil tions. Not that the UNP was any religious bigotry, but it was kep farsighted D. S. Senanayake. It w up sooner or later, but Bandaran first in the field. The Buddhist Support.
On the language question, ad the electorate with promises of ficial language, the electorate na of the two parties in the backgro
10

ER 7
was one of the most hotly conin Ceylon. As against the unhe UNP with almost ten years f a new force under the powerlaranaike offered a promising nt prospects.
therefore, the clash between new and promising SLFP was and the Common man whose roused. Bandaranaike appealde of the Singhalese Buddhists exclusive nationalist aspirathe less ridden with racial and it beneath the surface by the as bound to surface and show aike forestalled them and was clergy gave him its powerful
though the two parties wooed making Singhala the only ofurally weighed the credibility und of the UNP's performance

Page 114
during ten years in office. The question a most effective weapo from the position they held int. jobs and trade and keep them the official and business and p
The contest, then, was one to which of the two parties col Tamils better, quicker and more dard Contest in all the electio
In the Northern and Eastern nationalism was phenomenal. purpose it matched that of the a Singhalese provinces. More tha politician, the Federal Party u Chelvanayakam symbolised th
The Federal Party nominata electorates in the Northern an Congress nominated candidate stituencies, while the former U Candidates.
Thus at Kankesanturai S. Federal Party was opposed by S. candidate. Dr. E. M. V. Nagana Opposed at Jaffna by G. G. Congress.
At Kayts A. L. Thambiaiyah again as an independent Cand reasons from re-Contesting this successfully at the earlier electi are a Sine qua non to win this s financial power, I arranged wit vocate of the Colombo Bar, and ty for nomination. The Party enthusiastic about him, but th tion and nominated him for Ka of the most ardent participator faith in the people's cause was l House in Parliament he was de Government. He disregarded h forefront of every direct “actic
10

electorate saw in the language in with which to oust the Tamils he life of the Country, grab their permanently out of bounds in rofessional life of the country,
Of Convincing the electorate as uld do that work of ousting the } effectively. It became the stanns Since 1956.
Provinces the upsurge of Tamil In the intensity of its defensive tggressive phenomeOnon in the In any other party or individual nder the leadership of S. J. V. e resurgent Tamil nationalism.
2d Candidates to Contest all the di Eastern Provinces. The Tamil S for some of the northern ConJNP Tamils ran as independent
J. V. Chelvanayakam of the Natesapillai, an independent than of the Federal Party was
Ponnampalam of the Tamil
the sitting Member contested idate. I refrained for personal Seat Which I had Contested unon in 1952. Financial resources eat against any candidate with h V. A. Kandiah, a leading Ad| reCOmmended him to the Parhierarchy at first was not too ey accepted my recommendatyts. He later proved to be one Sin the Party's campaigns. His unbounded. On the floor of the vastating in his attacks on the is personal health to be in the on activities of the Party. All
2

Page 115
sections in Parliament respected the time of his untimely death i. the Public ACCounts Committee.
Likewise in Chavakachcheri tested as the Party's candidate in mended V. N. Navaratnam, the Advocate of the Criminal Bar. He Candidate to Contest V. Kumarasw the sitting Member and a P Kotelawala's Government. Althout he later proved to be an outstandi now holds the unique recc Chavakachcheri electorate in P. period of 27 years. He has the d Ceylonese to be elected to the e Parliamentary Union.
The Party's new candidate for who had been a journalist on the tiran weekly newspaper. His scin platforms, and unswerving loyalt ideal so long as Chelvanayakam to the Party in building up its ima little in forging a unity between Eastern Province Tamils through Party, and in overcoming the tradi sudice. He too holds the record o its First M. P. for an unbroken pe
Another new and loyal find f who was nominated as the Party C. a respected senior member of the onocent and truthful that he would he knew nothing about federal speakers to explain, but he had devotion to Chelvanayakam. He rallying the Roman Catholics a under the banner of the Federal
But for these changes, the ot. remained almost the same as in 19 significance was the support whic Province now gave to the Federal
103

his abilities so much that at In 1963 he was Chairman Of
Arunachalam, who had ConL952, stood down and recomen a young and upcoming was nominated as the Party's vamy of the Tamil Congress, arliamentary Secretary in gh new to politics at the time, ng acCretion to the Party. He rd of representing the arliament for an unbroken listinction of being the first xecutive of the World Inter
Batticaloa was C. Rajadurai editorial staff of the Sultantillating Tamil oratory from y to the Federal Party and its was its leader, were an asset ge. His contribution was not the Northern Province and the medium of the Federal tional Batticaloa-Jaffna pref representing Batticaloa as 2riod of 27 years.
or the Party was Alagakoon andidate for Mannar. He was a Mannar Bar. He was so indeclare from platforms that lism and leave it to other an unswerving loyalty and was mainly responsible for ld the Muslims of Mannar Party.
her candidates of the Party 352. A development of great h the Muslims of the Eastern Party. As a Tamil-speaking

Page 116
minority themselves, they sho of the Tamils when they saw t vast numbers of Singhalese
midst. The Party nominated
respected Muslim leader of didate for Kalmunai, and his young lawyer of the Battical
The poll results showed th sectors of the Country triun Federal Party as representin thern and Eastern Provinces, as representing Singhaiese ná vinces, were both given a cle peoples to pursue their decli
The election results also : most significance to the fut deterioration of the race relat the Tamil-speaking peoples. T first time, more than a quart mistakably clear to the Sing. through the medium of the ba of two nations-a Tamil-speak tion, functioning in two geo regions, and that the Tamil-sp Cept Singhalese domination.
The Federal Party won 11 thern and Eastern Tamii Prov Kankesanturai defeated S. Minister, V. A. Kandiah (Kay koddai), V. N. Navaratnam (Ch. ticaloa), V. A. AlagakOOn (Mal and became newcomers to Pe tuvil in the Eastern Province par and M. M. Mustapha : Members of Parliament, G. G., Tamil Congress retained his S was also re-elected at Vavuni, Federal Party since he was e issue and Colonization.
In the Singhalese Provinc

owed their solidarity with the rest heir language being assailed and colonists being settled in their Mudaliyar M. M. I. Kariappar, a he Batticaloa District, as its Cans son-in-law M. M. Mustapha, a Oa Bar, as Candidate for Pottuvil.
hat nationalism in both linguistiC nphed. Chelvanayakam and his g Tamil nationalism in the Nor
and Bandaranalike and his SLFP ationalism in the Singhaiese Probar mandate by their respective ared policies.
showed a development of the utlure of Ceylon, it reflected the ions between the Singhalese and he Tamil-speaking people for the er of a century ago, made it unhalese people and their leaders allot box that Ceylon is the home ing nation and a Singhalese magraphically demarcated distinct eaking nation is not going to ac
| Out of the 18 seats in the Norinces. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam at Natesapillai the former UNP *ts), A. Amirthalingam (Vadduktavakachcheri), C. Rajadurai (Batnnar), and others were all elected arliament. At Kalmunai and Potboth Mudaliyar M. M. I. Kariapwere elected as Federal Party Ponnampalam the leader of the eat in Jaffna. C. Sundarallingam ya, but he was no obstacle to the 'qually defiant on the language
"es S. W. R. D. Bandaranalike was
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elected Prime Minister with an UNP was routed to a mere eigh a People Cannot be fooled by bla politics. Philip Gunewardene an away from the socialist Sa Bandaranaike's Government wh Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (M
Bandaranalike lost no time i the Singhala language. The O Representatives for the 5th of J Government was introducing the day, The copy of the Bill circula it was a single clause legislati Singhala shall be the only offici power to the Minister to make Re of the law and for provisions fo made no mention of Tamil at all to his word.
The Federal Party was not co opposing the Bill in Parliamen which will demonstrate to the C the intensity of the popular opp Tamil-speaking people against
A suggestion came from S. leading lawyer of the Mallakar Chelvanayakam's election cam the Federal Party Members of Pa of volunteers perform peaceful Parliament House while the Bill House on June 5th. It was a goc Cepted. I was asked to Organize C. Sundaralingam, M.P. for Vavu also participate in the Satyagra
Contingents of volunteers f. Batticaloa arrived in Colombo ir They were taken to a Temple CO R. Rajavarothiam, M. P. for Trinc P. for Batticaloa, and M. M. M brought Contingents of voluntee by train. S. Nadarajah brought a
10:

Overwhelming majority. The t seats. Its defeat showed that tantly transparent opportunist d William de Silva, who broke ama Samaja Party, joined nich was thereafter Called the EP) Government.
nfulfilling his promise about rder Paper of the House of sune, 1956, indicated that the e Official Language Bill on that ated to Members showed that on laying down the law that all language of Ceylon. It gave 'gulations for the enforcement ir the transitional period, but . The Prime Minister was true
Dntent to let it go with merely t. It wished to do something ountry and the world at large Osition and resentment of the the blatant discrimination.
Nadarajah (later Senator), a m Bar and Chief Organizer of paign in Kankesanturai, that urliament with a selected band l Satyagraha on the steps of I was being introduced in the Dd idea, and was promptly acthe campaign from Colombo. niya, informed that he would ha.
rom Jaffna, Trincomalee and the morning of the 5th June. impound in Bambalapitiya. N. lomalee, C. Rajadurai, First M. Mustapha, M. P. for Pottuvil, !rs from their respective areas large contingent from Jaffna.
D

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My mind goes back to an in while I was waiting at the C receive the volunteers from J contained an element of irony the train arrived and the volu form, S. Kathiravelupillai, t vocate of the Jaffna Bar, ar Anaikottai, both well know Nadarajah and said, they we the Federal Party, but they Satyagraha that day. I replies had been limited to active P. in their joining, provided the Control of the leaders, particl of strict non-violence.
None of us in the Federa while we were making these non-violent demonstration, SC ment were also active in their not have made any difference ners which the volunteers C in a different way,
The volunteers assemble 300 in number, were given a should conduct themselves the hotel end of the Galle F to march from there in doub. other end of the Green and S in an orderly manner.
The moment the volunte hotel end, a waiting mob of I toughs fell on them like a pe and cowardly attack. They w on the ground. Their placa poles used as clubs. Some we and spat upon.
Not a single Satyagrahir cept Dr. Naganathan. Five ru ed him to the edge of the prol alone with his fists and legs.

teresting incident that occurred Dolombo Fort Railway Station to saffna early in the morning which y in the light of later events. When inteers were crowding on the platnen a young and promising Adhd Proctor S. Tirunavukarasu of in to me, walked up to me with re not members or supporters of
would like to take part in the i that the selection of volunteers arty members but I saw no harm y made themselves subject to the larly in regard to the observance
1 Party had any intelligence that arrangements for a peaceful and me elements of the MEP Governown way. Even if we did, it would : except that the placards and banarried might have been planned
d in the Temple Compound, some a final reminder about how they as true Satyagrahis and taken to ace Green. The programme was lefile to Parliament House at the squat on the steps peacefully and
ers and leaders assembled at the more than a thousand Singhalese ck of wolves in a most inhuman ere thrashed and felled prostrate ds were seized and the wooden retrampled upon, kicked, beaten,
aised his hand in retaliation - exuffians singled him out and chasmenade. Heturned and met them
They took to their heels to join
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their comrades. Satyagraha or no one who would never brook an
Vanniasingham, more deepl philosophy and techniques, acce fortitude. He was dragged by his along the turf, and his shirt and nothing on above his waist.
The mob appeared to recognis singled them out for special har tions, Chelvanayakam was 01
manhandled.
The Police arrived on the s Green to the Galle Face Centre F hausted Satyagrahis regrouped
ment House under a hail of ston add to their misery, the clouds ! of rain soaked them to their bo
As the day advanced, and th were let out, the mobs swelled estimated 100,000 crowded the e Centre Road and around Parlian on the road were beaten up and two sons, Manoharan and Vas roughly tossed in the air repeat professionals and others were ca The violence spread throughout roads, public transport, shops, Tamils were seen they were atta
I had a leaflet in the Singhala for distribution among the crowd Satyagrahis were squatting on th titled "dravida apey ayachanaya and explained to the Singhalese] why we Tamils were opposing th I entrusted my car and the lea worker, S. Alagaratnam, for distr he could. He parked the car some tre Road and had run through t when a threatening mob surroun of the proceeding.
107

ot, Naganathan by nature was
insult to his manhood. y immersed in the Gandhian epted all the indignities with feet for a few hundred yards under-vest torn away. He had
ze the well-known leaders and adling. As though on instrucnly jostled about but not
cene and sent mobs off the Road. The beleagured and exand marched towards Parliaes, hoots and filthy abuse. To Durst and a heavy downpour
nes. e Colombo Harbour workers until about mid-day and an ntire length of the Galle Face nent building. Tamils spotted thrashed . Chelvanayakam's seeharan, were caught and edly. Many prominent Tamil aught, stripped and thrashed. E the City of Colombo, to the
business houses; wherever acked.
a language printed and ready S which may gather while the Le Parliament steps. It was en
" (An Appeal By Us Tamils) people in their own language ze Singhala Only Legislation.
flets to a friend and fellowibution of the leaflets as best
where on the Galle Face Cenhree-quarters of the leaflets ded the car. That was the end

Page 120
Looking back, it seems t to reach the Singhalese com
of time, money and effort. but not if he is pretending have heard quite a number Party never made any effor to the Singhalese people in
The Police stopped the S the Galle Face Green and b of Parliament House. The where they were stopped, a the day. A prominent Sing Paranavitane of the law firm Catholic Priest, Father Xavie scholar, emerged out of th Satyagrahis. The gesture did
Shortly before Parliamer 2.00 p.m. the Prime Ministe ment House and addressed Skies and remarked that the again and the demonstrators ple to go home peacefully.
A. Amirthalingam, M. P. the head by one of the ston C. Sundaralingam, M.P. f bleeding head and entered Representatives where the C troduced. They were greete of " wounds of war", to whi some reference to the Singl legs at the sight of the Tam
The Satyagraha was call ing. About 18 injured volunt for Chavakachcheri, were
Hospital at Union Place, Slav ly hurt in the legs. One of t off. The Hospital provided with loving care. Not only attended to all of them with given proper medication and
t
i

o me now that the whole attempt hmon man was a ridiculous waste Dne can wake up a sleeping man, to be asleep. I say this, because I of friends remark that the Federal t to explain the Tamil grievances general in their own language. atyagrahis at the northern end of locked their way to the precincts volunteers sat down peacefully nd remained there for the rest of ghalese. lawyer of Colombo, Mr. of De Silva & Mendis, and a Roman r Thaninayagam the famous Tamil e crowds and sat down with the
not pass unnoticed by the Press. at Sitting was due to commence at r appeared on the steps of Parliathe crowds. He looked up at the e rains were going to come down s would cool off. He asked the peo
- for Vaddukoddai, was struck on es thrown by the mob. At 2 p. m. or Vavuniya, took him with his e the Chamber of the House of Official Language Bill was being ind with derisive laughter and cries ch Suntharalingam retorted with nala Lion and the tail between its
il Tiger. ed off at 5.00 o'clock in the eventeers and V. N. Navaratnam, M. P.
warded at Dr. Rutnam's Private re Island. Navaratnam was severethe volunteers had his ear bitten beds and attended to all of them were they given proper beds but - loving care. Not only were they treatment, some of the volunteers
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whose clothes were torn to shire new clothing. Dr. Rajadurai Rutn ment, not even to be reimbursed chased for the volunteers. I was d Doctor's gesture.
Thus did the Tamils have thei from Singhalese mobs. It was perience for the Tamils who Singhalese as a people would reso for political purposes. For nearly British rule, when the two people societies, they had got along SO occasion when there was frictio. the contrary a sort of fraternal rel ween them. Politicians might hav and interests, but the Common p. sorted in reasonable amity.
In the dark days of the Singl when Singhalese Buddhist mobs v such as F. R. Senanayake, D. S. Se A. E. Goonnesinghe, and others a Tamil leader from Jaffna, Sir who raised his angry voice O. Singhalese Buddhists against the and the soldiery. He even braved English Channel to reach Londo done to the Singhalese Buddhists ed. Thereby he, and the Tamil pe ill-will of the Muslims, a sister m yet to forget and forgive.
It was an Other Tamil l € Arunachalam, who pioneere government and reform of the CO Singhalese intelligentsiatO work tional Congress which he founde who kindled the interest of the S. research in their own past histor international repute, Sir Ananda urged the Singhalese to take an in and Crafts of their own ancesto this field and produced a monur
109

ds were even provided with am refused to take any payfor the clothing he had pureeply touched by the young
r first taste of mass violence a novel and unexpected exnever anticipated that the rt to intimidation by violence
a century and a half during 2s happened to live in mixed well that there was never an n in their race relations. On lationship had developed bete debated each other's rights eople of both the races con
halese-Muslim riots in 1915, were shot at sight and leaders nanayake, Baron Jayatilleke, were locked up in jails,it was Ponnampalam Ramanathan, f protest on behalf of the misdeeds of the British Police he wartime minefields of the n and plead for justice to be ; and their leaders be releas2Ople in general, earned the inority Community, who are
aader, Sir Ponnampalam d the agitation for selfnstitution, and organized the or it through the Ceylon Nad. It was Arunachalam again inghalese and pioneered the y. It was yet another Tamil of Sentish Coomaraswamy, who terest in the study of the Arts 's. He pioneered research in nental work to inspire them

Page 122
for further study. These are a Singhalese had ever shown
These and other contrib the proofs of the fellowship a ween the two peoples. They s and the absence of any pre towards their Singhalese cor never looked for any gratitu national weal, for they knov not words to be found in statecraft, but they at least I behaviour from their count
This new experience shov days when the Singhalese an as brethren of a common mo which occurred ten years lat further evidence of the cha:
Soon after Prime Ministe Government in 1965 with the Party arranged a receptio Jayawardene and his Parliam It was followed by a mass Chelvanayakam's Constitue Jayawardene and Atapattu. . terpret his English speech int dience which was entirely Atapattu who spoke in Singl saying in Singhala "nonamah Gentlemen). By force of "sahodarargale, sahodarigal was certainly not a direct trar rent in Singhala usage. Atapa and then, as if realizing the ir mediately and said "Let it pa but it showed an attitude of change that was taking place first instinct was not to be incl as brothers and sisters.
It was symptomatic of the leaders. No Prime Minister, fr

all activities in which no educated any interest before these Tamils. utions of the Tamils are some of nd good relations that existed bethowed the universality of outlook judice on the part of the Tamils untrymen. Of course, the Tamils de for their contributions to the w that gratitude and altruism are,
the dictionary of politics and have the right to expect civilized rymen. ved that times have changed. The d the Tamils regarded themselves otherland were gone. An episode er registered itself in my mind as nge. r Dudley Senanayake formed his e Federal Party's help, the Federal
n in Jaffna for Minister J.R. mentary Secretary C.A. Atapattu. ; meeting at Kankesanturai in !ncy which was addressed by Jayawardene called on me to in:o Tamil for the benefit of the au
Tamil. I had also to interpret nala. He commenced his speech athruni mahathruni" (Ladies and
habit I translated in Tamil e" (Brothers and Sisters), which islation, but which are words curttu promptly protested "No, no". nplication, corrected himself imLss". It was a very trivial matter,
mind that was indicative of the in Singhalese-Tamil relations. His lined to appear addressing Tamils
change among all the Singhalese om D. S. Senanayake downwards, 110

Page 123
has ever used the inclusive "we' dience in the North or the East is, the practice of every one of and "we", meaning, you the Tami audience was always made to fee of the country as a whole, he or as representative of the Singhale an unconscious habit, but it spri of the Singhalese leaders.
Naturally and inevitably tl reciprocate. All the developments politics in independent Ceylo reciprocation. As the Buddhist tion causes a reaction, and in th ment decided in June 1956 tot who wields the rod to keep his
That precisely is the meaning Face Green and in the City of Co taneous popular reaction on th ple to the Federal Party's Satyagi and organized by elements in the attacked the Satyagraha volunte on a rampage in the City of Colo to have come from the Siyane represented in Parliament by M It must be remembered that Phil father of the Ceylonese brand become Minister in the SLFP Gov later in 1965 in the UNP Govern He learned his socialism in Calif Narain, the socialist and Sarvoda aligned himself with Morarji D
The Galle Face Green attack era of Singhalese mob violence the pattern for all the subseque other or some Member of Parliar known to have been associated i one of them was organized and { worked for the electoral victory in their attacks on Tamils.
111

while addressing a Tamil auIt has always been, and still hem to use the words "you" ls, and we the Singhalese. The 1 that, though Prime Minister she was standing before them se people only. It is, no doubt, ngs from the inherent instinct
he Tamils were not slow to that have taken place in Tamil on are phenomena of that philosophy teaches, every ac
at vicious circle the Governvehave like the schoolmaster
class in order. jof the incidents on the Galle lombo. They were not a spone part of the Singhalese peoraha. It was an attack inspired ! Government. The thugs who ers at the start and then went mbo for two days were known Korale and Avissawela area Cinister Phillip Gunewardene. lip Gunewardene, the reputed of socialism, left the LSSP to Fernment of Bandaranaike and ament of Dudley Senanayake. ornia along with Jayaprakash ya leader of Bihar in India who esai.
not only inaugurated the new against the Tamils, it also set at pogroms. Some Minister or nent of the party in power was vith every one of them. Every planned. Buddhist monks who of the party also led the mobs

Page 124
Having thus physically thi representatives of the Tamil-s steamrollered its way through and got its language Bill passe Statute Book as the Official La ly referred to as the Singhali
The implementation of leisurely course in the begin
Minister S. W. R. D. Bandarar. tion was not geared to a sude Singhala. Most of the senior C them though Singhalese them: ficient in Singhala to carry on were the Tamils to whom it v
Nevertheless active prepa switch-over. Tamil public serv know Singhala sufficiently we given three years to acquire ] the option to retire if they did vice and annual increments ir on proficiency in Singhala. A tions and advertisements relati Public Services, state-owned C government bodies stipulate necessary qualification. It wa Tamils need not apply.

ashed and beaten up the elected peaking people the Government Ceylon's democratic Parliament d into law. It took its place in the nguage Act of 1956. It is popular- Only Act. che new language law took a ning, particularly during Prime
aike's lifetime. The administralen switch-over from English to fficers of Government, some of selves, were not sufficientiy pro
administrative work, and there vas an alien language. rations were made for an early ants, and all others who did not al to work in that language, were proficiency in that language or
not want to. Promotions in ser1 salary were made conditional Imost all Government notificang to recruitment for jobs in the orporations and Boards and local 1 proficiency in Singhala as a as another way of saying that
12

Page 125
СНАР
he passage of the Singhala a great blow to the Tamil
mitted to the law it spelt t a language switch-over in Gover a question only of Tamil public s language and acquiring proficie
more than that, it invaded the li fabric of the Tamils. The Act wa blems, both seen and unseen. assimilation into the majority threatened the very survival of t
culturally distinct people.
The Federal Party continue but it all consisted of platform sp come, listen, and then go their was not going to have any imp
I was not content to leave : Satyagraha. It was necessary th Party will have to force the iss a confrontation would be unavoi to recognize parity of status for ple have to be made more politic
11:

TER 8
Only Official Language Bill was -speaking people. If they subheir doom. It was not merely nment offices. It was not even servants learning the Singhala ency to work in it. It was much ife and the social and cultural s pregnant with a million proIt paved the way for quick Singhalese mainstream, and he Tamils as an ethnically and
d its agitation against the law, -eeches to which people would own way. That sort of activity act on the Government. it with the Galle Face Green wat sooner or later the Federal me with the Government, and dable to force the Government the Tamil language. The peocally alive and psychologically

Page 126
ready for mass participation i.
Campaign the Party may decic was the question that agitate
I thought up the idea of a and leaders on foot to end up w ment on behalf of the Tamil-sp that it would be a feasible a message of the Party to the vill length and breadth of the Tan original in the idea. I belong to ching the Indian National Mo unfolded from year to year an been following with great inte Mahatma Gandhis famous Dal The way how the Crowds that as he passed through village af national upsurge it Created th) imprinted in my mind. It is th similar march through the Tau
The Federal Party had dec Annual Convention of the Party C. Vanniasingham, M. P., was ing year. He would be inducted It OCCurred to me that the OC propriate one for the mass mar is mid-way between the norther of the Tamil Country. The dele all the way from Kankesanture kovil Via Batticaloa in the south in Trincomalee, and adopt a sin the Government do take steps to for the Tamil-speaking people of the Northern and Eastern Pri Government failing to do so wi ty would launch non-violent din
I discussed the idea with V elect, and he was quite enthusi however, ridiculed it as impra energy. One has to understand get along with him. In the inter taking that we all had taken up that we knew our leader.
11

any peaceful and non-violent
e upon. How that is to be done
my mind.
Ong mass march of volunteers ith an ultimatum to the Governeaking people. It seemed to me nd effective way to carry the ages and people throughout the lil Country. There was nothing a generation that has been watsement for Independence as it d campaign to campaign. I had rest the day-to-day progress of hdi March and Salt Satyagraha. followed him grew day by day ter village, and the tremendous roughout India, were indelibly is which made me think of a mil Country of Ceylon.
ided to hold that year's (1956) at Trincomalee in August, and elected President for the en Suas President at the Convention. Casion would be the most apCh I had in mind. Trincomalee nmost and Southernmost points 2gates and leaders would walk i in the north and from Tirukto reach the Convention Hall gle Resolution demanding that ) establish an autonomous state in their traditional homeland Dvinces, and in the event of the thin one year, the Federal Parrect action for its achievement.
anniasingham, the Presidentistic about it. Chelvanayakam, ctical and a useless waste of Chelvanayakam if one was to est of the great national underDn ourselves it was imperative

Page 127
S. J. V. Chelvanayakam was Some of the makings of a Gan tensely religious. Like Gand dedication to the cause of the to make any sacrifice in that ca elementary Creature Comforts the destiny of the Tamil peop no concept of the value of m freedom movement. He had n of the personalities of the Indi ed Crowds and their adulation Parliamentary politics. He w English Liberal of the Gladston tary battles, just as he did in for He had a Childish belief in Parl inspite of his good Christian ba a Tamil nationalist to the COire timate Company, he would brea rajah Keerthanai strictly in a classical style. He was a great music of the Nadhaswaram. Wł nothing could stop him from schoolmaster in his early yout Wesley was a leading Christial produced men like Sir Ol Chelvanayakam appeared be dressed in Tamil National COS neck. Those were the days of c( such things were taboo. The F office and expressed surprise like that. Chelvanayakam pro and walked out of the College time his weakness, lay in the f ing Convinced. He never had a ed to listen. Once Convinced a go all out to carry it out.
To Convince such a man it V the programme would get po) I Wrote an article outlining my march and the Annual Conv parts in two consecutive issue response was tremendous. H
1.

a complex personality. He had lhi, but not entirely. He was inhi, he worshipped truth. His Tamil people, and his readiness use, even a sacrifice of the most were unswerving. His faith in le was unshakable. But he had Lass action in the politics of a O knowledge or understanding an National Movement. He lik, but not beyond their value in as essentially a mid-Victorian a type. He revelled in Parliamenensic battles in the Court Room. iamentary institutions. Yet, and ckground and education, he was . When in a good mood and ink into a song, and sing a Thiagaaccordance with the Orthodox devotee of the Tamil national hen he thought a thing was right h pursuing it. He was once a h at Wesley College, Colombo, h missionary high school which iver Goonetileke. One day fore the students in his class tume With the Shawl round his Dlonial habits and Customs when rincipal summoned him to the that a Christian should behave mptly tendered his resignation . His strength, and at the same act that he was amenable to beClosed mind, and he never refusind he takes a decision, he would
as necessary to satisfy him that pular backing and be effective. programme for a Trincomalee 2ntion, and had it published in s of the Sutantiran weekly. The undreds of letters flooded the
15

Page 128
Sutantiran office from all parts programme be implemented. T in the writers' blood.
I raised the subject again at executive, and Chelvanaya "Navaratnam has a bee in his b itching to walk." I placed the bul singled out the blood-written on impressed. He himself started to the programme. The Committee again entrusted with the resp masterminding the programme
Although I was in sole charg the undertaking Could never har the invaluable assistance of C. \ elect. I was not privileged to hav understanding of the personali that he had at that time. We tra and it was through him that I mä of them. I remember particular Tamil teacher and father of San of the Federal Party and a leadi Bar), and Arianayakam of Tiru fame).
The Party organization in Ba of C. Rajadurai, M. P., Thambimu was entrusted with the responsil along the march route from Tir leaders, delegates and volunteer road which had several ferry C.
In Trincomalee a Reception manship of the Member of Parl took charge of all the arrangeme tion. More than 5000 visitors Comalee for the occasion. They marching Contingents from Ka along the two routes. Feeding, them for the three days of the stupendous undertaking for tha bore the strain magnificently
116

of the Country urging that the WO of the letters were written
the next meeting of the Party kam jokingly remarked, Dnnet, and his legs seem to be hdle of letters on the table and 2s. Chelvanayakam was highly urge that we go through with decided accordingly, and I was onsibility of organizing and
Je, the tremendous success of ve been made possible but for vanniasingham, the Presidente the intimate knowledge and ties of the Batticaloa District velled to Batticaloa together, ade the acquaintance of most ly Thambimuttu, a respected n Tambimuttu (another pillar ng member of the Batticaloa kkovil (of Arappor Munnani
tticaloa under the leadership Lttu, Arianayakam, and others Dility for all the arrangements ukkOvil to TrinCOmalee. The s would trek along the Coastal rossingS.
Committee under the Chairiament, N. R. Rajavarothiam, nts for the three-day ConvenSwarmed the tOwn Of Trinwere people who joined the Linkesanturai and Tirukkovil housing and Caring for all of Convention proved to be a not-so-affluent town. That it is tribute to the people of

Page 129
Trincomalee in general, and t Chairman and their patriotic ticular. The American Roma College very kindly placed th Playground at the disposal of three days of the Conventio)
The route to be taken by Chers from Kankesanturai cal a problem that must agitate th Geographically and demogr security even at that time in later, it is a hundred times W schemes and the TULF's ConC to the Singhalese.
My original plan for the n. highway to Trincomalee vi Habarana - Trincomalee. FrOI to that of the Eastern Provin marchers by trucks and bi Singhalese Country.
Vanniasingham and I met charge of the Northern Provi Jaffna to notify him of the p] march. He was a most high-sou gentleman, and was One of t Police Force. He had covered the Commonwealth Prime Mi He advised us that the route v suggested that we change th pose would not be better ser via Mullaitivu. He said he hac road several times and that i watchers and nature lovers. so enticing that we readily a police officer in him secured cidents and problems for the paign better, although we reg
The original route plan thern contingent would start of Kankesanturai, reach Jaffn

O the Reception Committee and and of voluntary workers in par| Catholic Priests of St. Joseph's air spacious College Hall and the he Reception Committee for the
proceedings.
he northern contingent of marled for serious thought. It is still e minds of all Tamils for all time. aphically it raised problems of 1956. Today, almost thirty years orse owing to the colonization eding the Seruwawila electorate
arch route was to take the usual a Vavuniya - Horowapotana - n the Northern Province border ce the plan was to transport the uses to avoid a trek through
the Superintendent of Police in nce, A.A. Perera, in his Office at rogramme and the route for the 1led and good-hearted Singhalese he most efficient officers in the I the security arrangements for nisters' Conference in Colombo. ve proposed had many risks, and e route. He asked us if our purved if we take the Coastal route been on the Mullaitivu-Alampil t was a virtual paradise for bird His description of the route was ccepted his advice. The tactful the avoidance of unwanted inPolice, but it also suited Our Canetted having to bypass Vavuniya.
was therefore revised. The norfrom the leader's Constituency a Town, and then take the Kandy
117

Page 130
Road. At Mankulam they woul dichuddan - Mulliyavallai - Tha - Thennamaravady - Kokkutodu dai - Kuchchaveli - Nilaveli - í
When eventually the marc the able leadership of S. Nada were delighted at the type of were setting their eyes upon fo the landscape and vegetation bounty of nature as far as the e They felt proud and guilty at thought that they are the inher ty because of the neglect they demned it to. They noted tha man-made tanks were all calle and fragrant flowers.
The village Thaniyootru (w even in the driest season the Sl morning of the day the norther due to arrive at Thaniyootru, a rectangular trench about 10( 2 ft. in a Hindu Temple compou chers arrived the oozing sub-sl freshwater to the brim, and the to their hearts' Content.
The marchers also noted th tions from where their forefath the malarial mosquito and the with the ravages of time.
Above all, their pride and pi historical memories associated way recalling to their mind the heroes of bygone days. At Oddi marked by an inscribed stone, last of the heroic Chieftains of tle to the British and fell to aI
When they skirted the Kok
mind's eye the ships which onc Commerce between the Pandya the Vanni Chieftaincies. They c
11

d turn east and proceed via Odniyootru - Mullaitivu - Alampil vai - Kokkilai-Tiriyai - Pulmodund terminate at TrinCOmalee.
hers, Over a 1000 strong under rajah, traversed the route they the Tamil country which they the first time. The Countryside, the richness of the soil, the 7e could reach, all thrilled them. the same time - proud at the tors of all this Country, and guiland their forefathers had cont the villages, habitations and d by pure Tamil names of birds
ater spring) is so called because urface soil is still moist. On the în contingent of marchers were the local Party volunteers dug ) ft. by 50 ft. only to a depth of und. By evening when the marurface springs had filled it with weary men washed themselves
e landmarks of an Cient habita2rs were driven out by wars and ! failing seasons, now overrun
atriotism were rekindled by the with several places along the many deeds of valour of Tamil chuddan there is the spot, now where Pandara Vanniyan, the the Vanni, defiantly gave bat| English gunshot.
kilai Lagoon they saw in their 2 sailed in the Lagoon carrying un Kingdom in South India and rossed the Ma Oya, which now
8

Page 131
divides the Northern Province Central Provinces, the perenni kilai Lagoon.
At Tiriyai they saw the Ne Panikkan Kulam, the hill and Neela Panikkan, another brave On the hill top there were ther elders of Tiriyai are never tire sad story of its last days. When seventeenth century surrounde his consort by a secret passage, in the lagoon, and then returne defending the fortress. The Port succeeded in shattering its ma end has come, Neela Panikkan attached his signet ring to an a ship which was then sailing in arrow with the ring fell on the touched it to her eyes with rev her bosom jumped overboard. N his men defending the fortress
From Kankesanturai on the Peninsula and from Tirukkovil the Eastern Province the two
menced their march to Trincon ment and other leaders with al of wild enthusiasm. As they pro passed through towns and villag joined them and added to their and upsurge of mass enthusiasi gave it a prominent day-to-day
The reaction in Colombo w reflected a strange exhibition Singhalese Press demanded a b from proceeding to Trincomale to have exerted pressure on
Minister, however, refused to ac saying that he would not interf of any section of the people. He Deputy Inspector General of Pol with a squadron of Special Poli order was maintained.
11

e from the Eastern and Northal river that flows into the Kok
ela Panikkan Malai and Neela tank named after the famous e Tamil Chieftain of the Vanni. uins of his fortress palace. The d of recounting to visitors the the Portuguese invaders in the ed his hill, Neela Panikkan took put her on board a waiting ship d to take his place with his men uguese stormed the palace and ssive gates. Realizing that the a climbed to the top ramparts, arrow, and fired it towards the the centre of the Lagoon, the queen's lap. She took the ring, erence, and then holding it to Teela Panikkan himself fell with s to his last breath. e northern coast of the Jaffna
at the southernmost point of contingents of marchers comnalee led by Members of Paliapt of fanfare and amidst scenes egressed on their long trek and ges, more and more volunteers numbers. It created such a stir n that the Press took it up and - coverage.
as quick, and at the same time
of intolerance. The diehard pan of the march and to stop it -e. Some leaders were believed the Government. The Prime cede to the Singhalese clamour, ere with the democratic rights - ordered Sydney de Soyza, the lice, to proceed to Trincomalee ce and to ensure that law and

Page 132
The northern contingent trucks and buses from Mankl Oddichuddan, That long str through a thick jungle with I no point in walking that dist
The halt for a night at Mi perience. Voluntary workers area, irrespective of politica guidance and leadership of schoolmaster and Federal Part Vavuniya electorate, T. Kum Mulliavalai (and brother of T P. for Vavuniya), T. M. Sabara Mullaitivu, Muhandiram Kan X. M. Sellathambu, then I Mullaitivu and later its Memb Catholic Parish Priest, had m the feeding and housing of th was a very demanding task & possible but for the generou (proprietary leaders of the fi.
The marchers had a gli Muslims of the Eastern Provin at Pulmoddai. It was a most perience. Pulmoddai was the set its eyes on its Ilmenite S village of a few Muslims on th was so small and so poor that expect them to feed the much poured into the village that ni herds of cattle. And yet they proceed on their way without At 2 o'clock in the morning t ing moonlight to spot their mi grounds and farms. It was an of so much poverty, to hearth distances, in that semi-darkne pre-dawn morning, to check V rades was at work. They retu insisted that every one of the fee or tea before resuming the
1.

Df marchers were transported by lam to Mulliavalai with a halt at etch of the highway traversed o human habitation. There was 3 (l Ce.
illaitivu was an exhilarating exand prominent citizens of the all party affiliations, under the people like J. M. Vincent, a y's Parliamentary candidate in the laravel, a leading merchant of . Sivasithamparam, later the M. tnam, the veteran politician of agasooriam, a retired Maniagar, Divisional Revenue Officer of er of Parliament, and the Roman ade excellent arrangements for he large number of marchers. It and would not have been made S assistance of the Chammattis shing industry) of Mullaitivu.
mpse of the hospitality of the ce when they stopped for a night touching and unforgettable exn (the Government had not yet ands at that time) a straggling e eastern coast. The population E it would have been a Crime to larger Crowd of marchers who ght. Their only wealth was a few would not allow the marchers to tasting the village's hospitality. he milkers set out in the wanlch cows in the far flung grazing idyllic experience, in the midst em Call Out to each Other a Cross ss and the gentle breeze of the Thether every one of their Comrned with gallons of milk, and marchers have a hot cup of coftrek. That is all what the village
20

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was able to give, and it gave hospitality.
An incident OCCurred at Ni march which proved the wisdom the Superintendent of Police of th of Singhalese goons from the ne tlement at Paduvi (Padaviya) had and Waylaid a group of Conventi ed in maintaining liaison betwe Column of the northern Cont retaliated, and a few young mei in the clash. Prompt action by th more serious consequences and
It may be of interest to ment in an area where R. G. Senana Bandaranaike's Government, pu estate from a Burgher gentlema ed a fewhundred Singhalese fami which previously was part of th now within the new Singhalese
Wild Scenes of unbounded
when the two contingents of mar south approached the Town of T timing the two contingents were at Madathadi on the outskirts of women and children joined the TrinCOmalee, and when it ended U tre of the Town, the vast grou Seething mass of heads and the Party,
For the three days while the C of Trincomalee rang with the so breathed an air of Tamil national hosted a delegate or a volunteer roads, and at every place where discussion was the new languag schemes, which were threatening of the Eastern Province.
The last item on the Convent ==, was a public meeting at the es
121

with a good heart. That is
laveli on the last leg of the and foresight of A. A. Perera, he Northern Province, Aband 2ighbouring colonization setreached the Nilaveli highway On workers who were engagen Trincomalee and the lead ingent. The Tamil workers n on both sides were injured e Trincomalee Police averted
saved the situation.
ion that the clash took place yake, who was a Minister in rchased a 400 acre Coconut n many years later, and settllies On that land. All this area, Le Trincomalee electorate, is Constituency of Seruwawila.
enthusiasm were witnessed Chers from the north and the rincomalee. By synchronised made to meet in a Confluence the Town. Thousands of men, march at the approaches to up at the esplanade in the ceninds presented a picture of tricolour flags of the Federal
convention lasted, the streets und Of patriotic slogans and fervour. Almost every home . At street junctions, on the people gathered, the topic of ge law and the Colonization Trincomalee and the whole
ion programme for the third planade which was scheduled

Page 134
to commence at 6.00 p. m. S contacted us to inform that to continue after 8.00 p. m. all the speeches.
S. Nadarajah and I met in p of speeches and the time allot experience in such matters disappoint speakers already would love to mount a pl magnitude as had gathered at There was an estimated crowd had assembled long before th We decided to limit the pro
The situation demanded f the squadron of Special Poli wicker-shields, batons and a form. The D. I. G. was prese:
The meeting, presided ove President of the Party and M. usual singing of the Party's javarothiam, Chairman of the for Trincomalee, delivered
President announced the one adopted by the Convention. Government to take the nece of an autonomous state for th traditional homeland of the It further said that in the eve do so within one year, the Fe paign of peaceful and non-vi the establishment of such as ed by M. M. Mustapha, M. P. gathering for five minutes.
Finally the address of the last stroke of 8 o'clock the concluded and requested the and orderly manner.
* For a full text of the Resolution, see "

ydney de Soyza, the D. I. G., had he would not allow the meeting That gave us only two hours for
private to prune down the number ted to each speaker. Readers with Nould know how difficult it is to - on the list, and how speakers atform before a crowd of the - Trincomalee esplanade that day. 1 of more than 25,000 people who
e meeting was due to commence. ceedings to the essentials only. Firmness. Shortly before 6.00 p.m. ce arrived at the esplanade with ll, and lined up behind the platnt in person. er by C. Vanniasingham, the New I. P. for Kopay, commenced with
national song. Then N. R. Rae Reception Committee and M. P. his welcome address. Next the e and only Resolution which was
The Resolution demanded the ssary steps for the establishment ne Tamil speaking people in their
Northern and Eastern Province. ent of the Government failing to
deral Party would launch a camblent direct action for achieving state.* The President was followfor Pottuvil, who addressed the
anks was delivered. Sharp at the President declared the meeting people to go home in a peaceful
Ceylon Faces Crisis".
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Page 135
The D. I. G. walked up to me us for our cooperation. He cor organization. S. J. V. Chelvanaya tyrants". Nadarajah had led the chers without any mishap. But leadership and his firm enforce such a large number of people on distance from Kankesanturai t daunted any other leader.
12:

and Nadarajah and thanked mplimented on the splendid kam called us both "The two northern contingent of marfor his wonderful talents of
ment of discipline, bringing |foot all the way over the vast o Trincomalee would have

Page 136
CHA
he national upheaval v Convention had enge
tinued without abaten There was a growing mood the Resolution approached showing any inclination to ] accustomed to the belief th good for its word, and expec to action to implement the ! could not have gone unrepo Colombo.
Sometime before the dea to meet with the Prime Mini to the Tamil problem. It was part of Stanley de Soyza, Bandaranaike's Government P. Navaratnarajah, the prom Bar, now a Queen's Counsel. by the Prime Minister hims
Navaratnarajah was knownt tionship with S. J. V. Chelva
A delegation from the F

APTER 9
which the Trincomalee March and ndered in the Tamil country connent in the months that followed. of expectancy as the deadline of -, and the Government was not respond. The people had become hat the Federal Party was always ted that it would definitely resort Resolution. The general situation orted to the echelons of power in
dline the Federal Party was invited ster to discuss a possible solution the result of a joint effort on the
the then Finance Minister in E and a brother of the D. I. G., and ninent Advocate of the Colombo The initiative was probably taken elf through his Finance Minister. o enjoy a very close friendly relaanayakam.
ederal Party met with the Prime
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Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranai residence at Horagolla in Veyangc of S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, C. Val N. R. Rajavarothiam, Dr. E. M. Stanley de Soyza and P. Navar, brought about the meeting were a in the discussions.
The Prime Minister had a kina of antagonism, and the discussi friendliest atmosphere. He initiat the seriousness of the Singhala C pression that it is a political giml perturbed about it as it would tak English could be replaced in the Courts and that English would ha
It may be that the Prime Mini he said this. He himself Could not r as he admitted when giving evider trial-at-bar case before the Suprem ty had a duty to look at the pri Minister's point of view, sincere t standpoint of the Tamil-speaking Act was a piece of legislation alrea Statute Book for all time. The Pal the symptoms of a more widesp) malady for which Tamil autonom remedy.
When the talks turned to fedel Minister that part inspiration fort actually came from his own early that a federal system of governm tion to Ceylon's racial problem. deed his opinion then, but he no people to establish a federal state. S we not think of an alternative that satisfy their aspirations? That was he said.
Vanniasingham and Dr. Nagar the Choksy Report on decentraliz and his own Gazetted draft sche
125

ke at his ancestral country da. The delegation consisted niasingham, V. A. Kandiah, V. Naganathan and myself. atnarajah, the friends who lso present and participated
ck of disarming any feelings OnS were Carried On in the ed the talks by playing down )nly Act as if to give the immick. He asked us not to be ke many, many years before administration and the law lve to Continue.
ster was quite Sincere when ead, Write or speak Singhala, hce in the Teja Gunawardene Le Court. But the Federal Paroblem, not from the Prime hough he was, but from the people. The Singhala Only ady occupying a place in the rty viewed it only as one of read and more deep-rooted hy alone could be a proper
alism, I reminded the Prime he Federal Party's objective writings which advocated ent would be an ideal soluHe replied that that was inW had no mandate from his Short of a federal state, could would allay Tamil fears and what he was thinking about,
athan drew his attention to ation of the administration *me for Regional Councils

Page 138
when he was Minister Of LO D. S. Senanayake. Their weak and both contemplated smal that those documents did hi asked the delegation to sub - "with some teeth" - which but short of federal autOnom again for further discussior
The delegation left Horac Prime Minister would be pre Party. Throughout the disc pathetic when the delegati Tamil-speaking people. The his true element. On the diff rather late in life he cracked Singhalese politician learn sheets." In spite of all the fr ference room, it was not wi Federal Party having to whi very outset of coming to gri that was how I felt personally that the Federal Party could in one leap at that early sta
Vanniasingham and I we be submitted to the Prime M posals Could notbe for a fede time we were Clear in Ou originated from the Federal at least in substance. Even a it is a matter of great persona ed to act on this line of think. at that time. Many years laten this document was unearthé into the hands of Dr. N.M. P along with the SLFP during Government' (1965 - 1970). ( attacking the Government in Containing some of the salie lustrate the 'sinister aim Oft Minister had taken into part proposals thus reached the F

Cal Government in the Cabinet Of ness was that both lacked "teeth", | areas. The Prime Minister agreed ave some very valuable ideas. He mit a scheme for decentralization in the Party may think necessary, y. He would study it and then meet
S.
Jolla wondering to what extent the spared to go to satisfy the Federal 'ussions he had been quite symon expressed the concern of the re were moments when he was in iculty of learning a new language i jokes about a certain prominent ing French in Paris "under the iendliness that pervaded the conthout some misgivings about the ttle down its political stand at the ps with the Government - at least y. At the same time it was also true not hope to achieve a federal state age of political development.
re asked to draft the proposals to Minister. It was clear that the proral autonomous state. At the same ur own mind that nothing that Party should be for anything less, ut this day while I am writing this all satisfaction to me that we deciding when we drafted the proposals , long after Bandaranaike's demise 2d from his personal files and fell 'erera who was in the Opposition g Dudley Senanayake's "National On one occasion when Perera was n Parliament, he read out excerpts 2nt features of our proposals to ilhe Federal Party whom the Prime tnership in the Government. The Hansard as a permanent record for
126

Page 139
posterity to see that even unde 1957 was not prepared to comp
Britto Muttunayagam, a Ba Ceylon Law College, was a repute Chelvanayakam and I called o discussed the matter with him. M political pattern of Northern Ire ship to Britain offered us an ideal dinate to the British Parliamen enjoyed a certain measure of a which was not federal in chara from the shelves of his private lib Ireland Constitution Act and ga the Article which provided that shall have power to repeal, amen law of the Northern Ireland Par latter a subordinate legislature.
Chelvanayagam's son-in-law, a Lecturer in Government at the Ceylon and now Professor at the in Canada, lent us a volume of i reference and gave us some ve
There was no time to be lost nosey. Vanniasingham and I work ed our draft proposals. Within
meeting the document was in th to be delivered to the Prime Mi
The scheme was largely bas model. External affairs, Defer Customs, Inter-regional Transpor tral Government in Colombo. T} have a unicameral legislature, ar The revenue will consist of blo Government to be supplemente ing will be a domestic responsibi for Tamil Affairs in the Central subordinate state will continue t tral Parliament in Colombo.
The next meeting with the Rosmead Place residence in Colo
127

er stress the Federal Party of promise its ideal.
rrister and Principal of the ed constitutional lawyer. S.J.V. en him at his residence and
uttunayagam thought that the eland (Ulster) and its relation
model. Its Parliament is suborut at Westminster, and yet it Lutonomy in domestic affairs acter. He pulled out a volume orary containing the Northern Eve it to us. He referred us to - the Westminster Parliament d, modify or enact afresh any liament, thereby making the
A. Jeyaratnam Wilson, then e University of Peradeniya in
University of New Brunswick the world's Constitutions for
y valuable suggestions. as the Press was getting to be ked day and night and producthree days of the Horagolla Le hands of P. Navaratnarajah
nister.
sed on the Northern Ireland ace, Currency and Stamps, t, would remain with the Cenne new subordinate state will nd a cabinet responsible to it. ock grants from the Central d by domestic taxation. Policility. There will be a Minister
Cabinet. The people of the Lo be represented in the Cen
e Prime Minister was at his ombo. This time the Party was

Page 140
represented by a smalle Chelvanayakam, Vanniasingh Prime Minister opened the studied the proposals carefully different from a federal state. be put down in points form to administration, and to avoid "Parliament' and 'Cabinet' + separate state.
A few days later a revised ing our proposals in points for the term "Regional Council" favourite term in his sche 'Cabinet' by the term "Boar substance of our proposals w
A series of discussions 1 Minister Stanley de Soyza, P.N tatives of the Federal Party on
Minister. The Prime Minister'; posal for a single Regional Cou prising the Northern and Ea instead that the two Provinces with a Council for each region
A.C. Nadarajah, a well-kn Bar and former member of Ba me at the Colombo Law Libra the ongoing negotiations. Evi been advised that on the Fede sistent on the single Regional C that the Prime Minister was pr Council for the whole of th Eastern Province has to hav Verugal River there have to be a long discussion, and in the Provinces were given one Co amalgamate, perhaps it migh Party.
The third and final meeti July 26 or 27, 1957, at the Prim building. Many prominent

r delegation consisting of am, Naganathan and myself. The talks by observing that he has - and thought they were not very He suggested that the proposals effect a decentralization of the d the use of such words like vhich carried the notion of a
document was delivered containem but replacing 'Parliament' by which was the Prime Minister's me for decentralization, and d of Directors". Otherwise the ras retained intact. followed between the Finance avaratnarajah, and the represenchanges proposed by the Prime s main objection was to our proancil for the entire country comestern Provinces. He suggested s be divided into several regions 1. The Party was opposed to this. .own Advocate of the Colombo andaranaike's Party (SLFP), met ry and wished to talk to me on idently the Prime Minister had ral Party side I was the most inCouncil principle. Nadarajah said epared to concede one Regional e Northern Province, but the e many, at least south of the e two or three Councils. We had end I suggested that if the two uncil for each with the right to t be acceptable to the Federal
ng took place on the night of Le Minister's Office in the Senate sinisters of the Cabinet were
28

Page 141
associated with the Prime Minis represented by a fuller de Chelvanayakam. The common fr narajah, was also present. The
midnight.
Opinions differed very wide ed to the Tamil language. The G that whatever solution was goir. to be without any sort of deroga Act. Finally it was Minister W.H versed in socialist jargon, who : given "the status of the langu. Whatever that term may mean ir context of the Singhala Only ( agreed to.
On the Regional Councils, the to concede one Council for the vince, but insisted that there shall cils for the Eastern Province. Councils the right to amalgama
The discussions then turned of delegation of the Minister's p cils without which there could n tralization of administration. T Phillip Gunawardene, totally re powers. It caused a deadlock, and to be rather embarrassed. The Fe for a while to enable the Govenn themselves. On resumption all delegation of their powers over Regional Councils.
The episode, however, raised own mind. Phillip Gunawardene end was particularly striking. Co or at least some elements on the tal reservations about the event of the terms? Or, could it be that intended to put the Federal Party tions for action in terms of t}
Whatever my doubts were, there it at that stage.
129

ter, and the Federal Party was legation led by S. J. V. riend and mediator, P. Navaratdiscussions went on till past
ly on the status to be accordDvernment side was very firm ag to be arrived at shall have tion to the Official Language . William Silva, who was well suggested that Tamil may be age of a national minority." n the actual application in the Dfficial Language law it was
e Prime Minister was prepared
whole of the Northern ProI have to be two or more counHe was willing to give the te. This also was agreed to. to the all important question Owers to the Regional Coun.ot be any meaningful decen'he Minister of Agriculture, fused to delegate any of his . the Prime Minister appeared deral Party on its own retired ient side to sort it out among the Ministers agreed to the the subjects assigned to the
considerable misgivings in my 's silent acquiescence in the uld it be that the Government,
· Government side, had menual implementation of some the whole effort was merely I off the track in its preparaLe Trincomalee Resolution? was nothing to be done about

Page 142
I cannot say that simili Chelvanayakam's mind. If th time. It is quite possible that a different angle. The maste politics and in the Court Roo the Prime Minister S.W. R. D. Ba to COmmit themselves to some Singhalese Government and nationhood of the Tamils, tha to the Tamils for legitimate were not intransigent or ave with the Singhalese by negot been his line of thinking was tle later that night.
Having disposed of the c question, the discussions nex Tamils of the hill country plant posals sent to the Prime Min. posed that these people be set Provinces on lands to be give we urged the proposal at the said that it was a matter he int the leaders of the people Cor the Federal Party to leave it
Incidentally, it may be a years later Felix Dias Bandara Bandaranaike's Government, document and is said to have r Silva, Minister of Lands, that t tained an excellent solution C.Pde Silva is said to have rep) these people. He intended to se ed in between Singhalese C Walawe Ganga Scheme in the believer in racial assimilation M. Ps: "LOok at me. Four Hun were Tamils who came from In is wrong with me?"
The Conference drew to a morning. I had taken down full was agreed to. The Prime Mir
1.

ar doubts did not register in ey did, he never said so at any he looked at the situation from r tactician that he was, both in m, he might have wished to get indaranaike and his Government 'thing on record to show that the people recognized the separate t their policies have given cause Jrievances, and that the Tamils rse to settling their differences iation. That this may well have attested by what happened a lit
lelegation of Minister's powers twent on to the problem of the tation districts. In its original proister the Federal Party had protled in the Northern and Eastern an to them permanently. When Conference, the Prime Minister ended to discuss and settle with Cerned, and that he would like at that.
pposite to mention here, many naike, Minister in Mrs. SirimavO happened to come across this emarked to his colleague C.P..de he Federal Party's proposal conto the "Indian Tamil problem". lied that he had a better idea for attle them in small pockets wedg'Olonist settlements under the South. C. P. de Silva was a great . He once told some of us Tamil dered years ago my forefathers dia. I am now a Singhalese. What
a close at about 2 o'clock in the notes of the terms as each point lister ordered the waiting Press
30

Page 143
to be let in. Representatives o Press trooped into the room. A clicked, the Prime Minister an ment from my notes.
S. J. V. Chelvanayakam a agreement he was withdrawin against the Government.
I went with Chelvanayakan ference was over. He knew tha that he was not either. He loo utter a word of comment. I voi ed that whatever the agreeme have a document to vouch for
We shall have to rely solely reports. He looked bewildere
He then recovered his con make an appointment with the and get a record embodying th ed by him. He asked me to tal document in duplicate. Chelva the Prime Minister's Office at parties. He told me on his retur
with the Prime Minister when h was read over by Gunawarden he (Chelvanayakam) signed it known as the Bandaranaike -
Within a few days of enterir. occasion to invoke the Pact. ingham saw the Prime Ministe tlement of Singhalese colonist a colonization scheme that was although the scheme would Regional Council of the area i under the Pact. The Prime Mi be done, and issued a statemen firm policy that the instrumen used so as to alter the racial co: ticular region. It must be said t faithfully honoured until his
* For the full text of this Pact, see "Ceylo

f the local as well as the world Ls their cameras and flashlights nounced the terms of the agree
nnounced that in view of the g the Federal Party's campaign
i to his residence when the cont I was not happy. It was obvious ked very grave, and would not ced my misgivings, and remark:nt was worth, we did not even
what either side has agreed to. on newspaper correspondents' 1 and stared at me. iposure and said that he would e Prime Minister that day itself Le terms of the agreement signke a little rest and prepare the nayakam took the document to noon and got it signed by both n that Phillip Gunawardene was ne called, and that the document e before the Prime Minister and t. This Agreement came to be Chelvanayakam Pact of 1957.* ag into it the Federal Party found
Chelvanayakam and Vanniaser and protested against the sets in the Eastern Province under s being pushed through in haste be within the purview of the when it came to be established nister agreed that it should not t declaring as his Government's ut of colonization should not be
mposition or pattern of any parLo his credit that this policy was tragic and untimely death.
on Faces Crisis".
31

Page 144
The B - C. Pact may have crisis that had been brewing i since the new Constitution wé in my own mind that it was o: or later it was bound to erup
I felt that it would help the is kept informed of the exist Ceylon. A. Amirthalingam, England to attend a Commonw meeting in the later part of 1 nam, M. P. for Chavakachche ticipate in a Moral Re-Arman Chelvanayakam and I decided distribution among the deleg other media men who would
The Party had none to a down and wrote out a small b FACES CRISIS. S. T. Sivanaya designed the front cover for th for printing. Chelvanayakam tiran Press to rush through the was under the very efficient i (now a lawyer) who had been to reorganize the establishmer had the assistance of a youn
Wilfred, who is now a succ cooperation of all of them the by two Air Mail parcels to Eng all accomplished within the sp first exercise by the Federal E
The events which have over that booklet, and which occup dication of the last and conclud Crisis". Those events began the B-C Pact was concluded.
The reaction to that Pac transplanting the British mode to the race-hate-infested soil
manner in which the system v All the Singhalese parties joint

staved off for the time being a - Singhalese-Tamil relations ever s introduced, but I had no doubt aly a temporary respite. Sooner E into something of a tragedy. Tamil cause if the world at large ence of this ethnic conflict in M. P. for Vaddukoddai, was in ealth Parliamentary Conference 957, and so was V. N. Navarateri, in the United States to paraent Congress at Lake Success. to send them some literature for ates, press correspondents and be at the two gatherings. ssist us at that time. So I sat poklet under the title CEYLON gam, Editor of the Sutantiram, se booklet and got a block made gave instructions to the Sutane printing. The press at the time management of T. Navaratnam brought in by Chelvanayakam nt and eliminate corruption. He g and able Master-Printer, M. essful businessman. With the
writing, printing, and dispatch and and the United States were ace of two weeks. This was the arty in foreign propaganda taken the country since writing
the following pages, are a vining paragraph of "Ceylon Faces ir career of disaster even as the
illustrated the unwisdom of of Party system of government f Ceylon. It was typical of the as taking root in the new soil. y created the conditions which

Page 145
gave rise to the Tamil problem became the plaything in their between themselves. They wo to the level of a national issue
The UNP mounted a terrifio accused S. W. R. D. Bandaranaik to the Tamils. It called upon th Pact. Its deputy leader, J. R. Ja Ceylon), in what looked like an Trincomalee March, organized bo to Kandy. He led the march the Kandy Road, where it was forces under the leadership of Gampaha. Although the march enlisted the powerful support o tinued the agitation demandin
G. G. Ponnampalam, for his played his shortsighted Tamil cused the Federal Party of havia imagination) of the Tamils to
Ceylon. He likened the Northe ghetto, and called upon the Tar a ghetto.
The implementation of the the Government, and the Federa Prime Minister to take the ne reminding him of the need to
In the meantime, a Departm a scheme which gave the impre pace of implementing the Singh
Whether the Government allor Department concerned acted or But it triggered a new wave of i
The Registrar of Motor Veh of assigning registration numbe tification plates of motor vehic have the English alphabetical le prefixed before the numerals. U ed, the Singhala letter SRI wou new series of registration num
13

.. And then the Tamil problem party politics and power games uld never allow it to be raised in the interest of the country. e campaign against the Pact and ce of having sold the Singhalese ne Singhalese to repudiate the ayawardene (later President of imitation of the Federal Party's la protest march from Coloma until it reached Gampaha on broken up by pro-Government E S. D. Bandaranaike, M. P. for I was abandoned, Jayawardene
f Buddhist clergymen and conng that the Pact be abrogated. part in support of the UNP, also Congress party politics. He acng surrendered the right (of his settle and live in any part of ern and Eastern Provinces to a mils to refuse to be confined to
Pact was the responsibility of al Party waited patiently for the :cessary measures. It kept on. take early steps. ent of Government decided on ssion of an attempt to force the ala Only Official Language Act. ned the step as a feeler, or the 1 its own, it is impossible to say. resentment among the Tamils. icles announced a new system ers to be exhibited on the idenles. The current system was to etters from the name CEYLON nder the new system announcld form an integral part of the .bers.
G

Page 146
SRI is the first syllable of island. The Tamils had at no tin five hundred years of known by that name. Later in 1972, 1 tion was unilaterally adopted t of the country was changed fro Tamils not only refused to aco also refused to recognize the now most Tamils do not refer t continue to call it Ceylon only. still is, ILANKAI.
The Tamil people, therefor tempt on the part of the Gov language down their unwilling only an affront to their natio but a violation of their basic lar they were being forced hencef insulting letter on their own buses carrying it.
It was, indeed, a trivial matt sole representative spoke however,took it seriously as a Registration of motor vehicle numbers would be within t Regional Councils under the F of Motor Vehicles was clearly make it impossible for the Co begin to function. If this was su ing what next. The Federal Pai the Prime Minister and request ed until after the Regional C
While the matter was under Party leaders and the Prime first bus of the state-owned Ce appearance at the Grand Bazi bearing the new number plat somewhat like a challenging ca ingam, M. P. for Vaddukodo volunteers went up to the bus ter by applying tar on it.

: the Singhalese name for the ne during the past two thousand history ever called the country when the Republican Constituy the Singhalese, and the name om CEYLON to SRI LANKA, the cept the new Constitution, they new name of the country. Even o the country as Sri Lanka, they In Tamil it has always been, and
e, regarded it as an insidious aternment to force the Singhala
· throats. They considered it not nal sentiment and self-respect, nguage right. They resented that orth to exhibit the offending and motor vehicles, and to ride in
er in itself. The people and their esman, the Federal Party,
clear violation of the B-C Pact. es and assigning identification che purview of the proposed Pact. The action of the Registrar y an attempt to forestall it and puncils to change it when they affered to pass, there was no tellrty lodged a strong protest with ed that the proposal be suspendpuncils are established. - discussion between the Federal Minister, one fine afternoon the eylon Transport Board made its aar Central Bus Stand in Jaffna e with the Singhala SRI. It was ll for a confrontation. Amirthallai, leading a group of Party and obliterated the Singhala let
34

Page 147
News of the event reached us dent, Vanniasingham, was in Col Consultation, he rushed to Jaff no question of any retreat. As m Stand with the Singhala SRI, ba under the President's on-the-sp peaceful Campaign of obliterati were all arrested by the Police
In view of what happened a fe expressed at the time that the fir taken without the Party conside a decision, particularly as thema highest level. But then, in politics which demand quick action. It SCapegoats when one knows tha find One excuse Or another for
A few days later, in February robed Buddhist monks occupi Minister's residence at Rosme demanded that the B-C Pact be S. W. R. D. Bandaranalike appea: them, announced that he was a Federal Party has committed a anti-SRI campaign against the C as all that. But it was no surpris
Now, whatever its shortComi Pact was in the nature of an inte Singhalese and Tamil nations. For ty if it is not an arrangement by and therefore two or more peop and Conditions under which the future friction, and Continue the mutual friendship? The aim of t
The Tamils and the Singhales dependent nations for ages past history threw them together as same island home which came foreign powers. The withdrawal C challenge to the leaders of both going to allow a revival of the
135

sin Colombo, The Party Presilombo at the time. After quick na. Of course, there was now Ore buses appeared at the Bus toh after batch of volunteers lot leadership carried on the ing the Singhala letter. They and remanded.
ew days later there were views st action should not have been 2ring the situation and taking tter was being discussed at the ; sometimes situations do arise is not a question of finding t the Government can always any of its actions.
1958, a large group of saffronLed the lawn of the Prime sad Place in Colombo and
torn up. The Prime Minister red and, after parleying with brogating the Pact since the Dreach of it by launching the Sovernment. It was so simple Se.
ngs might have been, the B-C rnational treaty between the , what is an international treawhich two or more nations, оles, solemnly agree to terms 2y settle their disputes, avoid 'ir separate lives in peace and ..he B-C Pact was just that.
e have been two sovereign inuntil a fortuitous course of fellow subject peoples in the
under the Common rule of Df the last power posed a great peoples - whether they were 2 medieval antagonisms and

Page 148
S and Udines en
constant warrings or, as enli task of nation building by la prosperous and peaceful mo dependence under UNP rule that the Singhalese opted fo
The Federal Party was no Singhalese betrayals of sole entered into the B - C Pact a: if good sense would prevail a
W. R. D. Bandaranaike has ta hoped that the Pact would pr peoples could evolve a way, self-respect, to co-exist in pea domination by the one or 1 respective identities and cont the common good of the coul opportunities for the creatio peoples would forget their h
medieval outlook, and attune tions of the modern world.
Had Bandaranaike been g with his stature as a statesma he might well have succeede such a future for Ceylon. Bu wallowed in the medieval we Culavamsa, would not let hin John Kotelawala before him, h of J. R. Jayawardene and the grown up as a Buddhist, he ha of the Buddhist clergy. These ideas from his for the future o bitions, and in whose politica had no place.
The drama on the Prime ed the victory of Bandaranail treat the B-C Pact like Adolf I taking which he gave to Nev them the B-C Pact was just a the Munich paper to Hitler.

ghtened men, settle down to the ying the foundation for a strong, dern state. The first years of inhad made it unmistakably clear r the former. t unaware of the long history of mn agreements. Nevertheless, it s yet another attempt to explore
mong the Singhalese now that S. ken over their leadership. It was ovide a base from which the two consistent with their dignity and ace and harmony without fear of che other, and to develop their ribute, each in their own way, for atry as a whole. The Pact offered n of conditions in which the two Listorical animosities, shed their e themselves to the global condi
iven a chance, it is quite possible, n and his personal qualities, that din building the foundations for t his political enemies, who still orld of the Mahavamsa and the o have that opportunity. Like Sir le failed to reckon with the power : UNP. Not having been born or d little understanding of the ways 2 were forces who had different of the country, and different aml power play sanctity of a treaty
Minister's lawn, therefore, markce's enemies. They forced him to Hitler treated his solemn underille Chamberlain at Munich. To s much a piece of paper as was
136

Page 149
It is sometimes amusing to r and importance the two major Sir ed in their innermost conscience C Pact, and make frantic efforts t themselves drowning. There wer the other of them, the SLFP or th ty with an offer to implement the ty would help with its votes in Pa Government or to form a new 1960, again in 1964, and finally i their reason told them it contai
which was beneficial to the count because the lure of personal amb domination stepped in to overco
The Federal Party continue Singhala SRI number plates igr charge that the Party had violat gathered momentum and spread the Northern and Eastern Provin were arrested and imprisoned. served short jail terms. Chelvan Batticaloa gaol for a short term.
At one stage it was brought to tarring the Singhala letter caus language and was not in keeping Satyagraha. Tarring the Singhala and it was decided to display the " Singhala letter. This change had t the message that the Tamils we language, and it symbolized theit for the Tamil and Singhala lang
An eventful occasion was wh ed the Federal Party in the camp enthusiasm G. G. Ponnampalam j to lead a long motorcade througl ing number plates with Tamil ano side. I was prosecuted in a test o both the Tamil and Singhala lett there was no violation of the la
137

eflect on what a great value aghalese parties really attache to this piece of paper, the B-o cling to it when they found re occasions when the one or e UNP, ran to the Federal Pare Pact if only the Federal Pararliament to prop up a falling Government. It happened in n 1965. But that was because ned the germs of something cry. And then it led to nothing ition and the desire for racial ome the dictates of reason. -d its campaign against the noring the Prime Minister's ced the Pact. The movement to all the cities and towns in ces. Thousands of volunteers All Members of Parliament ayakam was imprisoned in a
p the notice of the Party that sed offence to the Singhala
with the tenets and spirit of letter was therefore given up, Tamil letter SRI alongside the Ehe moral value of conveying ere not against the Singhala r demand for parity of status lages. aen the Tamil Congress joinpaign. Amidst scenes of wild bined S. J. V. Chelvanayakam n the streets of Jaffna carry1 Singhala SRI letters side by case for driving my car with ers, but the Court held that N and threw out the case.

Page 150
CHAP
he Federal Party was nov left the Trincomalee Res
Prime Minister's invitatio weakness, but because of a ge with the Singhalese. It accepte good faith, even though it wa trusting that the Government represented had an equally be
The repudiation of that se message, namely, that the Singh ment were in no mood to deal v except on terms of Tamil subse left with no choice but to meet in terms of the Trincomalee Re tion of the Party for 1958 was, in Vavuniya.
The Trincomalee Resolutio ment was partially met by the days after the signing the Party was held at Batticaloa in the E was therefore attended by p Muslims vied with one another i
13

TER 10
v back in square one where it solution. It had agreed to the n for a dialogue, not out of any nuine desire to come to terms d the negotiated settlement in s a climbdown from its ideal,
and the Singhalese people it ona fide intention.
ettlement conveyed only one nalese people and their Governvith the Tamil-speaking people rvience. The Federal Party was the challenge and take action solution. The Annual Conventherefore, summoned to meet
on's ultimatum to the Governsigning of the B-C Pact. Three As Annual Convention for 1957 astern Province. The occasion ppular rejoicings. Tamils and n demonstrating their happiness
6

Page 151
induced by a sense of achieveme something big. The Muslim rural Convention mess room with pro dairies. A feeling of having avert ment pervaded the Convention g
In marked contrast was the C Vavuniya. An atmosphere of ten pervaded the two days of the pro foreboding gripped everyone in V gravity of the decision the Federa launch direct action hung like a ł of the Convention. There was no frontation with the Government
Then there was another facto mosphere of gloom. The air was t Singhalese were preparing to un Tamils. In Batticaloa Tamil hamlets a Tamil Railway Guard murdere reached Vavuniya that the body w that the Mail Train carrying it Vavuniya in the small hours after town decided to stay awake to m respects to the body.
The Subjects Committee of the the whole day, and continued t resolutions from the Working Com would have to be passed in the Sub going to the plenary session of the tion. It is in the Subjects Committe debated. Adoption at the plenary At Vavuniya that night the Subjec in a heated and boisterous debate tion. But it was interrupted every n bing rumours which reached the
Reports were received that a thugs were approaching Vavuniy Federal Party volunteers took upp the town. Some townspeople alerte who was in residence in Vavuniya ed his men to guard all the four a
139

nt and in the expectation of folk in particular filled the duce from their farms and ed a clash with the Governgrounds.
onvention for 1958 held at sion, gloom and solemnity ceedings. A feeling of grim Pavuniya. For one thing, the 1 Party was about to take to heavy cloud over the venue knowing what an open con
would lead to. or which aggravated the athick with rumours that the leash violence against the had already been burnt, and d by the Singhalese. News as being taken to Jaffna and would be passing through midnight. Everybody in the eet the train and pay their
! Convention was in session hrough the night. Official imittee (the Party executive) jects Committee first before : Convention for final adop:e that a resolution is really session is more a formality. ts Committee was engaged ! Over an important resoluow and then by very disturCommittee room. band of armed Singhalese a to sack the town. Local ositions in groups to defend :dC. Suntharalingam, M. P.,
He came out and dispatchpproaches. He armed them

Page 152
with firearms hurriedly colle True to his party's name, hel junction in the centre of 1 Vavuniya during the days of ed to a territorial division (District that cannot be cowed taken that name for his part
The vigil was not relaxed that the whole thing was a so to the tension in the Commi
The main business to go b Convention was a resolution launch a peaceful and non-vi civil disobedience for the a Tamil-speaking state in terms That resolution was approv
without dissent.
Flowing from that decisio: was another question which tary activities of the Federal latter question seriously affe in relation to the decision to
The Party's demand, and t campaign, was for the repla of the unitary Constitution
Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaran Joint Select Committee on C and report on changes to the
was represented in that CC Chelvanayakam. His continu tee seemed somehow to be in civil disobedience, and would and earnestness of the cam Committee, on the other han of seriousness of the Party's be the first "shot" marking t dience campaign.
The difficulty was to per issue from this angle. His attit tary Joint Select Committee v

cted from the surrounding farms. himself took up a position at the the town directing operations. the Vanni Chieftaincies belongknown as the "adanga patru" I down), and Suntharalingam had
y.
until it was known at daybreak 'are. All the same, it contributed ttee room. before the plenary session of the n that the Federal Party would olent direct action movement of ichievement of an autonomous : of the Trincomalee Resolution. red in the Subjects Committee
n, as a necessary corollary, there had a bearing on the ParliamenParty. It appeared to me that this -cted the credibility of the Party e resort to civil disobedience.
he objective of the contemplated cement, and not a mere reform,
which was in force. The Prime aaike had set up a Parliamentary onstitutional Reform to examine
Constitution. The Federal Party ommittee by its leader S. J. V. ned membership in the Commitcongruous and inconsistent with - certainly detract from the force paign. His withdrawal from the d, was bound to carry a message decision. Moreover, it would also he beginning of the civil disobe
suade the Leader to look at the ude to the work of the ParliamenJas well known. Quite apart from 140

Page 153
his usual belief in the importance he attached great value to the de Select Committee, if not for any C sure that the Committee did
strength of the Tamils in Parliam ed that if he was not there the Sel to tamper with Tamil representat Scheme for the redistribution of P
There is no doubt that the p were at the Cross roads between battle and a direct action campa the replacement of the very Co Parliamentary system worked. Ci non-cooperation with the Govel
I discussed the matter with Va Amirthalingam,and suggested th resolution requesting Chelvanay shup of the Joint Select Committe dience and non-Cooperation can upon. All agreed that that was the niasingham showed reluctance himself. He asked me to do it.
I knew why Vanniasingham wi me of a whispering campaign afo torate to the effect that Vanniasir Chelvanayakam in the leadershi a most malicious and preposterol from the truth. It is difficult to upright, sincere and honest gen as a person. All his greatness as memory of people, was thrust on it.
As a matter of fact, thoughts something that was alien to the was only during what may be call of the Party that underhand mar rid of possible and imagined ri became a characteristic feature til then all were fighters and lawb
In Constituency matters a
141

of Parliamentary institutions, liberations of this particular ther reasons, at best to make nothing to undermine the 2nt. He was greatly concernect Committee might attempt ion under the guise of a new arliamentary Constituencies,
ossibility was there. But we the Parliamentary forum of ign of civil disobedience for institution under which that vil disobedience implies that 'nment has to be total.
nniasingham, Nadarajah and at Vanniasingham propose a rakam to resign his member2e in view of the Civil disobepaign the Party has decided ! correct step to take, but Van
to propose the resolution
as reluctant. He had Once told ot in the Kankesanturai elechgham was trying to supplant p of the Federal Party. It was 1slie. Nothing can be farther find a more straightforward, tleman than Vanniasingham a leader, still treasured in the him, not that he sought after
of position and power were Federal Party at the time. It ed the "Tiruchelvam Period" Loeuvres and intrigues to get rals for positions and office of Federal Party politics. Uneakers in a freedom struggle.
s in Parliamentary affairs,

Page 154
Chelvanayakam never had a viser and colleague than Vai ly on Vanniasingham's judg and affairs more than on a whom and why the lie wa enemies who would love to leaders. Vanniasingham, he ever wanting to appea Chelvanayakam.
I proposed the resolutio dragged on till the early ho side was prepared to yield-t to a vote. The resolution w
Chelvanayakam was stu minutes. Then he made an bombshell: "In that case, Io campaign. How can I lead i ment?" he asked. The meet: note.
In the morning most of Rest House. While sipping hi given serious thought to the night. I will lead the campa off the heads of all those p
About two months later, rest, and some of us were ta escort for a meeting, we wer looking fresh, and we said s be more happy when I tell y ter of resignation from the Minister. I am convinced tha Therein lies the true greatne leader. He never hesitated to he was wrong. His ability to of his colleagues was truly
The Convention at Vavu Party girding up its loins for gle perforce was to be carrie perience of the Galle Face G still fresh in the mind, and s

a more loyal and trusted friend, adaniasingham. He relied very heavirement and his knowledge of men anybody else's. Nobody knew by as started, but both had political D drive a wedge between the two owever, reacted by being wary of ar, even remotely, opposing
on,and a heated debate ensued. It urs of the morning. Since neither he matter was eventually pressed as carried by a majority. inned. He sat silent for a full five
announcement which fell like a cannot lead the civil disobedience if you have no faith in my judgeing adjourned for the day on that
us were assembled for tea at the s tea Chelvanayakam said, "I have
matter. I withdraw what I said last ign." His words took a great load resent. when we were all under house arken to his residence under Police e happy to see him well rested and o. He smiled and said, "You might ou that I have already sent my let: Select Committee to the Prime t you were right and I was wrong." ss of Chelvanayakam as a people's » admit it if he was convinced that win the confidence and affection
marvellous. iniya concluded with the Federal a long-drawn struggle. That strugd on in the Tamil country. The exreen and the City of Colombo was erved as a warning that however 142

Page 155
much non-violent that Party m Singhalese side had no respect restraint. But notwithstanding a Party, the rabidly nationalist f took to pre-emptive mob action Convention ended.
It may be well to keep in m: W. R. D. Bandaranaike in 1956 era in the political history of t common man. And the beginn mon man, in terms of the revol political affairs, was reflected
Whereas the first two Parlia elected in 1947 and 1952, perh won freedom, managed to mai the spirit, of the democratic wa and national affairs, the new er daranaike may have liberated norance and made him consciou but at the same time he also u evil potential. He himself was f: understand the true potentiality he over-estimated his ability to not permitted to live long enou ing control of the country, for ] very same forces.
The new era is a contem] calamity to the Tamils, calamity to the country as a whole. Th mood to admit the latter two C the concern of the Tamils.
The new era also saw the ei of state power. Ultra nationalis political leaders among the Sing into private hoodlum armies o purposes they have virtually be for well over a quarter of a cent are being used to crush the Ta to destroy the trade union me
If the non-violent civil disob

ay try to keep its campaign the
or appreciation for any such il the peaceful intentions of the orces in the SLFP Government mmediately after the Vavuniya
.nd again that the victory of S. narked the beginning of a new ne country. It is the era of the ng of this new era of the comutionary change it wrought in in the new Parliament. iments of independent Ceylon Laps in the first flush of newly atain at least the norms, if not Lys of conducting Government a had no such inhibitions. Banthe common man from his igis of his rights and latent power, nleashed forces which had an ar too civilized and cultured to - of the evil forces, and possibly contain them. Anyway, he was gh to witness these forces takhe was the first victim of these
porary history of calamities-- to the Singhalese, and calamity e Singhalese are still not in a calamities. But that is no more
mergence of a new instrument st Members of Parliament and halese took to organizing mobs E their own. For all intents and ecome a recognized institution ury since 1956. They were and mils, and they have been used vement. edience campaign contemplated

Page 156
by the Trincomalee Resolutio the signing of the B-C Pact in to go ahead with the campaig Government unleashing mot Public Security Act to proscr. its leaders under preventive de intervening period of some ti mobilize the hoodlum army a
On the day following the squads of the Singhalese hoo dealing with the Tamils. They destruction and wanton bruta tah in Colombo, where most o shops were concentrated, the plied the torch and destroye vehicles. They beat up and th lay their hands on. By nightfa to every corner of the City o
That night a mob of abot residence at Hulftsdorp in Co
Ministry of Justice and Supren had to be gained through the 25 Molotov's cocktails (petrol b every throw. The front part of furniture, doors and frames ca and I and a house- aid by the n of the Thevar clan of Tamils, w
We gathered our little childre and telling them to run where pened to us, we ourselves took into the living room ready to fa
made no attempt to enter the ammunition was exhausted.
Ilearned later from a muti house was planned and organi at a Buddhist Temple in Mara his men not to cause bodily ha ing my house. This friend, him finest quality and refinement warn me in advance but was my absence in Vavuniya.

en was rendered unnecessary by
1957, the Vavuniya Resolution gn in 1958 was thwarted by the - violence and by invoking the ibe the Federal Party and place etention. It looked as though the en months had been utilized to nd have them ready for action. Vavuniya Convention the goon alum army took over the task of
went on a rampage of senseless ality. Starting first with the Petf the Tamil business houses and y attacked, smashed, looted, apd shops, houses, buildings and arashed every Tamil they could all the mob violence spread out ef Colombo and its suburbs. ut 40 or 50. thugs attacked my lombo although it adjoined the me Court Buildings and entrance Court gates. They hurled at least bombs) calling out my name with the house was smashed, and the aught fire and burned. My wife ame of Muthusamy,a brave man ere the only adults in the house. !n, all 14 to 1 1/2 years of age, ver they could if anything hapour position by the door leading ce the worst. The mob, however, house but passed on when their
tal friend that the attack on my zed by a Member of Parliament dana. I guess he had instructed rm to the inmates while attackself a Singhalese Buddhist of the , had made several attempts to unable to contact me owing to
14

Page 157
The next day I noticed that t the situation and kept my hous for loot. With the help of a Sing I escaped with the family to tak on the other side of the Suprem
my wrecked house. The relativ quarter of Hulftsdorp and was
Dr. E. M. V. Naganathan car with Balasubramaniam, a young with strong Federal Party symp my wrecked house to retrieve so heeding my protests. An hour clothes drenched in blood that juries. His car was smashed. A fe burning bricks soaked in petrol. given chase to the ruffians with but the ruffians disappeared into Buildings.
Irushed Dr. Naganathan to I at Grandpass and had him atten sights which God forbid any mar
mob violence were writhing in tain life. They bore eloquent test brutality and torture which som on their fellow human beings. V terness of feeling against those fering for no reason except tha
In three days the mob violer ed all parts of the country and v action. It was not until the Prime by the Governor General Sir Oli prominent Tamil citizens of Colo tion was taken. The Prime Mini then invoked the Public Securit Emergency under which the Arr ed out to restore law and order. clamped down, and eventually th control by the firm and disciplin forces.
By which time, as mentioned
145

he local thugs had taken over e under observation, possibly halese lawyer friend of mine se shelter in a relative's home Le Court Building abandoning Fe's house was in the Muslim therefore relatively safer.
me to visit me in the evening officer in Government service
athy. He insisted on going to ome essential articles without - later he returned with his
was streaming from head inEn hoodlums had attacked with He and Balasubramaniam had hockey sticks in their hands, the maze of the District Court
Dr. Sulaiman's Private Hospital aded to. In that Hospital I saw a to see. Victims of Singhalese agony, not just fighting to retimony to the type of horrible ne human beings could inflict Jho can help developing a bit
who could inflict all this suft the victims were Tamils? ace against the Tamils engulfvas not abated by any official e Minister was prevailed upon ver Goonetilleke, whom some embo had interviewed, that acster S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike y Act and declared a State of ny and Naval Forces were call
An island-wide curfew was Le situation was brought under ed action of the then security
- earlier in a previous chapter,

Page 158
more than 20,000 Tamils hac women, children and babes camps in the City of Colom tant danger from the mobs t to their homeland in Trincon A retired senior Police offic later in our detention camp things he saw on one of the open deck he saw a father to bread down the throat of a other nourishment. It was a father had managed to save i visitor was so carried at perpetrators of the violence he said things which need n are the feelings which gave one generation later.
Curiously, under the peo ed in Ceylon the perpetra organized and incited the m reach of the long arm of the sion fell on the representat tern which is characteristic present day, and they call i
Under the Emergency Pe ed itself with the Federal Par the Sutantiran newspaper wa and the Sutantiran Press and Party leaders were all place Parliament belonging to the were on their way home af
Chelvanayakam, Nagan residences were in Colombo in their own homes. Police g to guard the places round th in Mannar, Jaffna, Trincoma placed under house arrest Police.
The Members of Parliam on their way from Parliame

a become homeless refugees-men, in arms, crowding in two refugee bo. Their lives were in such conshat they were evacuated by ships nalee and Jaffna to save their lives. cer, who came to visit some of us -, tearfully described some of the refugee ships. In one place on the Fying to force a small piece of dry
month-old baby for want of any - piece from a half-loaf which the n camp for more than a week. Our way by his anger against the which caused so much misery that Lot be repeated in print. But these rise to the Tamil freedom fighters
culiar brand of democracy practistors of the violence, those who
obs, continued to be beyond the law, but the heavy hand of represives of the victims. That is a patof all the Governments up to the t Democracy. ower which the Government armety was proscribed, publication of Es banned, and Party Headquarters : Office closed and sealed, and the ed under arrest. The Members of e Party were arrested when they ter leaving Parliament. athan and .V. A. Kandiah, whose , were placed under house arrest uards were posted at their houses ae clock. The leaders who resided alee and Batticaloa were similarly and their homes guarded by the
ent who were arrested on the road nt and whose normal residences 146

Page 159
were not in Colombo, and I wh been wrecked and made unir special detention camp under h A Government bungalow at S Road in Colombo usually re Supreme Court Judge was con for the seven of us, namely, Kopay), N. R. Rajavarothiam Navaratnam (M. P. for Chavaka P. for Batticaloa), A. Amirthali G. Nalliah (Senator) and me.
We all occupied the upper downstairs only at meal times.' by the Police post and the Kitch entirely Singhalese, but one co courteous and obliging team of a paradise if it were peopled b
The house arrest and detei June, July and August, 1958. D Federal Party was not heard in
man who stood up to castigate ference and apparent tolerance perpetrated against the Tamils a He was Edmund Samarakkody, ment who belonged to the orig (LSSP). He was a true socialist
Samarakkody's socialism a the spirit of socialism, and the socialism of most of his colleag that socialism must become pli politics required it to bend - bei away the fundamental and hun nying worker's trade union r ticipating in capitalist govern
It is perhaps undesirable to around the world one cannot h votaries of socialism are mostly tual attraction rather than by th feeling for the plight of the downtrodden masses and a ger.
14

ose residence in Colombo had habitable, were all held in a eavy Police and military guard. tanmore Crescent off Bullers served as a residence for a verted into a Detention Camp C. Vanniasingham (M. P. for
M. P. for Trincomalee), V. N. chcheri), C. Rajadurai (First M. ngam (M. P. for Vaddukoddai),
' storey of the house, coming The ground floor was occupied Len staff. The kitchen staff was uld not have wished for a more
men. Ceylon would indeed be iy men of this specimen.
ntion lasted for three months, uring that time the voice of the Parliament. But there was one : the Government for its indife of the violence and atrocities and the injustices done to them. a Singhalese Member of ParliaFinal Lanka Sama Samaja Party in the real sense of the term. dhered to the letter as well as erefore was different from the gues in the LSSP. who believed iable as and when opportunist nd even to the extent of taking man rights of the people, or deights of strike action, or par
nents.
generalize, yet when we look elp being inclined to think that drawn to it more by its intellece dictates of the heart, a sincere
toiling, underprivileged and zuine desire to pull them out of

Page 160
the morass. The youth in the intellectual activity, in that in questioning years of adolesc tual thrill of discovering som fers a revolutionary challeng they see around them. As m with the struggle to be st discovered philosophy of soc. to climb to the top, and not a tised so as to win the Confider fess to help. They tend to le platforms, and a not-so-differe life off the platform.
This probably is one of th the present day the socialis wiped out, and the trade unio it almost Crushed.
Edmund Samarakkody, or he preached even from his e good friends from our student notes on the theory and prat ing from a rich aristocratic Sil ed his nose while working in Mount Lavinia. As a true Soci between a Singhalese and a To him they were all human
More than fifty years agc M. Perera had just returned fi ing to start the LSSP. He had to the Mount Lavinia Police St Road. A group of young meni Fernando (Later M. P, for Ko myself and others, after atter till a couple of hours beforer tion since one in the group ha a motor accident earlier in the we all got out in a bunch anc grass lawn not knowing the CC suddenly we heard a splash fallen into a well. The Police nobody would make any atte

universities and other places of Iuisitiveness characteristic of the nce, get attracted by the intellecething new and different that ofe to the existing order of things aturity brings them face to face omebody, they see the newly alism only as an unfailing ladder something to be lived and pracce of the masses whom they proad a double life - a socialist on int-from-existing-order pattern in
le reasons why in the Ceylon of t movement has been virtually n movement which depended on
the other hand, practised what arly youth. He and I have been , days when we used to, exchange ctice of socialism. Though comnghalese family, he never twichthe slums and fishing villages of alist he never saw any difference famil or a Muslim or a Burgher. beings.
, in about 1932 or 1933, Dr. N. "om England and was campaigna meeting in a school hall next ation then located at the Station including Samarakkody, Terence lonnawa), Vernon Gunasekera, ding that meeting which lasted hidnight, went to the Police Stada complaint to lodge regarding day. After finishing the business I walked straight across a large rrect exit. It was pitch dark, and of water. One in our group had men brought out lanterns but mpt to rescue the unfortunate
48

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boy, Terence Fernando and Iwere on us. He borrowed mine, and kn to reach the struggling boy to ma he dropped the shawls. Eventual out the dead body with one han inquest a Singhalese man in
examined me closely with refere vey a veiled suggestion that after might have pushed a Singhalese only Tamil in the group, Edmun him savagely and made him shu
It is no wonder that such ama at what his people perpetrated a lashed out against the Goverr Emergency in Parliament. It is th the Tamil-Singhalese problem w. nuine socialist. When his fellow abandon their faith in socialism Current of Singhalese nationalis) interest to continue to swim agai refused to deviate from his belief ciples.
The year 1958 also saw are true status of the Tamils in Cey. Government introduced a Bi reasonable use of the Tamil lar Language Special Provisions Bill one the impression that a situatic required an Act of Parliament to na to speak to his Tamil wife in too not until the Minister mai spheres in which that could be
The Government chose to Federal Party Members of Parlia detention and Police custody. S. Parliament whether the MPs of allowed to participate in the de Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Band wished he was willing to allow th under Police guard.
149

in national dress with Shawls otting two ends together, tried ke him hold it. In the attempt y the Police managed to take i clutching the shawl. At the Arya Singhala dress Crossnce to the shawl tryingto conthat political meeting a Tamil
boy into the well. I was the d Samarakkody pounced on tt up.
in could not oontain his anger gainst the Tamils in 1958. He ment while discussing the his universality of attitude to hich marked him out as a gesocialists of the LSSP would and decide to Swim with the (m. because it was not in their instit, Edmund Samarakkody in true socialism and its prin
vealing commentary on the lon after independence. The ll in Parliament "for the guage" known as the Tamil . It is a measure which gave n has arisen in Ceylon which permit Tamil husband in Jaffthe Tamil language, and that de regulations defining the done
introduce the Bill when the ment were under preventive pmeone raised a question in
the Federal Party would be ate on the Bill, to which the aranaike replied that if they em to be brought to the House

Page 162
The Prime Minister's W Chelvanayakam, and he repli anything without consulting h ranged to take our group in the Camp under Police guard to C a meeting. Naganathan and V. from their homes under simila to inform the Prime Minister th in any proceedings of Parliam
Parliament passed the Bi Members. It remained without years. Several attempts were n It was even incorporated in the the Soulbury Constitution. To almost a dead letter, not wa basically it reflects an attitude which was most graphically r years ago that you can buy a Tai

illingness was conveyed to ed that he was unable to say is colleagues. The Ministry ar- Stanmore Crescent Detention Chelvanayakam's residence for
A. Kandiah were also brought ar Police guard. It was decided hat the MPs will not participate
ent except as free men.
without the Federal Party E being implemented for many hade to improve its provisions. e Constitutions which replaced oday, with all that, it remains nted by either side. Because, e on the part of the Singhalese Put by a Buddhist monk many mil with a cup of tea and a cigar.
50

Page 163
CHAPTE
n the next year, 1959, the Singh were hit by two calamities wh
history in certain respects to peoples. Both were sudden and unfo found effect on the politics of the
The Prime Minister S. W. R. D. to assassination in September, 1959 the very forces he had unleashe destroyed him in the end. He was and died of the gunshot wounds. II Ceylon, for unlike some countries priesthood in modern Ceylon hac dulge in political assassination. Per active role which the clergy was t of state.
During the short time that he daranaike was known to have been ty system of government as had
Government he headed was not although his SLFP enjoyed an abso He took in some socialist elements formed a coalition which was kno
151

2 11
alese and the Tamil peoples ich changed the course of the detriment of both the preseen, and both had a proE country.
Bandaranaike fell a victim . It was said at the time that ed in his thirst for power shot by a Buddhist bhikku C was a new experience for of the Far East the Buddhist I never been known to inhaps it was a portent of the beginning to play in affairs
was Prime Minister, Bannot too happy with the pardeveloped in Ceylon. The
a one-party government ute majority in Parliament. from outside his party and wn as the Mahajana Eksath

Page 164
Peramuna (MEP) - a People's
elements in his Government gave him a comfortable termi for a future historian to ana daranaike and to assess his COr be Out of place to hazardan op. ed a longer life to guide his consolidated his position and practice his ideas for a more
and a more broadbased syste which had been reduced to or ment, Could never have Come well have disintegrated as did gress. In any event, his assassi office was indeed a calamity
Singhalese Common people we ed the way for Ceylon jettisor to the savagery and barbaris)
On the Tamil side, the peo the sudden passing away in ingham, deputy leader of the F His colleagues all knew that h sion, but nobody ever imagin Soon. In the Stanmore CreSCe quently afflicted with giddine bore it stoically and put up a b instructions of the Prime Mir he was given every care and I tion needed. He was put on s from salt. The Government S gadget for him to prepare skin hand of Fate, however, snatche ing a void in the Federal Part
In the death of Vanniasing of the wisest and most selfles history. Had he lived a few mo. certainly have weathered ma. ed the Party since his death avoided the misfortune O "Tiruchelvam Period" of the taken during that period and

United Front. The opportunist and the ruling Coalition never n office. It is, of Course, a matter alyze the rise and fall of Banntribution. However, it would not inion that had he been vouchsafpeople, he would probably have drawn the strength to put into equitable constitutional device m of administration. The UNP, hly eight Members in the Parliaback to power and might very I the old Ceylon National Connation after only three years in as far as the vast masses of the ere concerned and, perhaps, pavning democracy and slipping inm of the middle ages.
ple were dealt a mortal blow in December 1959 of C. Vanniasederal Party and M. P. for Kopay, he was suffering from hypertened that the end would come so :nt Detention Camp he was fre2ss and other symptoms, but he old front. Thanks to the special hister, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, nedical attention that his condipecial diet and total abstention itores even purchased a special nimed milk(mor). The inexorable d him away from our midst leavy that was never to be filled.
gham the Tamil people lost one ss leader they ever had in their re years the Federal Party would ny of the Crises which bedevilland would most definitely have of what may be called the Party and the suicidal decisions leading to the final liquidation
52

Page 165
of the Party. And, who knows? t have been spared the horrors and 83.
For the Federal Party now ente Until now, it was never cast in the it was dragged into playing the g in Parliamentary politics.
Until now the Party had never or influenced by any interests ex ple in general. The leadership ha clear of vested interests or ambitio ter that some of the leaders were i in Jaffna, and still others in Ti elsewhere - Chelvanayakam, Nag I were in Colombo; Vanniasingham in Jaffna; Rajavarothiam, Rajadur Province. Scattered though we ma was so well-knit that no disruptiv influence Party policies and de ingham had his home in Jaffna h bo than in Jaffna, so that the leadership and consultation on im available to Chelvanayakam in C Council of Elders and attempt to how important this was for the fi ment. Unfortunately, however, thi back and disorganization when V from our midst by his death in 19 Jaffna in 1958 consequent on the Colombo and my incarceration. Party leaders in Colombo thus machinations of the English-ed telligentsia.
It was the beginning of the net Colombo Tamil intelligentsia is a cl individuals who had retired fro
Government office and whose ves in and around Colombo. Their i nothing more than what happens no conception of the basic fundan Singhalese-Tamil conflict, and the
153

ne Tamil people might even slaughter of the Black July
ered a new phase in politics. role of king-makers, but now ame of "balance of power"
- allowed itself to be swayed cept those of the Tamil peod always taken care to steer us individuals. It did not matresident in Colombo, others cincomalee, Batticaloa and anathan, V. A. Kandiah and 1, Amirthalingam and others ai and others in the Eastern y have been, the leadership Fe interests were allowed to cisions. Although Vanniase was more often in Colomcombined thinking of the portant matters were always olombo. The episode of the disrupt the Party had shown ature of the freedom moves team set-up received a setanniasingham was removed 59 and I shifted residence to e destruction of my home in
Chelvanayakam and other s became exposed to the ucated Colombo Tamil in
n unhealthy influence. This lass which consisted of a few
m high judicial and other sted interests are all centred understanding of politics is
in Parliament and they had mentals of what underlay the erefore they believed it was

Page 166
so simple as to be solvable t Parliamentary process. The Feo was something of a foreign ide to them. They were so divorce tors in the Tamil country and s of metropolitan Colombo that tle of the election process an cend to mount the doorstep Parliament. Many of them ar pride that it was beyond them open the gates of every Tom, I And yet, in the situation tha daranaike and Vanniasingham ty had been built up into a dominant position, they bega retirement in Tamil politics. S cipally M. Tiruchelvam, Q. C. torney General's Department, advisers and intermediaries b and one or the other of the tunately for the movement the who, being afflicted by a de become weak in body and he in the Party's affairs that the
March 1960.
A by-election was announ ed by Vanniasingham's death a his widow, Mrs. Komathy Vanr the by-election was not held, fo
daranaike, who had succeeded dissolved Parliament and call
The General Election held absolute majority either to th Senanayake became the Prim Government. He dilly-dallied
ment until he was in a position supplement his Party's strengti daranaike was determined to p tra support. The Federal Party UNP and the SLFP, therefore, .ing the Federal Party using
gentlemen as intermediaries a

py a shrewd manoeuvre of the deral Party's freedom movement ea which was incomprehensible
d from the grass-roots level elecso wedded to the aristocratic life they spurned the hustle and bus
d would never want to condesDs of voters to gain a seat in e known to have declared with a to visit villages and slums and Dick and Harry to beg for votes. at followed the deaths of Ban- and seeing that the Federal Parpowerful force and grown to a un to bestir themselves in their Some of these gentlemen, prin-, who had retired from the At
made themselves self-appointed etween S. J. V. Chelvanayakam two Singhalese parties. Unfory had the ear of Chelvanayakam ebilitating illness, had already alth. It was during this position e country went to the polls in
ced for the Kopay vacancy causnd the Federal Party nominated miasingham, as its candidate. But er in the meantime Sirimavo Ban- her husband as Prime Minister, ed for a General Election. in March 1960 failed to give an e SLFP or the UNP, but Dudley me Minister of a minority UNP over his having to face Parliaa to muster some more votes to 1. The SLFP under Sirimavo Banrevent him from getting that exheld the balance of power. The vied with one another in woosome of the Colombo Tamil and advisers.
54

Page 167
It is most unfortunate that wil in Parliament went into negotiatic that the men who directed and in two Singhalese parties were still al previous Governments of 1947, worse. What reliance could be pl perience should have warned the parties. Agreements were of no u: that the more prudent course wi power Continue in office without and put it on its behaviour as lon the Party in Colombo did not hav, Consequences another rebuff wo ple, and even if they did, know t Cared so long as their interests we the entire bargaining and balance ted on the Tamils with a vengeal very soon.
The SLFP promised to impleme Party would help defeat the UNF enable Sirimavo Bandaranaike to ł The Federal Party agreed and Dud when he faced the new House. Bu expected on the assurances of its daranaike was not called to form Dudley Senanayake had, Parliar another General Election.
The fresh General Election wä Cond in the course of one yea daranaike Was returned tO Par majority for her party, the SLFP in her own right and needed nob try as she pleased for the next fi
From the very outset of its ter of Sirimavo Bandaranalike made it changed one whit from its well Singhalese nationalism. It had put tion of the Tamils only to inveig agreement to Suit its own politica the UNP. Once again it proved that given to an important sector of th
155

hen the leaders of the Party ons it never occurred to them made policy decisions in the most the same as in the three 1952 and 1956, if not much aced On their word Past exam to keep clear of both the Se. It never Occurred to them as to let the Government in any dialogue or agreement gas it lasts. The advisers of e the capacity to know what uld bring on the Tamil peohey were not likely to have reserved. As a matter of fact : of power exercise recochetnce, as they were to realize
nt the B-C Pact if the Federal minority Government and pe appointed Prime Minister. ley Senanayake was defeated t contrary to what the Party Colombo advisers, Mrs Bana new Government. Instead, ment dissolved and forced
as held in July 1960, the seLir, at which Sirimavo Banliament with an absolute She became Prime Minister ody's help to rule the counlve years.
m in office, the Government Clear that the SLFP had not -known stance of extreme On a veneer of accommodae the Federal Party into an l strategy to defeat its rival, thonouring a Solemn pledge e nation was still not its way

Page 168
of handling national affairs. ' attempts, in a series of meeting Minister and some Of her Coll the B-C Pact as promised, but keep their word. The govel leaders and their Colombo adv under no political Compulsior Party and that promises were g exigencies of politics.
To those among the Tamils Party leaders and their Colom game of balance of power pol honourable position for the T. an unforgettable lesson. That in systems where Parliament distinguished according to th ideologies which make ther There, a Small party in a give king-makers and benefit fron party happens to be racially C get some privileges or small in Ceylon are entirely differen the Constitutionally power-de always be a perpetual minorit Ceylon, and so long as the ur be in force and so long as th racial domination persisted Singhalese people in general, Parliamentary parties they w their Own internal rivalries. T as One party when it comes issues. To try to exploit a tem they may find themselves by to bolster up one party amor tO invite humiliation and reb resolved. Nobody respects politics. That precisely is th received for listening to its C. last, as We shall see later.
As history would have it, t dearly for their indifference t
1

Che Federal Party made several 's and discussions with the Prime 2agues to get them to implement they could not be persuaded to 'nment appeared to make the risers understand that it was now to make peace with the Federal iven and broken according to the
particularly some of the Federal bo advisers, who believed in the itics as an instrument to Win an amils in Ceylon, the SLEP taught game may be profitably played ary parties are delineated and eir Sociai, political or economic n different from one another. !n situation can play the role of n it, or where, even if the small onstituted, its interest is only to COn CeSSiOnS. But the COnditions it. The Federal Party represented 2prived Tamil nation which will y in the Parliament of a unified litary Constitution continued to e Singhalese nationalist aim Of among the politically-minded it did not matter into how many rere divided for the purpose of hey will all have to be reckoned
to a question of Tamili-related Dorarily tight situation in which exercising the balancing votes g them against another is Only uff when Once the situation is unprincipled conduct even in e treatment the Federal Party olombo advisers. Nor was it the
he Tamils were fated to pay very o the prophetic warnings of the
56

Page 169
immortal Ramanathan. That Fate shape of the Colombo advisers v favour with some of the Federal the party's existence. For there for such a wise man like Chelva second time.
If the SLFP Government of M merely failing to honour their p Pact, the Tamils would not have b were already in. But they went pressive legislation and administr the Tamils and made their life mc sinister intent of their language the Tamils as never before. Whe author, the late S. W. R. D. Band Official Language Act saw only plementation, his wife's Governr the utmost vigour.
All Government Departime) ordered to perform their offic records and files in the Official la tion with the public was to b business in general switched on rogant disregard of the Tamils a ing peoples.
Tamils began to receive lette only in Singhala which they coul a people they had been credite highest rates of literacy in the wo measures had the effect of makin Even the most highly educated fessors, lawyers, doctors, enginee fessionals were obliged to Communications from Govern technical matters to Singhalese w interpret the contents.
Government Gazette noti tisements calling for application vacancies began to stipulate tha language was a pre-Conditional
157

appears to have come in the Tho wormed themselves into Party leaders in this phase of can be no other explanation nayakam trusting the SLFP a
"S. Bandaranaike stopped with romise to implement the B-C een wOrse Off than what they further and resorted to opative action which humiliated bre and more intolerable. The policy was brought home to reas during the lifetime of its aranaike, the Singhala Only somewhat of a lukewarm imment began to enforce it with
nts and Corporations Were e Work and maintain their nguage only. All Communicae in Singhala. Government completely to Singhala in arnd other non-Singhala speak
}rs from Government offices ld not read or understand. AS di until now with one of the rld, but now the Government g them all illiterate overnight. people like university prors, accountants and other pro
take their professional ment on sophisticated and orkers in bakeries to read and
lications and press adveris to fill Government Service t proficiency in the Singhala ld necessary qualification to

Page 170
apply. It was another way C
Tamils already in Gover quire proficiency in Singha salary increments and pron til they passed the require language to prove their profi this proficiency special clas. servants in each Office to té
The Federal Party count upon all Tamil public serva boycott the classes. It called general to speak or Commu in Tamil and to send back t ters that are not in Tamil.
It will not be out of place of chronological order, that i Bandaranaike's Government most Draconian pieces of an They, of course, fell into the been planned to oust Tamil.
In 1963 the Governmenti tion of land, but which, in p restricting the freedom of T under the guise of preventin in Ceylon, sought to lay dov purchase of land shall be re the Government unless the tion of the Registrar that he alternative, he paid to the GC to the purchase price. It was C a person with Tamil or Mus. or her Ceylon citizenship ur as explained in an earlier cha to get a deed of purchase re
I was then a Member of elected at a by-election forth on the death of V. A. Kal vehemently pointing out sometimes the utter impossib the usually pro-Singhalese Mı

f saying Tamils need not apply.
ment Service were Ordered to aca within a stipulated time. Their otions were ordered stopped und examinations in the Singhala Ciency. As an incentive to acquire ;es were held for the Tamil public ach them Singhala.
}red all these measures by calling nts not to learn Singhala and to On the Tamil-speaking people in licate with the Government only the Government office any let
2 to recount here too, though out t was during this term of Sirimavo in 1960 to 1965 that two of the ti-Tamil legislation were enacted.
general overall pattern that had
Introduced a Bill to Control alienaractice, would have the effect of amils to purchase land. The Bill, g foreigners from acquiring land Vin the law that no instrument Of gistered in any Land Registry of purchaser proved to the satisfac
is a citizen of Ceylon or, in the overnment a sum of money equal bvious that the difficulties which im name has in establishing his der the Ceylon Citizenship Act, pter, would be encountered here gistered.
arliament having been recently e Kayts Constituency consequent hdiah. I opposed the Bill most
the practical difficulty, and ility, of proving citizenship. Even islim leaders like Sir Razik Fareed
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Page 171
and S. A. Hamid (Minister of Ext R. Jayawardene's Cabinet) were of land with Muslim names wOu
The Bill was passed and is FinanCe Act of 1963 under Whi where the purchasers appear to are held up without registration Tens of thousands of such deeds Registries without any prospect
The other legislative measu Courts Act which made Singha ceedings and record in the Courts try. It was said at the time that t Bandaranaike, was in favour of ir Commodation of the Tamil langu Justice, Felix R. Dias Bandarana to any Such Concession.
The Government's rigorous Only language law following the exposed the utter futility of the C approach or understanding of the Party now shifted its centre of a Ombo diplomacy and its political Party into a Cul-de-sac it now turI ed that is, the two Tamil Provinc It was in the North and the East was Sorely felt, and the popular r tion at the highest.
The Government was moreov Singhalese school masters to allt the Country including the North teach the Singhala language to Ta Government it meant so many til C. E. (O/L) qualified Singhalesey slow emasculation of the Tamilla tual assimilation into the Singha from the realm of speculation an real. What the Tamils had fea doorstep,
The Federal Party had also to
1.59

ernal Affairs in President J. alarmed because purchasers ld be equally affected.
now the law known as the ch all deeds of sale of land Oear Tamil Or Muslim names pending proof of Citizenship. began to pile up in the Land of registration for years.
re was the Language of the la the language for all proof Law throughout the Counhe Prime Minister, Sirimavo corporating some sort of acage but that her Minister of ike, was adamantly opposed
anforcement of the Singhala July 1960 General Election Colombo Tamil intelligentsia's e Tamil Problem. The Federal Ctivities from Colombo. Col
opportunism having led the ned to where it really belonges in the North and the East.
that the impact of Singhala esentment against its imposi
er preparing schemes to send he Tamil Schools throughout ern and Eastern Provinces to mil-speaking children. To the housands of jobs for their G. Ouths. To the Tamils it meant nguage. The danger of evenlese maintream thus passed id debate into something very red was now at their very
take note of another reality.

Page 172
Not all the Tamil public serv, call for abstaining from the vast bulk of them, mostly th rungs of the Service, Co-ope were large numbers who o disgust to comply with the GC latter were mostly those who and had large families to fee they were driven by the nece jobs and the pensions they hac whatever proficiency they co of Singhala undermined the
to the Government planners others will fall in line. (If we ment, the Government planir assessment when we remem eventually fell in line, persu
I was personally glad that tricate itself from the Colomb possible to put it back on the is Concentrated entirely on th -the freedom of the Tamil p tion to think (rather prematu the Party has had the lesson allow itself to deviate from its freedom movement. For two wilderness of opportunist po sher measures to oppress the to shun any more deviationi
The Federal Party Headq building at No. 25, Second CI was from here that the Party be the most powerful free representative political organ here that the Party's great can Successfully carried on; most of the post-Independence pe Superstitiously inclined may building, for the liquidation o tally, the adoption of the resol ty happened to be followed ve

ants responded favourably to its study of Singhala. Although the Le younger officers in the lower rated by refusing to study, there pted very reluctantly and with overnment's requirements. These had put in long years in service d and care for. Understandably, ssity of having to preserve their i earned over the years to acquire uld. But their taking to the study resistance Call, and gave reason to be satisfied that by and by the may anticipate a later develophers were not far wrong in their ber that even the Federal Party aded by M. Tiruchelvam.)
the Party had been forced to ex
o Tamil intelligentsia. It was now rails and to see that its attention e attainment of its cherished goal eople. It gave me great satisfac|rely, as it turned out to be) that of its life and would never again s character as the Tamil people's years it had wandered in the litics which has Only led to harpeople. That was lesson enough st trends.
uarters had always been in the ross Street in the Jaffna Town. It 7, starting from scratch, grew to 'dom movement and the sole ization of the Tamils; it was from npaigns and political battles were of the outstanding Tamil leaders 2riod were nurtured here. The Call it an auspicious or lucky f the Federal Party and, inciden ution expelling me from the Par ery soon by the abandonment of
60

Page 173
the building itself as the Part however, following the breakdor the Government to honour their C Pact, and as the Government v enforcement measures, the Party cond Cross Street in Jaffna bega and I was drawn into its vortex af indifference.
A number of protest meetings tions were organized to voice Singhala. Batches of volunteers every Government office and di Public Servants not to lear Chelvanayakam led one such gi and feeble frame. There was one which marched through all the b ed up at the Government Kachch
M. P. for Vaddukoddai, standing the crowds and urged the pe resistance to tyranny. A bonfire w to the Kachcheri of copies of th Constitution.
All this had little or no effect, which appeared to be unconcerı Tamils. Once again I began to give tion which had become most frus unless we resorted to direct actic could never hope to halt the spr was necessary to bring home to and people that the Tamils were r. ny. To do it, it was necessary to bi in the Northern and Eastern Pro ble for its Departments and Satyagraha by non-violent and way in which this could be ach:
Iraised the matter in the Woj and proposed that we perform Government in the two Tamil Pi usual, was sceptical and frowned ter for debate, and unless he gav and approval a campaign of su
161

y's Headquarters. In 1960, in of the efforts to persuade promise to implement the Brent ahead with the Singhala
Headquarters building at Sei to buzz with activity again, ter two years of comparative
, processions and demonstrathe people's opposition to led by leaders marched to stributed leaflets asking the 'n or work in Singhala. oup despite his weak health particularly long procession usy roads of Jaffna and enderi where A. Amirthalingam, on a parapet wall, addressed pple to stand firm in their ras then made at the entrance e Singhala Only Act and the
however, on the Government ned about the feelings of the e serious thought to the situatrating. It was clear to me that on with mass participation we ead of Singhala. Some action the Singhalese Government not prepared to tolerate tyranring the Government to a halt vinces by making it impossi
Offices to function. Mass peaceful means was the only
eved. -king Committee of the Party
Satyagraha to paralyze the Fovinces. Chelvanayakam, as on the idea. This was no mate his whole-hearted blessing ch magnitude could not be

Page 174
ventured upon. The Committ sideration to the proposal. In Cessions and meetings, I pers mass Campaign.
One evening, when a Cro assembled at the Party office me to elaborate and explain mind. I knew he was unhap behaved and the situation the Only, he had no idea how Volunteers that our task wa Government Departments a Thereby we could bring the G still in the Northern and Eas dreds of volunteers who will principles and Code of Condu ches of volunteers will picket Government office in the two prevent the office staff and m ing the offices. Picketing will normal office hours. If they ar be replaced by fresh batches all the prisons in the two Pl baton-charging, the voluntee and take the beating. Injured fresh ones. The members of turns to avoid all being ta Kachcheri under a Governm a District's administration. Tl kachcheris first, and then ext will effect changes in the plan reaction. This way, I said , Singhalese Government and thrust down the throats of the Government in Colombo Coul and Eastern Provinces except people of those Provinces, and willingly accept Singhalese C
Chelvanayakam was conv it did not take much time for Party to meet and take the

eetherefore gave no further conthe following days, between proisted in pressing the idea for the
wd of about 75 to 100 volunteers as usual, Chelvanayakam invited what sort of Campaign I had in py about the way the SLFP had a Government was now Creating. O meet the situation I told the s to make it impossible for the ind Offices to work or function. Overnment machinery to a standtern Provinces. We needed hunbe trained and instructed in the ct in non-violent Satyagraha. Batand block the entrances to every Provinces and by peaceful means embers of the public from entercontinue for the duration of the 'e arrested by the Police they will s of volunteers, We will thus fill rovinces. If the Police resort to rs will all lie down on the ground l volunteers will be replaced by Parliament and leaders will take ken into custody together. A 2nt Agent is the nerve centre of herefore, we will begin with the iend to other offices in time. We depending on the Government's we will make it known to the people that Singhala cannot be 2 Tamil-speaking people, that no dever hope to rule the Northern with the willing consent of the that these Provinces would never lomination.
erted. Once he gave his blessing, the Working Committee of the decision to go ahead with the
62

Page 175
Satyagraha Campaign. As in t March, I was again called upon paign and to direct it. An Action of the top-ranking leaders was aSSiStanCe.
As the year 1960 drew to a cl poised for a peaceful confrontati Of Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Like E the so-called independence, this mistakably clear that its duty towards the Singhalese people, the part of the Tamils, therefor

he Case of the Trincomalee to be in charge of this Camcommittee consisting of some set up for consultation and
pse, the Federal Party was thus on with the SLFP Government very other Government since Government too made it unas a Government was only and a long-drawn struggle on e, was inevitable.

Page 176
CHAP
he twO Tamil ProvinCes : T girding up their loins fo
The Federal Party ma through its branch organizat towns - Jaffna, Mannar, Vavl Literature was printed and se detailed instructions to volu Satyagrahi volunteer was ei violence (ahimsa) and non-re vocation and in all circumstal men and women, young and O in response to the Party's cal their identities recorded. In Ja Headquarters was Paramanat in the Ceylon Police Force. formation-marches and drill conduct.
It was arranged that the dates for the commencement their convenience and local C fixing a day towards the end
1.

PTER 12
welcomed the New Year of 1961 Dr the struggle.
.de simultaneous preparations tions in all the five Kachcheri uniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa. nt to all the centres containing unteers on Satyagraha. Every njoined to observe strict nontaliation under the gravest pronces. Thousands of volunteersld– flocked to the branch Offices l. They were all registered and affna the chief clerk at the Party han who had at one time been He put the volunteers through to instill discipline and orderly
different Centres fix their Own of the Campaign according to onditions. Jaffna led the way by of January.
64

Page 177
Accordingly, the Satyagraha Jaffna as scheduled amidst sole was to shake the very foundati three months the Colombo Gove in any part of the two Tamil Pre
The first day passed without ing, before the Kachcheri office of about 100 volunteers marche ty Headquarters at Second Cr Building in Chundikuli and too blocking the entrance to the offi Administration were then hou Building situated in the extensiv Park, in the centre of which sta Residency. The entrance to the Kandy highway, and a separate ga access to the Residency. Opposi Kandy Road there was a large p the centre of which stood a big s land that the present two-storey
na was built later.
When the Government Ser arrived for work in the mornii blocked by the pickets. Four or fi to creep through gaps between fices, while the vast majority st so later the Residency gate was ( instructions from the Goveri Kachcheri Building via the Reside of the public who came on busir them and sent them away. At the staff trouped out through th volunteers were withdrawn.
On the second day the Sat structed to block the residency arrived, the Police had taken con Policemen formed a lane thr employees were asked to enter who attempted to throw himself ed back. It was obvious that the
16:

Campaign of 1961 began in nn and emotional scenes. It ons of the Government. For rnment's writs could not run Ivinces. incidents. Early in the morn
opened for the day, a batch lin procession from the Parss Street to the Kachcheri k up positions on the road ces. The offices of the District .sed in the Old Kachcheri e grounds known as the Old ids the Government Agent's offices is on the main Jaffnaate on the same highway gave te the offices and across the lot of almost vacant land, in hady tree. It is on this vacant Secretariat Building for Jaff
vants of the various offices ng they found the entrance ve of the less brave managed Volunteers and enter the ofpod on the road. An hour or opened and the staff received ament Agent to enter the ency gate. As for the members Less, the pickets pleaded with end of the day the Kachcheri e Residency gate, and the
yagrahi volunteers were ingate as well. But before they trol of the entrances in force. Dugh which the Kachcheri their offices. Any Satyagrahi in the way was roughly pushGovernment Servants walked

Page 178
in like robots, their resentmeni way writ large on their faces. T Government Agent, M. Sri Ka summoned the Police and ma known what his personal feeli belonged to the old school of E ly followed the tradition that themselves with whichever gc power. The Satyagrahis sat do along the whole length of the They sat there the whole da Police was thus forced to maint the Residency gate clear until
It requires no imagination i was done in the Government o was not the objective of the Ca forced to close its offices. A cl therefore, asked the Satyagrah ty Headquaters.
On the third day, before 6 a large force of Satyagrahis wh ty office rushed to the Kachch verandah, the corridors, the en They all sat on the ground cro staff assembled as before and : Police arrived and ordered the they were occupying. Seeing r the crowd of Satyagrahis, dragg and cleared a narrow passage to asked the staff to enter the Ka The staff refused. The Satyagra even closing the passage that thereupon began to assault the
The situation demanded gr ty Headquarters and asked foi promptly and reinforced the t
In the meantime word had s reached the shopping centre of Stand, the General Hospital a workers, Owners, shoppers, bus

- at being forced to enter in this heir resentment was against the ntha, himself a Tamil, who had ade this arrangement. It is not ngs were, if he had any, but he ritish Civil Servants who strictthey must personally identify evernment that was installed in wn peacefully on the roadside Kachcheri and Residency wall. y singing national songs. The sain the entrance lane and keep I the end of the working day. to say that no work whatsoever -ffices on the two days, but that
mpaign. Government had to be hange of tactics was needed. I, is to spend the night at the Par
o'clock early in the morning, p had spent the night in the Pareri and occupied the long front itrance and the Residency gate. owding closely. The Kachcheri stood waiting on the road. The : squatters to vacate the places 10 response, they charged into ed some of them out of the way, ɔ enter the building. They then .chcheri through that passage. his lay prostrate on the ground had been forced. The Police n with batons, boots and hands. eater strength. I called the Par
• more volunteers. They came velaboured Satyagrahis. pread throughout the town and
Grand Bazaar, the Central Bus ind other busy centres. Shop Commuters, drivers, conductors,
:6

Page 179
hospital attendants, bystanders, p abandoned their work and rush crowds grew as the day advance belabour the prostrate Satyagrahi hooted, and abused the Police. S stones on the Police despite all ple from stone throwing. By noon the than 5000. The scene resembled tional War.
The Police appeared tired Satyagrahis, many of them woun clothes in tatters, refused to yielc mercilessly, trampled upon, dragg and thrown on the ground viol Satyagrahi showed the slightests
No words of tribute could be a record for the benefit of posterit the sense of dedication, the Willin for the sa Cred cause of the Tamil any form of reward, which theses on that memorable day. A tinge whole being. Their faithful adhere enjoined on them, their discipline tire ordeal, the way Crowds of pe beating to demonstrate their soli all showed that the Tamil Count doubts about the fighting mettle
It is said that four hundred ye jugation and generations of life in ed the spirit of independece effeminate. It was proved to be no early February 1961 gave the lie will to resist tyranny and achieve there, and they will achieve it pr leadership is there to guide it. Wh a leadership Came byin due COurs that they exploited the gains whic had achieved with their blood, SW Party astray, once again, for the quest for self-glory and personal had no qualms about thriving
167

eople in all walks of life-all ned to the Kachcheri. The d. The Police Continued to s. The crowds booed, yelled, ome even kept up a hail of 'as from the leaders to desist Crowds iad Swelled to more a battle-ground in a conven
and exhausted. But the ded and bleeding and their | ground. They were beaten ed by their legs, lifted bodily ently, but still not a single sign of retaliation.
dequate enough to place on y the bravery and heroism, gness to suffer and sacrifice people without looking for elfless Satyagrahis displayed of pride swept through my 2nce to a himsa that had been i bearing throughout the enople flocked to the scene of darity with the Satyagrahis, ry in Ceylon need have no
and spirit of its people.
ars of foreign rule and subn political bondage had killand left the Tamil people ot true. That eventful day in to that belief. The people's freedom is not extinct, it is Ovided sound and unselfish lat is most deplorable is that e who were so unscrupulous ch these selfless Satyagrahis eat and suffering and led the ir own selfish ends. In their advancement they not only on the sacrifices of these

Page 180
Satyagrahis, but eventually That is the tragedy of Tamil
To get back to the scene a was withdrawn in the afterno they were, blocking all the e sulted the Action Committee not to withdraw the Saty picketing will continue roun withdrawn and attended to. A refreshments and tea. It must Satyagrahi had taken'a mors the previous evening. Petrom, the road to supplement the ir ches of volunteers were orga on the spot mingling with th
On the fourth day, Police numbers only to patrol the i terfere with the Satyagrahis. ment Departments housed in until now been helpless spect silent emotions, marched awa tion on the road led by a senio of Tellipalai. Over 200 in nu shade of the large tree in the o the Kachcheri and held a me sion which gave expression decided not to gain entry wit] cept by the main entrance. TI to the Government Agent in t
me privately to warn that th them to enter via a rear gate about it. That is a disused a which provides access to the Park Road. Some volunteers v gate also.
In the forenoon of the fift rived under the personal comi Arndt. Arndt who was in a Po at the Residency gate to make cy. When nobody moved, Pol the jeep drove in with Arndt

destroyed the movement itself. politics. t the Jaffna Kachcheri, the Police on leaving the Satyagrahis where entrances to the building. I con, and a quick decision was taken agrahis for the night. Instead, d the clock. The wounded were rrangements were made for food, be borne in mind that not a single el of food or a sip of water since aax lanterns were installed along asufficient road lights. Relief batanized. MPs and leaders were all ae Satyagrahis.
made their appearance in small area but made no attempt to inThe staffs of the several Governthe Kachcheri Building, who had cators but fretting with their own ay from their usual standing posiar public servant, K. Murugupillai mber, they assembled under the centre of the Crown land opposite eting at which they took a decito their pent-up feeling. They i Police help and not to enter exney communicated this decision :he Residency. Murugupillai met e Government Agent might ask e and suggested I do something id permanently padlocked gate Residency grounds from the Old rere promptly sent to picket that
h day, a contingent of Police arnand of Superintendent of Police ice jeep ordered the Satyagrahis way for his jeep to enter Residenicemen dragged them away and
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Page 181
It was suspected that the Gov get away. Sri Kantha had been a vi cy during the five days, and it wo if he made the attempt to flee the the leadership of Dr. Naganathai and V. N. Navaratnam crowded a the exit of the jeep if Sri Kantha with the Government Agent and The Satyagrahis threw themselv Dr. Naganathan was almost und jeep stopped. V. A. Kandiah sat The others lay prostrate on the g all with batons indiscriminately. on their heads. One blow fell or the Policeman's baton broke in ti watching all the proceedings wit Police finally succeeded in clear all the Satyagrahis by their feet. followed by the Police Party mar time the Police was seen at the three months.
The Kachcheri premises and pletely in the possession of the to extend the campaign to the otl ches of volunteers were sent to p the offices scattered throughout t tions and far removed from the K fice, the Public Works Departme of the Superintendent of Post Of Excise Station etc. All the offices and Government business came
When conditions in Jaffna Amirthalingam and I motored dov and Batticaloa. In each one of the the morale of the Satyagrahis w determination had not been sec parts in Jaffna, and all the Govern ly closed. In Batticaloa we had Satyagrahis' ingenuity there. The of fishing boats to picket the w building to prevent entry by way
169

Fernment Agent was going to irtual prisoner in the ResidenFuld not have been surprising house. The Satyagrahis under n and the MPs V. A. Kandiah t the Residency gate to block - was in it. The jeep came up the Superintendent of Police. es on the ground in its path. er its front wheel when the leaning against the radiator. round. The Police beat them
Many received baton blows a Dr. Naganathan's arm, and No. Sri Kantha sat in the jeep th apparent unconcern. The ring a way by dragging away The jeep fled from the scene ching away. That was the last Kachcheri site for the next
its environs were now comSatyagrahis. It was now time her Government offices. Batpicket each and every one of Ehe City of Jaffna in all direcCachcheri - the Education Ofent, the Customs, the Office fices, the Land Registry, the s were forced to close down,
to a standstill. permitted, Chelvanayakam, wn to Vavuniya, Trincomalee ese centres we could see that vas sky-high. Their grit and ond to that of their counterament offices were completereason to feel proud of the ey had even mobilized a fleet waterfront of the Kachcheri of the lagoon. In Mannar the

Page 182
campaign was equally effe Kathiravelupillai and Sir Ka
Civil Government was t two Tamil Provinces for the t April: no revenues Collected arrack bottles Came into Or a revenue-earning Governm sugar rations, no distributic etc. In short, there was no a bo Government's writ Could
We may never know W superior force or why they c calculations were, but if th Satyagrahis and the Tamil p proved mistaken. Not a singl from any quarter despite th ple were going through - w state's wages, etc. Only supe spirit of the Satyagrahis anc purpose of the Campaign - to could never hope to impose by the use of military force. did to break up the Satyag. three months. Even today, t paign of 1961, the position vinces are being ruled by th military occupation.
The Satyagraha was, of strictly by the Federal Par breakthrough, other parti groups and individuals were tion or because some felt it solidarity by some form of every shade of political opini ticipation gave the Campa uprising.
For example, prominent have liked their names to be politics or its objective for t began to make common caus

ctive under the leadership of S. Anthiah Vaithianathan.
hus completely paralyzed in the hree months February, March and and no disbursements either; no went out of the Excise Stations - ent monopoly; no issue of rice and in of foodstuff, infant food, fuel, gency through which the Colomrun in the two Provinces.
hy the Government did not use id not make arrests or what their eir intention was to tire out the eople in general they were to be e murmur of Complaint was heard e tremendous privations the peoithout food, fuel, hospital drugs, 3rior force Could have broken the i the people. In fact, that was the D demonstrate that the Singhalese their rule over the Tamils except And that is what the Government raha Campaign after waiting for wenty-nine years after that Camhas not changed, for the two Prohe Colombo Government only by
Course, controlled and directed ty, but in time, after the initial ies, organizations, associations, a drawn to it either out of Convicpolitically prudent to show their participation. They represented On in the Tamil country, Their parign the character of a national
Tamils who would ordinarily not associated with the Federal Party's he solution of the Tamil problem se with the Satyagraha Movement.
17 QF

Page 183
M. Sivasithamparam (M. P. for U param (M. P. for Vavuniya), both le and always opposed to the F Vaithianathan, a retired Perma Ceylon Civil Service who had als Senanayake's UNP Government devoting his retired life in the ser Temple Restoration Society's act nar, M. Tiruchelvam, Q. C. and re - manasinghe, Mayor of Batticaloa Second M. P. for Batticaloa) of SI are some of the names which con tified themselves with the Camp Lawyers belonging to the unoffi other towns, whose political views those of the Federal Party, made i sion to the Kachcheri sites and sit participation. Alfred T. Duraiappa who had always been ideologically Party, marched in a body with his in front of the Satyagrahis at the resistible compulsion of conscien that they would be failing in their could not claim some sort of asso But all this was not to take place
When the Campaign was abo were no signs of the Governm Satyagrahis dug in for a prolonged Government offices remained cl Either the Government had to co Party or use the military to take was necessary to be assured of disciplined volunteers.
A new scheme was therefor basis of recruitment. Each M. P. particular day in advance. It was a minimum number of volunteers on the day assigned to him. In con no Party M. P.s this responsibilit candidates who contested unsucc quite efficiently until the last as i
171

dupiddy) and T. Sivasithameaders of the Tamil Congress ederal Party, Sir Kanthiah nent Secretary of the old to been a Minister in Dudley
and who at the time was rice of the Tiruketheesvaram ivities at the site near Mantired Solicitor General, Edir., Rajan Selvanayagam (later FP persuasion in Batticaloa je to mind. All of them idenaign in one way or another. .cial Bars of Jaffna and the
were not always in tune with t a point to march in proceswith the Satyagrahis in token ah, a former Mayor of Jaffna | at variance with the Federal followers and knelt in prayer
Kachcheri. Such was the irIce that most people deemed duty to the Tamil race if they ciation with the Satyagraha. e until after about a month. put a fortnight old and there ent wanting to step in, the a campaign to ensure that the losed for ever, if necessary. me to terms with the Federal over the offices. Till then it an uninterrupted supply of
e drawn up broadening the of the Party was assigned a his responsibility to provide s for a twenty-four-hour duty stituencies where there were y was entrusted to the Party cessfully. The system worked E generated a healthy rivalry

Page 184
between Constituencies top of women and schoolgirls volunteers now and provic
Feeding the several hl throughout the City at the mense undertaking, but tha workers it posed no proble sites morning, noon and n was Cooked. On Occasions, ward to ask for the privile OWI). COSt.
The Mayor of Jaffna, T. Federal Party Sympathies, go vide extra illumination for t special separate privies foi Satyagrahis. The Governm but he refused to be intim
It need hardly be told a Campaign of this magnitut adequate funds were always activities. Some of us in the myself, used to go round a Ombo, Jaffna and other tOW this time, thanks to the nat Satyagraha, we were spare Coming to the Party Headc One particular contributic The businessmen of the J leading merchants, marche Site and handed Over a Chelvanayakam. There well kind-bags of rice, Sugar, po Condensed milk etc. The ho charge of the Party Headq in the Office at allhours, da tributions and donations, H. who had dedicated his enti Federal Party and moveme the Party and maintained accounting.

ut up the best show, Large numbers ormed part of every contingent of ed Colour and liveliness.
undreds of Satyagrahis scattered various Office Centres was an imnks to a team of spirited voluntary em Food parcells were taken to the ght from a Central mess where it voluntary Organizations came forge of suppplying the food at their
S. Durairajah, not known for any pt his Municipal Departments to prohe Kachcheri area and to construct r the use of the male and female ent threatened to surcharge him, idated.
what a tremendous Cost in money de would have entailed. In the past, a problem in financing the Party's Party, usually Chelvanayakam and mong the business circles of ColVns begging for contributions. But ional awakening generated by the d that trouble. Contributions kept Iuarters voluntarily and unasked. 'n was strikingly heart-warming. affna Grand Bazaar, led by some din a procession to the Kachcheri cheque for Rs. 100,000/- to 'e many donors who contributed in tatoes, tea packets, chillies, Onions, norary administrative secretary in larters, S. Sinnadurai, was present y and night, to attend to these Con2 is a retired Postmaster from Palaly re retired life in the service of the nt. He received them on behalf of punctidious documentation and
172

Page 185
There were unforeseen probl of Satyagraha helped to bring hom hold which Colombo had over Tai Supplies of everything from ess sumer articles had to come from o food, fuel, clothing, and all other s so essential an article like a box light the home fire had to con Government policy would not established in the Northern or E British withdrawal the northern i Kayts, Kankesanthurai and Trinco ing and cargo handling, and food a imported through these ports, distributed to neighbouring areas As a matter of fact, in the first volume of cargo handled at the po the Customs collection at Kayts wa ombo. Since the so-called indepen were all closed and imports were
It is hardly surprising, therefoi Colombo made it possible for an il ment to create an artificial famin people went through just that, the ly made the people conscious of it time the people were confronted or starve.
Those were the days of ratior infant foods, subsidiary food-stuff issued to the population on Ratio effected through co-operatives a who normally stocked not more t two weeks' supplies at a time. The in a week or two and had no mean Control Department office house was not functioning. No supplies : granaries. Inevitably the people they bore it all with gritted teeth. . ship were brought to my notice. hungry in some acutely poverty
173

ems too. The three months Le to the people the stranglenil life in the two Provinces. ential commodities to con: through Colombo - People's such necessities of life. Even of matches that is needed to 1e from Colombo because permit an industry to be astern Province. Before the and eastern ports of Jaffna,
malee were open for shippand other commodities were
warehoused, stored, and ; at comparatively less cost. quarter of this century the ort of Kayts was so large that Is second only to that of Col.dence, however, these ports ! centralized in Colombo. re, that such dependence on 1-disposed Colombo Governe in the two Provinces. The e Satyagraha Movement onas never before. For the first with the challenge: submit
ning when rice, flour, sugar,
and other articles were all en Books. The rationing was and authorized distributors
han a week's or at the most ey exhausted all their stocks s of replacing since the Food d in the Kachcheri building came into or went out of the had no food to buy, and yet A few cases of extreme hard
Little children were going stricken families, and I had

Page 186
given instructions that some rice ration books out of the Party
Then, another unexpected Cerning the Government Serv offices. They had not drawn th cases three, months in a row. their families by pawning jewe with large families which wi without any means even to bo to me and begged that some re families were suffering most. volving the use of funds contri Campaign. I discussed the mat other leaders. Much can be funds for giving relief to a few jority of the general populat or worse privations. However case and it was decided to pay vance-to be repaid later) to the hit families. Murugupillai was ty of picking out the deservin intimate knowledge of the pe tions. The total amount use substantial, but it certainly h confidence of the entire body Federal Party's leadership an
The protraction of the Satyagraha centres in the two Party Headquarters in Jaffna was never refused. For all I k relief to hard-hit public servi
When the Campaign was Satyagraha Came to be looke There was hardly a man, wol it as his or her sacred duty to ple came from far and near, e ombo, Kandy, Galle and Negc and vans merely to have a lo On the road and watched. Th to do, Occupied themselves by Songs in groups. There was I

nd flour be issued on the children's 's stocks.
problem was brought to me conants who were kept out of their eir salaries for two, and in some Most of them were maintaining |lery, but there were some cases re in very dire circumstances row money. Murugupillai spoke lief be granted to officers whose it was a very delicate subject inbuted in trust for the Satyagraha er with Chelvanayakam and the said for and against using such while it was true that a vast maon was putting up with similar a distinction was made in this half a month's salary (as an ad2 most suffering out of the hardentrusted with the responsibilig Cases using his discretion and rsonnel and their family Condid for this purpose was rather Lelped to build up the trust and of Tamil public servants in the d its sense of responsibility.
Campaign forced the other ) Provinces to make calls on the
for financial assistance, which now, they too had given similar ants in their areas.
several weeks old, the centres of d upon as places of pilgrimage. nan or child who did not regard risit the places at least once. Peoven from distant places like Col-. mbo, they came by rail or in Cars ok. Crowds of people just stood : Satyagrahis, for nothing better singing devotional and national ever an hour, in the daytime or
74

Page 187
at night, when the places were n time, the places began to present grounds. Of Course, there were n or games. But the omnipresent har vaded the places in their numbers tage on the road. They, with th peanuts and Cool drinks, and the t fect of giving a carnival feeling.
March gave way to April, and t the Government wanted to establi PrOVinCeS. The South-West MOnS prospect which caused not a little could be so unfeeling as to have th women exposed to torrential rains of water or sodden or muddy gro to dry on their bodies even thoug that they were prepared for thes the other hand withdrawing them Quite possibly the Government reliance On the Monsoon rains to Out by itself without their having
All these thoughts agitated m that the situation called for a dra Campaign which will force the Go fill their prisons. I proposed to the nOW reSOrt tO Civil DisObedienCe Office Ordinance gave a state mc over carriage of letters and Postal we break that law by running a p own with our own "Tamil Arasu' (' offices. M. Balasundaram, who ha as M. P. for Kopay at the General E to the Action Committee meeting law books. He was a Barrister of st opposed my suggestion and argue ter to break the Post Office Law a be incalculable. The Action Col gested that Balasundram might k if he wished and decided to go a
This idea of breaking the Pos parallel postal service as part O.
175

ot filled with spectators. In the appearance of Carnival gambling booths or frolics wkers and street-vendors in: and took up positions of vanair piles of Sweetmeat and throngs of people had the ef
here were still no signs that sh its authority in the Tamil Don setting in posed a grim anxiety in my mind. Nobody ese self-sacrificing men and and make them sit in pools und and allOw their Clothes sh their morale was so high 2 and still worse things. On was also out of the question. themselves were placing ) make the campaign fizzle
to use force.
y mind and I was convinced stic turn to be given to the vernment's hands to act and Action Committee that we of a selected Law. The Post nopoly to the Government Service, and I suggested that arallel postal service of our Tamil State) stamps and post id succeeded Vanniasingham lection in March 1960, Came carrying large volumes of anding at the Jaffna Bar. He 2d that it was a serious matnd the consequences would mmittee, neverthelesS, sugeep out of the law-breaking head with my programme.
t Office Law and running a | a mass Civil disObedienCe

Page 188
was not conceived by me on midst of the Satyagraha in 19 the Trincomalee Resolution ir gramme as part of the direc Resolution and made prelimin feasibility of my proposal wi who was then the Editor of t had dedicated all his talents a vice of building up the Fede) achieved in later years. Beside an accomplished photograph him a rough sketch of my Co and he had improved on it and a beautiful design and contain wanted-agriculture, industry made photographic plates of denominations of 10 cents, 5 Cards. In the end all this effo The materials were all packe quence of the conclusion of
Now once my proposal ha tion Committee, I got Sivanaya and the printing blocks. The ( be trusted to do an excellent S. Nadarajah. I asked Nadara General' and organize the n dience. He set up Tamil Arasu tres throughout the Jaffna P personnel to man them. S. Postmaster, designed the Po change dates and arranged w out a few of these seals.
The most important item "Tamil Arasu' stamps, postc get our requirements printed printing blocks were ready no to undertake the job for fear c possible imprisonment of the Nadarajah eventually found a thurai electorate who was patr work. He agreed to do the pri

the spur of the moment in the 61. Five years earlier, following 1956, I had planned on this proit action Contemplated by that ary preparations. I discussed the th my friend S. T. Sivanayagam, he Sutantiran. He is a man who s a brilliant journalist to the serral Party to the great heights it 2s being a journalist, he was alsO er and design artist. I had given ncept of a "Tamil Arasu' stamp, i given me a final drawing. It was ed all the Symbolic features I had , shipping and trawling. He then 100 stamps for a sheet in the
cents and 3 cents, and for Post rt came to nothing at that time. d up and stored away in consethe B-C Pact.
.d received clearance by the ACagam to send me all that material one man in the Party who could job of Organizational work was jah to function as "Postmasternachinery for the Civili Disobe"Post Offices' at important ceneninsula and appointed trusted Sinnadurai, who was a retired st-mark Seal with a device to ith a goldsmith in Jaffna to turn
n in the law-breaking was the ards and stamped envelopes. To posed a problem. Although the Printing Press could be expected of Police seizure of the press and Droprietor, printer and Workmen. master-printer in the Kankesaniotic and brave enough to do the nting in the utmost secrecy and
76

Page 189
keep up a steady Supply of all O paign proceeded. Nadarajah an location of his press a close sec Obvious reasons. Nobody else in slightest notion of from where Because of the excellence of the beautiful Colours of the stamps a tendency underestimating local they were being manufactured i na by clandestine means. It was
I alone would be visiting him to C called on him except at midnight On the stamps Only by night, and Son near him. Even the simple done by his own hands,
I need hardly stress that this a regarded the work he undertook and patriotic contribution to th Campaign and the Tamil people's a source of income for himself. Bl Satyagrahis, he too became a cl of Tamil politics which has the h into a national struggle and the trample on them. I do not know v but many years later it was m Nadarajah himself that this Col man has been very shabbily tre have inherited the mantle of Che well have added an autobiogra perience of the printer.
On the day fixed for the Com paign in Jaffna, Chelvanayakam behind a Counter of the "Post Kachcheri Building. Beside him Kandiah, M. P. for Kayts. There ing to get to the counter to buys mitted the first act of Postal C aCross the Counter a Tamil Aras of 10 Cents to M. Sivasithampal thereby inaugurating the parall in Contravention of the Post
177

ur requirements as the Camd I kept his identity and the ret between the two of us for the Party or outside had the We were getting Our Supplies. 2 design and printing and the nd no less due to the general talent, they all believed that in India and brought into Jaffarranged that Nadarajah and ollect our supplies. We never ... The printer himself worked i never allowed a second peroperation of perforation was
anonymous but unselfish man to perform more as his dutiful ne Postal Civil Disobedience struggle for freedom than as ut, like the thousands of other assic example of the tragedy abit of drawing in noble souls an permitting self-seekers to whether he is still alive or not, ly misfortune to learn from urageous and self-sacrificing ated by people who claim to lvanayakam. Nadarajah might phical addendum to the ex
mencement of the new Camtook his seat as "Postmaster' Office' in a booth in the was seated his assistant, V. A. was a milling Crowd clamourstamps. Chelvanayakam Comivil Disobedience by selling u stamp of the denomination tam, M. P. for Udupiddy, and el Tamil Arasu Postal Service Office Ordinance. This was

Page 190
followed by a brisk sale of S envelopes. Within a few min the purpose was filled to cap
The letters were Collected the Tamil Arasu post-mark a Several "Postmen" for deliver leaders acted as Postmen. Six would be the "Postman' tO del the Superintendent of Police, J next "Postman' to deliver anc Udugama of the Ceylon Army Co-ordinating Officer. The c veyed information to the addr law.
All this was symbolic and t time and if left alone it could and efficient paralel postal ser "Post Boxes' that had been has throughout the Jaffna Penins and the volunteers saw to it sorted, and faithfully deliv Postmasters' were scrupulousl and accounts Of their stocks ar lections to the Headquarters.
The Postal Civil Disobedie the Press and among the peopl a unique and unheard-of acti gle. It generated a feverish rus and stamped envelopes. Severa and other foreign visitors anc all the way from Colombo and to take home. Most of them got ed with the Tamil Arasu 'post that all of them understood the purchasing.
I was told at the time that the sale of normal inland post Post Offices in Jaffna during th dience campaign was proceedi passed the Government show
1

tamps, post Cards and stamped utes the "Post Box' provided for acity with letters.
, sorted, stamps cancelled with nd date, and then entrusted to y at the addresses, M.P.s and rasithamparam insisted that he iver the first letter addressed to affna. V. N. Navaratnam was the ther letter addressed to Major who was stationed in Jaffna as Dntents of both the letters Con2ssees about the breaking of the
oken action, of Course, but given have developed into a genuine vice in the Tamil Provinces. The stily installed in selected places ula were full almost every day, that the letters were Collected, ered to the addressees. The y Correct in maintaining records ld sales and paying the cash col
ince attracted wide publicity in e throughout the Country. It was on in a people's freedom strugh for the stamps and postcards, | groups of European, American l tourists drove down to Jaffna purchased large stocks of them some first issue COvers Cancellmark'. In conversation I found ! significance of what they were
there was a noticeable drop in age Stamps at the Government le Week the POStal Civil DiSObeIng. Although about a week had ed no signs of any reaction.
78

Page 191
The Ceylon Daily News and House Press in the Singhala and a news item that the Federal Part of the parallel post offices, was n ment of a Tamil Arasu 'Police F Police Ordinance. The newspap the news as though it was a clev nalism on the part of the Jaffn News, but it was perhaps no me tion. But the Government reac
Two days after the newspap in the night, the Army swo Satyagraha centres in the Nor simultaneously and broke up th Army trucks fully armed with 1 the peaceful Satyagrahis, men a thrashed them all without mercy Army trucks; wailing women ar bodily and hurled into the true butts and iron chains were freely people without discrimination, women or young girls, with a sa countries. Incidentally, these "ba my also helped to prove, if pro of two divided nations in Ceylo there were at least a few Tamils
midst of the blood-curdling best ing force at the Satyagraha site
were seen to shelter some elde their Singhalese colleagues rav kind words and gently assist the my trucks. In contrast to the ma colleagues these Tamil soldiers traditions of a British trained A place and go away.
All motor cars, bicycles and sites were smashed to pieces. Th Satyagrahis. They were taken to of the way roads to find their v Army guards were posted at e M.P.s, leaders and prominent wo
170

1 its sister papers of the Lake
Tamil languages then carried Fy, emboldened by the success Low Contemplating the recruitForce' in contravention of the ers gave great prominence to Per piace of investigative joura correspondent of the Daily ore than a "leaked" informated quickly. per report, at about 9 o'clock pped down on all the five thern and Eastern Provinces Le gatherings. They arrived in modern weapons and beat up nd women, right and left, and y. They bundled them into the ad screaming girls were lifted eks. Army leather belts, rifle y used on all these unresisting whether they be old men and vagery never seen in civilized attle scenes" of the Ceylon Arpf is necessary, the existence n. Those were the days when in the Defence Forces. In the iality indulged in by the strikes, a couple of Tamil soldiers erly women Satyagrahis from ring mad, comfort them with em to climb into the high Ara violence of their Singhalese urged the crowds, in the best army, to peacefully leave the
a other vehicles found at the ne trucks drove away with the
distant places and left on out: Hay home as best they could. very Government office. All rkers were arrested and taken

Page 192
away. A State of Emergency curfew imposed. A rigorol clamped down. The military two Tamil Provinces, and the extraordinary emergency pe Act to enforce effective con
Major Udugama of the ! charge of the Military Admin many days after the breakKachcheris and the other ( opened for normal functionin the offices to perform their y ment was not restored until ministration continued to be : several months.
The M. P.s, leaders and w flown to Colombo and held i ment at Panagoda in Maharag about 90 of us from both tł upstairs apartments of a large been recently built and comp cupied a central position in ar Army camp. We were not cha offences but arbitrarily detai the Permanent Secretary to Emergency Powers.
The Satyagraha, as must limited to the Northern and ticipants were therefore predo vinces. But it does not mean Tamils were unaffected by it Tamils that even if your ego others' misfortune) the flesh respond. As though to prov well-wishers from the plantati centres during the progress with the Satyagrahis in a sho ings. The final break-up by th imprisonment of the Federal in the plantations. Reports rea at Panagoda that their clam

was declared and a dusk-to-dawn s censorship of all news was completed the occupation of the - Government armed itself with wers under the Public Security rol. Singha Regiment was placed in aistration. I have no notion how
up of the Satyagraha the five Government Departments were g or when their staff re-entered work. At any rate, Civil Govern
after a long time and the Aden charge of the Army Major for
orkers who were arrested were n custody at the Army Cantonrama near Colombo. There were ne Provinces, all lodged in the two-storeyed building which had pleted for Army barracks. It ocnaze of buildings comprising the irged or brought to trial for any ned in custody on the orders of the Ministry of Defence under
be clear to all, was necessarily Eastern Provinces and the par
minantly people of the two Prothat the hill country plantation . There is a saying among the loes not permit you to feel (for ind blood in you will not fail to e its truism several groups of ons visited the Jaffna and other f the Campaign and consorted n of their flesh-and-blood feel: Army and the mass arrest and Party leaders created a ferment ched us in the Detention Camp ur for retaliatory trade union
30

Page 193
action was so insistent and Wid that their leadership was forc under ThOndaman had de Cide( for an indefinite period until
Concede their demand for the II not to be, for eventually it turu day token strike. It was said th Bandaranaike, had happened tC time at a social function in C
The CWC leadership und most peculiar phenomenon in of labour is also leader of the unimaginative than the Fed Tirucheivam period. Like the never see far ahead. It was so ship laws, and it has always bee Whatever Thondaman tried tC ing Common Cause with Singha ly taken away by those Gove)
Despite the strict Censors Ceylon did not fail to attract th Tamil community. South India demonstrations in Support of Tamils of Mauritius Conveyed cables received at the Party Manickam Saravanamuttu, t. Saravana muttu brothers, Came to persuade the Ceylon Gove) one time been the Ceylon G Malaysia and was the doyen of ty. Although his efforts provec Panagoda Camp to have talks The Government, however, pe heeding international opinior
In the Course of the de Chelvanayakam's health and for Concern. Friends and well made arrangements for him specialized surgical treatment Bandaranalike, was COinSiderat detention for the purpose. Whi
1

lespread all Over the estate area led to agree and that the CWC id on a plantation workers' strike the Government was forced to release of the detenus. But it was ned out to be a half-hearted Oneat the Prime Minister, Sirimavo D meet Thondaman in the meanOlOmbo.
er Thondaman - a unique and the world where the employer labour - is no less besotted and eral Party leadership of the 2 Tiruchelvam Coterie it could in the fight against the Citizenin so in all the subsequent Crises. preserve or safeguard by maklese governments was eventualrnments, anyhow,
ship of all news the events in he attention of the international Seethed with vociferous mass the Tamil cause in Ceylon. The their support and solidarity in Headquarters. From Malaysia he eldest of the well-known e all the way to Colombo to try rnment to see sense. He had at overnment's representative in the Malaysian Tamil Communii to be infructuous he visited the
with the Federal Party leaders.
rsisted in its repression without
l,
tention at Panagoda S. J. V. physical Condition gave cause -wishers in Ceylon and abroad to proceed to England for ... The Prime Minister, Sirimavo e enough to release him from le convalesCing in England after
81

Page 194
the surgery he wrote to me a piness at being able to wield several years of disuse. Next, Army Doctor of the Singha Re ed it as a mild heart attack and ment General Hospital in Co Professor Dr. A. Sinnatamby, param, M. P. for Uduppiddy, was warded in a special room i it was indeed a nightmarish ex with two armed Police guaro night. I was happy to get back i when discharged from Hosp month.
The detention lasted for detenus were all released fro

a letter which reflected his hap
a pen with his own hand after I was suddenly taken ill and the giment, Captain Perera, diagnosI had me admitted to the Governlombo. Thanks to the efforts of
Dr. Walloopillai, M. Sivasithamand many anonymous friends, I na first class ward. Nonetheless, xperience to lie in a hospital bed Is seated by your side day and to the Panagoda Detention Camp pital after a little more than a
a little over six months. The em custody in October.
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Page 195
CHAPT
Ow that more than two d N Satyagraha Campaign it
to look at it in retrospect had on the Tamil-Singhalese achievements, the lessons it taug ple and the Tamils, the steady p and their no-return attitudes wl we were to draw up a balance sh Credit and debit Columns it wol understanding of Ceylon of the the Tamil-Singhalese conflict is problem as the British had persu a far more serious internationa
In the first place, the Fede about to achieve by launching th one-third of the country - clos ritory out of a total of 25,000 - the population of that one-third ing ruled by the Singhalese Withholding that consent is Singhalese part of the Country they are wrong to regard thems
18

ER 13
ecades have elapsed since the would be rather illuminating and examine the impact it has relationship - its gains and ght to both the Singhalese peoolarization of the two peoples hich have taken a firm hold. If neet of the Campaign with the uld be a perfect key to a clear : "Eighties. It would show that s not just a minority-majority laded themselves to think, but al issue between two nations,
ral Party achieved what it set le Campaign. For three months e upon 9,000 sq. miles of terhad no government, because part would not consent to be2 Government in Colombo. the only way in which the could be made to realize that selves as the successors to the
3

Page 196
British colonial power. Tha withhold that consent and pa territory was made unmistak
dia, the Singhalese in Ceylor military force could help the Ceylon.
If the Singhalese had any the Tamils to adopt the Si religion, by making it diffic citizenship, by taking away th by seizing the Tamils'land ar settlers, by depriving the Ta higher education to Tamil C devious means they could co sure process of assimilation Campaign made it abundantly prepared to walk into the Si determined to protect and pre national identity and nation make up that nationhood - the preserved from prehistoric tin ancient culture, their ancest glorious past - all these which were clearly shown to be not i ed that it was no mere part uprising on the part of the Ta against the arrogant tyranny
There is no doubt that the message. It is also clear that elected to office since then wa how they all reacted constitu in Ceylon's chequered history style pogroms and mob and I Tamil blood, which we need
For centuries the Singhale Culavamsa, have helped to bre of endless feuds between the would have thought that those have no relevancy in modern history has a perverse habi Satyagraha Campaign of the

t the Tamils could effectively ralyze the Government in their ably clear. Like the British in In- were made to realize that only m to rule over the Tamil third of
illusions before that by forcing nghala language and Buddhist cult for Tamils to prove Ceylon
e franchise rights of the Tamils, nd colonizing it with Singhalese amils of their jobs, by denying hildren, by all these and other erce the Tamils to submit to the into the Singhalese milieu, the - clear to them the Tamils are not nghalese parlour and they are serve their separate and distinct hood. Everything that goes to e Tamil language which they had nes, their theistic religions, their tral land, the heritage of their
gave them the sense of oneness negotiable. The Campaign showy politics but a national massmil-speaking people as a whole of the Singhalese. Government in Colombo got the
every Government which was is equally impressed with it. But ites some of the blackest pages . It is the story of a series of Nazi nilitary action spilling rivers of not recount here. ese chronicles, Mahavamsa and ed a Tamilophobia' by their tales Tamils and the Singhalese. One 2 were tales of a bygone age and
times. It is, of course, said that it of repeating itself. But the Tamils gave the Singhalese an
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opportunity to prove that sayin to the modern world setting. Ar have seized the opportunity to la strong and prosperous nation ou bequeathed after centuries of divisive politics aimed at sectar have concentrated on nation-bu nership with a contented Tamil Could have averted the situatio Tamil demand for complete sepa temporary history would help which the Satyagraha presente
Mahatma Gandhi. challen tain in a series of Satyagraha ca paralyzed the British Gove
Mahavamsa-Culavamsa traditioi well known that Indian inde Winston Churchill. At the end o was elected Prime Minister wit dependence to India. He chos negotiate the transfer of power. a plan Atlee asked him to meet vative acquiescence. Mountbatt only too well, was sceptical of remarked that if the great-gran not succeed with Churchill the batten met Churchill and encou anticipated. He then played his ! last opportunity I do not think the British Commonwealth". Chi ment and asked, "Do you think Commonwealth?" Mountbatten After a pause Churchill is said to Atlee that he will have my sup to be within the British associa nations which is now called th Paradoxically, India still continu monwealth while Churchill's p
That is an outstanding exam enlightened leadership. Nobody richer for having won the willi
18.

g wrong and adapt themselves i enlightened leadership could ay the foundations for a united, et of what the European powers
foreign rule. In contrast to Gian racial domination, it could nilding activities in equal partpeople. Such a wise leadership
n which led to the rise of the aration. A close parallel in conto illustrate the opportunity
d.
ged the might of Imperial Bri
mpaigns which, on occasions, rnment in India. Like the n of hatred of the Tamils, it was pendence was anathema to of World War II, Clement Atlee th a commitment to grant ine Lord Louis Mountbatten to When Mountbatten presented Churchill and obtain ConserLen, knowing Churchill's views success. Atlee is said to have dson of Queen Victoria could en nobody else could. Mountantered the difficulties he had ást trump card: "If we miss this we can ever keep India within curchill turned to him in amazeyou can get India to be in the
nodded in the affirmative. o have told Mountbatten: "Tell port." That is how India came tion of free and independent e Commonwealth of Nations. aes to remain within the Comet child Pakistan is out of it.
ple of wise statesmanship and u can deny that England is the ng friendship and goodwill of
5

Page 198
her former colonies as equal down with her armies.
In the aftermath of t Singhalese had it in their po ship for the greater good of C would be occupying a disting ty of nations today, not beca riches but because of the mo hers as an enlightened dem words would have been liste national gathering. She need
millions of badly needed ruj nished image and unsavoury be doing today. People would her tourist industry would i away as it is today. She need tisements in world magazine Lanka" which nobody belie letting and burnt-flesh smell ly newspaper as THE GAZE: would not have been driven Lanka's claim to being civiliz Tamil minority that the Sing burns."
But unfortunately for Cey analysis, it is the Tamils' goa to tread the Nazi path. The les so unbalanced as to throw all ed to the four winds and take i Chauvinism. It made them m tion to enslave the Tamils and of national life.
The SLFP Government o: stop with using the Army to prisoning the Tamil leaders. I plementation of the Singhal legislated new Draconian 1 language for the Courts of L and restricting the freedom of (Finance Act of 1963). Under dization policy for admissi
LIS.

s instead of trying to keep them
ne Satyagraha Campaign the ver to display similar statesman'eylon. Had they done so, Ceylon uished position among the comiuse of her military power or her ral stature that might have been pcracy. If she rose to speak, her ned to with respect in any inter
not have to spend four hundred sees to wash and clean up a tarreputation as she is reported to not be shunning her shores, and not be famishing and withering
not have to insert costly adver:s about the "Paradise Isle of Sri eves nowadays after the bloodof 1983. Such a sober and friendTTE of Montreal (July 30, 1983) to comment editorially that "Sri ed is drowning in the blood of its ghalese majority slaughters and
plon, and perhaps, in the ultimate od fortune, the Singhalese chose son of the Satyagraha made them their pretensions of being civilizup a stance of extreme Singhalese ore hardened in their determinaIl exclude them from every aspect --
Sirimavo Bandaranaike did not break up the Satyagraha and imNot content with the rigorous ima Only Act it went further and aws making Singhala the only aw (Language of the Courts Act) E Tamils to purchase and hold land - the guise of a so-called standarons to the University, a Tamil 186

Page 199
student was required to score cr his Singhalese counterpart to course of studies in the same l
The Singhalesization measur were accompanied by a parallel sities. The new generation of Sin Universities came with an aware Governments' policies vis-a-vis slogan-mongering campaigns of sometimes taking violent forms, them Jaffna is synonymous wi therefore Tamil students have no of Colombo, Peradeniya or Kattı in the Singhalese part of the co
The Satyagraha Campaign, tł Governments and their Singhales activities of the Singhalese stude sities-all these were only signpos tible direction in which Ceylon hi British left the shores of Ceylon. ing the Tamils to confine themsel all purposes (minus, of course, themselves), thus recognizing the sion of the country into Tamil ar counter-productive of a moveme to give the political clothing of a the Singhalese cannot be heard to own creation.
The process of Singhalesiz which was quickened and aggrava ceeded with unabated momentu ignore even the semblance of den rule of law. In blatant violation of stitution then in force, it ignored its Article 29 which was supi safeguards and which had been cil to be an unalterable and entre replaced by a totally illegal c Ceylon a Republic.
No useful purpose will be se
187

nsiderably more marks than gain admission to the same niversity. es of successive Governments
phenomenon in the UniverThalese students who entered ness of the potentials of their the Tamils. They organized "Tamils Go back to Jaffna", in the various campuses. To th the Tamil Provinces and right to enter the Universities bedde which are all situated untry. ne reaction on the part of the e electors, the campaigns and ent population of the Universts of an otherwise impercepad been led from the time the It was all tantamount to tellves to the North and East for the political right of ruling e historical and de-facto diviid Singhalese parts. If it was nt on the part of the Tamils state for the factual division, > Complain about it. It is their
ation and aggrandisement, ted after the Satyagraha, pron until the SLFP decided to Locratic government and the :he Supreme Law of the Con:he Constitution, along with vosed to contain minority .eclared by the Privy Counnched provision, and had it Institution which declared
ved by discussing here the

Page 200
illegality of the SLFP's tamp assertion that ignoring the I is illegal and its replacement tion of 1972 equally illegal is time it is also an internation posefully unless the Ceylon of the illegality and the Bri the original Constitution, a being heard, agree to subr. jurists, like the Internationa their decision. There is no o test it. The SLFP saw to it th anybody to question their a that they were in complete c necessary to enforce their i was all that mattered.
So, a discussion of the relevancy. If it is mention Singhalese and their Goveri be on their side and try to b of legal jargon and shibbolet tain that the Republican Cor that the parliaments and gov under that constitution arer vented an international law give these parliaments and ternational law and contenc ty of state power from t Constitution of 1948 to the If the protagonists of the ni claim to insist on this unpro the right to claim with eqi British-given Constitution ( Constitution that is still in fo quent constitutions are illeg.
ments constituted under the the administrations under ] R. Premadasa are illegitimi them including the Prevent no laws, that there are no le therefore no administration uniformed forces are illegal

ering with the Constitution. The iritish-given Constitution of 1948
by the new Republican Constitua constitutional issue. At the same ial issue. It cannot be solved pur
Government as the perpetrators ish Government as the givers of nd the Tamils having the right of ait it to an impartial tribunal of I Court of Justice, and to abide by ther legal machinery available to .at no avenues were left open for ctions. They acted on the footing ontrol of the sanctions which were nterpretation of the law, and that
illegality now has no practical ed here it is only because the aments claim all righteousness to ve sanctimonious. Quite a volume ths have been indulged in to mainnstitution of 1972 is not illegal and Fernments which were constituted aot illegitimate. They have even in- myth of a "Legal Revolution" to
governments a legal status in in1 that there is no lack of continuihe Government under the old ones under the new constitution. ew constitution have the right to ven legitimacy, so have the Tamils aal, if not greater, force that the of 1948 is the one and only legal rce in Ceylon, that all other subseal, that all parliaments and governese illegal constitutions including Presidents J. R. Jayawardene and ate, that all legislation passed by ion of Terrorism Act are void and gally constituted courts of law and of justice, that the army and other and their activities are nothing but
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Page 201
terrorism, that in short what is pr only be classified as "Anarchy" legitimate government in contro argumentativeness, the right of i claims is reinforced by pronounc ty than Her Majesty's Privy Co
It is indeed an irony of history and her SLFP-LSSP-CP coalition a pundits had no notion at the tin labours (in the so-called constitue used against themselves at the demon they raised, thinking the finsh off the Tamils, claimed them ed them off as a political force in vestige of democratic safeguards the old Constitution gone, the SL. UNP to whom it handed over po tion of its own creation. Its lead rights and shut out of politics represented by the LSSP and the was eradicated. The architect of t tion, Colvin R. de Silva, was driv All this was made possible bec misconceived ideas of democrac That the persecution and aggrand ed its zenith at the same time is o
master-blueprint for the country
After the Satyagraha, as the T ly becoming more and more con having to separate from the Sing friendly critic ask in despair why take the next logical step, that is Government was brought to a stai why no steps were taken to set u Tamil-speaking people with the force. The answer is simply the Ca it. Moreover, the question fails t tion and circumstances in which ed and resorted to and of the po
The Federal Party in 1961 was tal principles in its mission of prot
189

evailing in Ceylon today can in international law with no ol of the country. This is no the Tamils to make all these ements of no less an authoriuncil in England. y that Srimavo Bandaranaike nd all her constitutional law ne that the product of their ent assembly) was going to be
very first opportunity. The ey were doing something to e as his first victim and finisha the country. With the little s and rule of law that was in FP was crushed by a ruthless Ener under the new constituLer was stripped of her civil s. The socialist Movement, e CP and their trade unions, che new republican constituFen into political wilderness. cause of their lopsided and Ey and constitution-making. lisement of the Tamils reachnly a corollary of the UNP's -'s future.
amil people were increasingvinced of the inevitability of halese, I have heard many a y the Federal Party failed to s to say, when the Colombo adstill in the Tamil Provinces ap a free government of the aid of a para-military police ampaign was not planned for o take account of the situathe Satyagraha was conceiv-litical thinking at the time. - wedded to three fundamenCecting and safeguarding the

Page 202
Tamil-speaking people's inter firmly that federalism provid to enable the Tamils and the S free peoples consistent with ty of Ceylon as a whole. Seco in post-independence legisla
was still of the opinion that o] could not be coerced into ac and it was futile to rely on perpetuate domination the enough to settle for friendl Thirdly, it was an article of fa no other methods to achieve i means of peaceful and non-vio it leaves no legacy of bittern
That the Satyagraha Cam to be wrong is a later experi or the Tamil-speaking people they were pitted against anyt civilized opponents. It was sti a sensible people do reach a ] and oppression cannot go on were bound to reach that po
The Singhalese reaction 1 that followed, however, shatt appear laughable and absur existence. Federalism is only f is a spirit of tolerance and a tant should be allowed to feel that he is unwanted, or that I try. The Satyagraha and its aft clear that Ceylon was not si made to understand in no Singhalese Buddhists conside the country and that if the T
of protest against the suprem would not hesitate to resort

est. In the first place, it believed ed the best constitutional device singhalese live side by side as two the unity and territorial integriondly, notwithstanding the trend tion.and government policies, it nce they realized that the Tamils ceptance of a subordinate status - the perpetual use of force to
Singhalese would be sensible y co-existence on equal terms. ith with the Federal Party to use its objectives than the Gandhian blent struggle, principally because ness.
paign eventually proved all three ence. In 1961 the Federal Party had little reason to suppose that hing but democratic, decent and il campaigning in the belief that point when they realize that lies for ever, and that the Singhalese vint sooner or later.
Co the Campaign in all the years ered all that. It made federalism d as a hope for honourable coeasible in a country where there respect for diversity; no inhabithat he is a second-class citizen, he is a stranger in his own counermath has made it unmistakably ich a country. The Tamils were
ambiguous manner that the red themselves as the masters of amils ever dared to raise a voice Lacy of the Singhalese, the latter to genocide.
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Page 203
Now, 'genocide' in modernint that is to be used lightly. Many w ly even to describe the holocau there is no other word, not only to refer to what the Tamils are w Only a few months after th Jayawardene is reported to have a hero and not a traitor. Of Cou. all the Tamils, but I will not do it." Gamini Dissanayake, did not th convey the same message. He is nounced that it would take fou to reach Ceylon for the protecti minutes the blood of every Tamil ed to the land by us.** Whateve may be the utterences mean or mination of the Tamil race in Ce ing of responsible Singhalese le
When Adolf Hitler declared of World War II, in reference to Czechoslovakia, "I have no ter Britain, France and their allies sense of security. Who can blam that the ways of tyrants are alwa not to be lulled? To talk of fe federating with a people ha genocide, can be nothing but sa
Mahatma Gandhi was of Col tor when it organized the Satya and non-violent lines. It was not ditions were different from thO from 6000 miles away ruled Indi than 400,000,000 people with t British troops, and Gandhi used method to rouse those millions a cess was helped by the fact that empire-building outlook of the new Culture that was beginni
WEEKEND newspaper, Colombo, ** Samam, th a Perera im, the TAMIIL TIMIES, I
191

ternational usage is not a word riters used it rather hesitating1st of the Black July '83. But to describe those killings, but arned to expect in the future. ose events President J. R. : told his people: "I want to be rse I can get the Army to kill * His Minister of Agriculture, ink One need be so subtle to reported to have publicly anrteen hours, for Indian troops on of Tamils, but "in fourteen in the Country can be sacrificr the subtlety of the phrasing nly one thing, that the exterylon is certainly in the think2aders wielding power.
on the eve of the outbreak
the Sudetenland question in itorial ambitions in Europe", were not lulled into any false le the Tamils if they, knowing ys the same, similarly decide deralism now, which means rbouring such thoughts of uicidal.
urse the Federal Party's mengraha Campaign on peaceful unaware that the Indian Conse in Ceylon. There, Britain a and her population of more he aid of a few thousands of the non-violent Satyagraha (nd shake off that rule. His suche faced a Britain where the old days had given place to a ng to be liberalized by an
ondon, December 1983.

Page 204
emergent Labour Movement.
Singhalese people, inhabiting Country, had recently beco) political power over the whole ing the two and a half millior were just beginning to build u Over the Tamils for all time, an it. Despite this difference, the the footsteps of Gandhi in the
be no less influenced by the t British to deal with Gandhi i
Why then were the Tamils and non-violent method of st many lessons which the Saty
Sir Richard Attenborough portraying the life of Mahatn in the United States and Cana the editor and articles in the great Cinematographic produ devoted to the controversy ab technique of non-violence (a with weapons. One viewpc COCkburn, a great-grandson ( Ceylon, was quite interesting. ficacy of the Gandhian meth vice to some American politi C a double stance of being Demo to those of Republican Presi naments. He counselled the D GANDHI and see the Virtues and freedom and in fighting
There were Others, On thoroughly sceptical. Non-vi against gentlemen like the Br practicable against dictators be Sure that the World has se troversy was particularly inte sonal experience with Satyag
* WALL STREET JOURNAL, Nou. York,
1.

But in Ceylon about 8,000,000 a defined two-thirds part of the me entrenched with absolute } country and were in effect rulTamils of the third part. They p an imperialist-style dominion d the Federal Party was resisting Federal Party chose to follow in belief that the Singhalese would ype of culture which made the in the manner they did.
disillusioned with the peaceful ruggle? Because it is one of the agraha Campaign taught them.
produced a film called GANDHI na Gandhi. When it was shown da it set off a spate ofletters to press, all praising the film as a |ction. But most of them were pout the feasibility of Gandhi's himsa) as a substitute for Wars Dint by a certain Alexander Df a former British Governor of
He was so convinced of the efod that he ventured to give adians whom he accused of taking Crats while holding views similar dent Ronald Reagan about aremocrats to go and view the film of believing sincerely in peace for both :
the Other hand, who were olence might have succeeded itish, they said, but would it be ike Adolf Hitler? Can anybody en the last Of Hitlers? The COinresting to me in view of my perraha.
April 14, 1983.
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I saw the film at a theatre in M depicting the Jallianwalla Bagh of peaceful and innocent men, within four high walls were now realistic. It was so horrifying tha next seat turned to me and ask I said it was. He then asked whi ficer. I told him that General England, and so was O'Dier the grunted his obvious pleasure. I c his happiness by telling him the in England after his recall. In the heard to reply to his companion an Englishman, I am an Irish." Sion that a generation is growin nuinely ashamed Of the doingSO of empire-building - in sharp CO Ceylon.
Another scene depicts a det Mounted Police charging headl blocking an entrance. The volun ground. The horses come rush abruptly as they come to til Satyagrahis and refuse to tramp by their riders. This is, of Cours pose of the film. But Alexander VVALLSTREETUOURNAL, reca own when he was participating Belgian Embassy in Eaton Squa natural trait in animals like hol but go back to an incident duri of the Federal Party in Ceylon,
It was a day in February or
Secretary to the Ministry of De to the Kachcherisite in Jaffna tC rounded by a bevry of Policemer the Satygrahis who were seates for a gap among them to enter
ing his intention the satyagrahi ched themselves prostrate on th He stepped on their bodies an
19

Contrealin Canada. The scene VaSSaCre, in which hundreds Women and children trapped ed down by gunfire, was quite
a Canadian gentleman in the 2d whether all that was true. Lt harpened to that Army ofHarry Dyer was recalled to Governor of the Province. He id not have the heart to spoil it a fund was raised for Dyer : row behind me One man was
"Oh no Thank God, I am not All of these give the impresg up in the West which is gef its ancestors during the days ntrast to what is unfolding in
achment of the South African Ong at a batch of Satyagrahis teers throw themselves on the ning, but pull themselves up he prostrate bodies of the le them even though urged on e, an acted Scene for the purCockburn, in his article in the is a similar experience of his in a dem Ostration befOre the re and confirms that this is a "ses. My mind Could not help ng the Satyagraha Campaign
March, 1961. The Permanent fence, N. Q. Dias, paid a visit see for himself. He came Surand Officials. He stood before On the roadside, and looked the Kachcheri building. Sens, both men and women, streteir stomachs. Dias was angry. l, planting his well-shod feet
3

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firmly on their backs and bot wall and vaulted over into t Government servants he co should not gain entry in the fices; they had no reason to
Now N. C. Dias was no m mob. He was a university-edu Ceylon Civil Service of the B. Civil Service were regarded tellects. He was now at the hea running the Government. As horses would not do. If the inci non-violent Satyagraha was O people of whom Dias was a essence of Satyagraha is that man to do right. It therefore p. minimum conditions in the SO to be employed: firstly, there and a Conscience to be obeyed and an appreciation of the ul Wrong; and secondly, there ml for going against them. Where like federalism, can only pro dogmatic assertion, but what its aftermath has taught.
In the ultimate analysis it is Correct to say that India's inde non-violent means. It is also t tion by Satyagraha campaig violence and prepared India i push which made the British t violent.
In 1942, while World War II had penetrated into the Indian and Singapore, Gandhi raised t ing on the British to leave Indi immortal Subhas Chandra B fighting force in the Far East C. to invade India. He had march penetrated into India through Manipur. The Government of
1.

toms, walked on them up to the e Kackcheri yard. He told the uld not understand why they same way and work in their ofear bodily harm.
ember of a riotous Singhalese cated man who entered the old itish days when entrants to the as the Cream of a Country's ind of the bureaucracy which was ld yet he did what animals like dent taught anything, it was that ut of place in a struggle against representative specimen. The it appeals to the conscience of resupposes the existence of two ciety against which it is sought must be a sense of moral values a respect for the dignity of man hiversal principles of right and ast exist a fear of Consequences 2 these are absent non-Violence, ve to be suicidal. This is not a the Satyagraha Campaign and
s doubtful whether it is entirely pendence was won wholely by rue that Gandhi roused the naIns adhering strictly to nonor the final event. But the last O depart was by to means non
was still being waged and Japan Ocean after occupying Malaya he famous "Quit India" cry calla. Another patriot of India, the Ose, had raised and armed a alled the Indian National Army led up the Malay Penisula and the North-East frontier seizing India under the Viceroy Lord
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Linlithgow arrested all the Con ma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal N Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, M. jendra Prasad, and hundreds freedom fighters all over India
It was the signal for spontar out throughout the length and b teachings of Gandhi. India rose Seething masses of people indu Crowds sacked and burned Poli fices and buildings and property, ped up railroads, bridges and burned the carriages. Devote Jayaprakash Narain, Aruna Asa ed to the youthful and radical se arrest and went about the cour sabotage from under ground. BI and some killed. Transport an serious problem in Wartime Indi run in any part of India. He trie dhi to Condemn the violence. I emissaries to persuade Gandhi tc microphone and call on his peo dhi refused to do any such thing in India became thoroughly del
Against this open rebellion a nation, even Churchill's last-ditch ding Lord Wavell, one of the to manders who at the time was lo in the Eqyptian Western des breakthrough to India, as Vicer Of India Could be of no avail. T a little to turning British public or war hero, Winston Churchill, an be held any more. For the final Satyagraha or non-violent Camp Suading Clement Atlee to send Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford C discuss transfer of power.
Non-violence is indeed an id and it certainly can effectively be
195

gress leaders such as MahatNehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, oulana Abul Kalam Azad, Raof thousands of Congress and locked them up in jails.
eous maSS Violence to break readtia of India despite all the in rebellion as One man, and ulged in an Orgy of violence. Ce Stations, GOvernment Ofdestroyed telegraph lines, ripCulverts, derailed trains and d disciples of Gandhi like f Ali, and others, who belongction of the Congress, eluded htry organizing violence and itish Officials were assaulted d Communication became a a. Linlithgow's writ could not d to get the imprisoned Gant was said that he even sent go before the All India Radio ple to stop the violence. Gang. The British Official classes moralized.
nd violent uprising of a whole in attempt to hold India by senopmost British military compcked in battle with Rommel sert to prevent a German oy and Commander-in-Chief nis rebellion Contributed not pinion even to go against their ld decide that India Could not act of relinquishing India no paign was responsible in perthe Cabinet Mission of Lord ripps and A. V. Alexander to
leal, and a noble One at that, 2 used in given Circumstances,

Page 208
Buthistory knows of no instan cent substitute for other and and struggling to wrest freedor Sigent usurper of State power. dhartha of Kapilavastu, Gandi ideal in an effort to correct a is determined to be imperfect mined to be un-Buddhistic, th blamed if they chose to follow their freedom.

ce where it has been a cent per conventional forms of fighting in from a determined and intranLike Jesus of Nazareth and Sidhi of Porbandar also taught an n imperfect world. If the world
and Buddhist Ceylon is deterLe Tamils of Ceylon cannot be ..he ways of the world to achieve

Page 209
СНАР
he Kodeeswaran Case i I Tamils were driven to ut
L. their attempts to seek je their grievances by lawful and ed how ready the Singhalese w machinery to deprive Tamils redress so as to perpetuate th ironically, how Tamils make tl step in to reap its benefits.
One of the many ramifical was its impingement on the tr servants in Government empl ment of rabid Singhalese nat: socialist-inspired movement wi outlook, and split it across the Government Clerical Servants Tamils and of the birth of a se Arasanga Eluthu-vinaignar Sai the Tamil public servants.
The GCSU was one of the e organized under the inspiratio early Trotskyist socialists of t

TER 14
s another example of how the cter frustration in every one of istice and peaceful solution to l constitutional means. It showvere to prostitute the legislative 5 of every avenue of seeking eir domination. It also showed, ne sacrifice and the Singhalese
tions of the Singhala Only Law rade union movement of public loyment. It introduced the eleionalism into what was once a th an egalitarian philosophy and
middle. That is the story of the Union's (GCSU) betrayal of the parate union of the Tamils, the akam, to protect the interests of
earliest trade unions which were n and guidance of the LSSP. The he LSSP cast their eyes on the
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vast body of Government
part of the country and saw the class struggle they cc Establishment. Progressive came under their spell and Clerks into this their first tr. with the membership consi clerks. Their working langu service problems were com) and so the Organization gr
As in the case of the CO first quarter of the century palam Arunachalam found organized and spearheadec stitutional reforms and p dependence of Ceylon, so it and Forties' when it was the laboured to make it the po it came to be. The untiring a like K. C. Nithiyanantha, K. and many others built up powerful trade union arm of of the very few Singhalese Cl travelled to all parts of the c ches in almost every Gover belief that the benefits of Or all public servants and the U to protect the rights of all wi or Creed. As a matter of fac they were organizing to fo from the Union or the LSSP
Again like the Country' which the Ceylon National C other Tamils and Came un which saw to it that Tamils freedom and independence, by a pan-Singhalese leade Organization which served only. The Government dismi thavasan, Asirvatham and activities. It was a Tamil org

clerical servants serving in every in them a pragmatic potential for Intemplated to wage against the -minded young clerical servants elped to organize the Government ade union. It was a Common union sting of both Tamil and Singhalese Lage at the time was English, their non to all irrespective of language, 2W on purely trade union lines.
untry's political movement in the Ahen the Tamil leader Sir Ponnam2d the Ceylon National Congress, the national movement for Conaved the way for eventual inwas with the CGSU in the "Thirties young Tamil clerical servants who Nerful public service trade union nd ceaseless efforts of Tamil clerks Vaikunthavasan, A. R. Asirvatham the GCSU as an influential and the LSSP. T. B. Ilangaratne was one erks who worked with them. They Ountry and organized GCSU brannment office. They worked in the ganized trade unionism accrue to nion would fight when necessary ...hout considerations of race, Caste t, they had no reason at the time resee anything otherwise either leaders who were their mentors.
s national freedom movement in congress Ousted Arunachalam and der a pan-Singhalese leadership were kept out of the benefits of so also the GCSU was taken over rship and transformed into an he interests of Singhalese clerks ssed M. C. Nallathamby, VaikunIlangaratne for their trade union anizer of the GCSU, Kandasamy
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by name, who sacrificed his life he was shot dead by the Polic alongside the LSSP leader N. Dudley Senanayake Government an issue which affected the ent race. Whereas Ilangaratne beca Bandaranaike's Government Su sated with a substantial sum O dismissal, his two Tamil Colleag thawa Sarn and ASirvatham, went a penny.
All these were early indicati GCSU's Continued pretensionso of both the Tamil and Singhale Tamils Continued with their mer Sirimavo Bandaranaike's Gover plementatation of the Singhal Government offices Switched O replacing English altogether. Th to acquire proficiency in Singh Their salary increments were They were overlooked for promo earned. Rank juniors were pushed qualification for such promo Singhalese and therefore proficie Many Tamils were thus forced to of having to serve under office dinates earlier,
The lot of the Tanils in Gove intolerable and precarious. It is workers" rights in situations su for their grievances that a trad the Tamil Clerical servants wer about the usefulness of the GCS ly union which was in a position it was the one and only trade the purpose with so much laboul were still financing to maintain to be deducted out of their mont now completely dominated by which was well aware of the t Government's language policy t
199

e for the Cause of the GCSU: e while leading a procession M. Perera in protest against l's increase of the price of rice, ire population irrespective of ame a Minister in S. W. R. D. bsequently and was Compenf money as damages for the sues in the dismissal, VaikunLinto the wilderness without
ons of the fragile nature of the f being a common trade union se clerical servants. Yet most mbership. The test came when nment Ordered the Strict ima Only Act and all work in ver to the Singhala language e Tamil officers were Ordered ala within a stipulated time.
stopped pending proficiency.
ptions which they had already up over their heads, their only tion being that they were nt in their own mother tongue. o put up with the humiliation
rs who had been their subor
2rnment Service thus became precisely for the espousal of Ch as this and to seek redress eunion is meant to exist, but e now faced with a dilemma SU in their Case. It was the Onto take up their cause, because union they had organized for r and sacrifice and which they by letting their subscriptions nly salaries. But the Union was a pan-Singhalese leadership remendous advantage of the o the Singhalese and therefore

Page 212
welcomed it with enthus Government in the implem to expect it to take up the Government. Yet the Tamils latter, as expected, turned
Tamils leaving the GCSU e of the Tamil leaders walking resolution on language.
Unlike the Tamil worker hill country who had the la workers among the Ceylo terested themselves in trad is to say, they never regar anything distinct or differe other communities so as Government Service was th and there they had swallow LSSP about the universalit themselves to be beguiled : with the Singhalese. Excep of workers in the cigar and by C. Tharmakulasingham, of Point Pedro, in the predo there were no all-Tamil trad the GCSU and the LSSP nov Service to think in terms of unionism, as in the nation
A team of spirited young Kodeeswaran, K. Sivananda Somasundaram, Adiapathal the GCSU, founded a separa Union for the Tamils und Eluthu-vinaignar Sankam (4 offices all over the country beginning of general linguis workers in other services. Ta ed in the Postal Departmei Ceylon Transport Board, et as the parent Union.
The AES was registered a the law and became the so

siasm and co-operated with the Lentation. It was obviously useless Tamils's plight and fight with the urged the GCSU hierarchy, but the a deaf ear. Inevitably it led to the n masse - very much reminiscent g out of the UNP after the Kelaniya
rs of the plantation industry in the argest trade union in the country, an Tamils until then had never ine unionisin in a separate way, that ded their interests or problems as nt from those of the Singhalese or to warrant a separate identity. eir biggest source of employment, red the socialist professions of the
y of workers' rights and allowed into a deceptive sense of oneness t for a comparatively small union other cottage industries organized a school friend of mine and lawyer ominantly Tamil North of Ceylon, de unions as such. The betrayal by v drove the Tamils in Government Tamil and Singhalese even in trade nal political scene. g clerical servants led by Chelliah sundaram, R. Balasubramaniam, T. m, Iyer, and many others who left ate Government Clerical Servants er the Tamil name of Arasanka AES). They organized branches in 1. The AES was the signal for the tic trade union movement of Tamil amil workers' unions were organizht, the Railway, the Harbour, the -C., all of which looked to the AES
as a recognized Trade Union under le spokesman for all. Tamil public
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servants. It took up their probl authorities but encountered obstacles. It was rebuffed at ev union terms, it had great stre membership, its effectiveness V nature of the national conflict Singhalese.
Unlike the GCSU, the AES c union action to back up its den on interviews, persuasion and depended entirely on the goo Government, and the Governer anything but tendentious since calculated creation.
Conditions of employment, service and financial regulations pertaining to Government Serv and new terms and conditions in to the Singhalaonly Law. The G to the hardships and sufferings o their families. All that the Gove to AES's representations was to g hardships, but it never honour Government that had set its m employees it was useless to kee
The AES, in despair and frus possibility of seeking redress ar other remedy was available to
Legal opinion was very stror Act of 1956, which made the mo community alone as the only of a clear violation of Article 29 could be heard to argue that "community'"as contemplated by Tamils (as distinct from the Tam against whom the Privy Coun Kodakanpillai Case) were not si Official Language Act has not o tage on the Singhalese commun benefit or advantage to the Tam
201

ems and grievances with the difficulties and innumerable -ery turn. Although, in trade ength by virtue of its large vas circumscribed by the very between the Tamils and the
ould never contemplate trade nands. It had perforce to rely I negotiations. Any success dwill and good sense of the ment's response could not be e the problems were its own
terms of recruitment, public B, pension minutes, everything rice were unilaterally altered troduced to compel obedience Dvernment was utterly callous f the Tamil public servants and rnment would do in response rive assurances to alleviate the ed even the assurances. To a Lind on coercion of its Tamil p on making representations. -tration, began to think of the nd justice in courts of law. No them. ng that the Official Language ther tongue of the Singhalese Eicial Language of Ceylon, was of the Constitution. Nobody the Singhalese were not a y article 29 or that the Ceylon ails of the plantation districts cil had made a ruling in the uch a community, or that the conferred a benefit or advannity while denying the same ail and other communities, or

Page 214
that the Act has not made t subject to a disability while
munity also subject to the s imagine a piece of legisla discriminatory and violative it was this Official Language of the Article must have been imagined they were providi against discriminatory legis
In ordinary circumstanc propriate constitutional issu tion in the Courts of Law. Bu Tamil-Singhala conflict and t. essentially a political issue. I ment between the two peop Government Service could ne unaware of this true nature ter exasperation with an impe they consulted S. J. V. Chel
The Tamil linguistic trade tion and derived encourager functioned as a parallel move ter. The AES naturally turn As for the Federal Party, it h tion and courts of law as a m sion. It has had a long and cases, starting with the Towi Jaffna in connection with Le as Governor-General, then t} cases against G. G. Ponna Kumaraswamy, and finally tł up to the Privy Council. All Party that the national oppre Government was not a matte of law.
However, Chelvanayaka Tiruchelvam, Q. C., who mi problem from a purely lega tions and experience of the AES decided to sue the Gov of its actions.

Le Tamil and other communities not making the Singhalese comime disability. If one could ever tion which was most patently of the prohibition in Article 29, Act. If it was not, then the authors 1 in cloud cuckoo-land when they ng safeguards for the minorities
ation. es this would have been an ap
pre-eminently suited for resoluE in the peculiar back-drop of the le history of the legislation it was Unless there was a political settleiles, the problem of the Tamil in ver be resolved. The AES was not of their problem. But in their ut!rvious and perverse Government vanayakam.
union movement drew its inspiranent from the Federal Party, and ement in close liaison with the lated to it for advice and guidance. ad lost all faith in political litigaLeans of fighting national oppres
bitter experience with political n Hall Case against the Mayor of ord Soulbury's first visit to Jaffna arough the three election petition
mpalam, S. Natesapillai and V. ne Kodakanpillai Case all the way thesehad convinced the Federal ssion of Tamils by a fascist-minded r which could be solved in courts
m put the AES in touch with M. ght examine the public servants' angle unaffected by the convicFederal Party. On his advice the ernment challenging the legality
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Taking a decision to sue was willing to bell the cat was quite not a simple matter for a public a hostile and vindictive Govern face the risks involved.
Chelliah Kodeeswaran, then the Labour Department and an ! ty of London, volunteered to fil as plaintiff. A salary increment normal course had been withhe ciency in the Singhala language distinguish the Singhalese alphab
Kodeeswaran therefore su District Court. It was a declarato declare that the Government's o the salary increment of Rs. 10 already earned was illegal since Treasury Circular which was Treasury Circular purported to i law at all, that is to say, the Treas ment the Official Language Ac terms of Article 29 of the Cons
The Government, in reply, co contravene the provisions of Ar further, as a preliminary ob Kodeeswaran as an employee of no right to sue his employer for that a servant of the Crown could since he held office "at the Qu
The District Court, and later held with the Government on tł dismissed the action. The Supre view of their finding on the prel no need to go into the main case issue of the validity or otherwise
Upon the decision of the A the Privy Council against the S
A Privy Council appeal invo Leading Counsel and Solicitors h
203

one thing, but to get a person a different proposition. It was servant still in service to sue ment and be brave enough to
a clerical servant attached to Arts Graduate of the Universie the action in his own name which was due to him in the ld pending proof of his profie. He was one who could not pet from the Chinese alphabet. ed the Government in the ry action asking the Court to rder stopping the payment of /- per month which he had it was made in pursuance of a
itself illegal, because the mplement a law which was no -ury Circular sought to implet of 1956 which was void in stitution. ontended that the Act did not
•ticle 29. They raised a point jection, that in any event the Government (Crown) had
wages on the legal principle I not sue the Crown for wages een's pleasure". the Supreme Court in appeal, Le preliminary objection and ne Court further said that in iminary objection there was relating to the constitutional
of the Official Language Act. IS, Kodeeswaran appealed to upreme Court's judgement. lved costly and heavy work." ad to be engaged in England.

Page 216
Security had to be deposite Renganathan, Q. C., who
Supreme Court, should pro Counsel there. All this requ The AES launched a country suaded every Tamil public salary. It is difficult to imagin band of young men, belongi munity, working with so mu of all as the AES did in the K all the obstacles and difficul hearing before the Privy C
Senior Counsel from the retained in the Case had the knowledge of the case. Whe ing before the Judicial Com don, COunsel argued SOm requested Renganathan to servant's right to sue the Cr point of appeal since it was with by the Supreme Courti ing the case.
After hearing Renganath Committee agreed with him that a public servant had the for unpaid wages. They set pealed against and sent the tion to the Supreme Court the main Constitutional issu Official Language Act was ment under Article 29 of t
It may not be out of place talent of Renganathan whi pre-eminent appeal Court l and which may be of partic Once told me that it was a of Ceylon, decided many di Century in a very old case make his point that eventu the Judicial Committee characteristic of Renganatl

. The AES was very keen that C. tad argued the case before the ceed to England to assist Senior ired an enormous sum of money. wide Campaign for funds, and perservant to contribute a month's 2 a more determined and unselfish ng only to one section of the comch devotion for the common good deeswaran Case. They weathered ties until the appeal was listed for Ouncil.
English Bar in London who were benefit of Renganathan's intimate h the appeal was taken up for hearmittee of the Privy Council, Lon2 aspects of the case and then argue the law relating to a public own for wages. This was the main che only point that had been dealt in Ceylon in its judgement dismiss
han Their Lordships of the Judicial and allowed the appeal. They held : right to sue his employer (Crown) aside the judgement that was apcase back to Ceylon with a directo hear arguments and decide on e in the case, namely, whether the Intra vires or ultra vires of Parliahe Constitution.
: to digress here to mention a gifted :h made him the outstanding and lwyer that he was during his time ular interest to lawyer readers. He udgement of the Supreme Court cades ago in the early part of this which helped him immensely to ally convinced Their Lordships of to hold with him. It was so an that he always took great pains
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to research and delve into precede when he studied his brief before He had an inborn ability to mal authorities in the most appropriat cant the old decision of court ma sprang from his other gifted talent and then introduce old authorities a case of mine where a man had brother-in-law who was residen notarially-attested written autho to act as the latter's agent as t Renganathan successfully argued that even verbal authority was cumstances, and the sale was uph unearthed a reference to an old a out of the footnotes in Weeraman made capital use of it. His achiev Case was only a stamp of recogni highest judicial tribunal.
The Privy Council decision jubilation in the AES circle and am ple in general. But this jubilation for it was counter-productive of a part of the Singhalese. It led to a every semblance of authority outs legislative or judicial or executiv
The Kodeeswaran Case was o the Privy Council which rang th were hell-bent on entrenchment of important of them was the case of VS. Ranasinghe in which the Priv phatic terms that Article 29 was a ed provision of the Constitution, t. not be altered, amended or repeal even by following the amending Constitution.
Then there was the attempte Others vs. The Queen in which t the Parliament of Ceylon was not was a creature of the Constitution powers were circumscribed and li
205

ents and case law authorities getting on his feet to argue. ke a discerning use of case te context however insignifiy appear on the face of it. It to argue from first principles s judiciously. There was once sold a land belonging to his t abroad. He had no valid rity from his brother-in-law he law seemed to require. a before the Supreme Court s sufficient in certain ciraeld. He told me that he had nd unnoticed decision from try's "Law of Contract" and vement in the Kodeeswaran tion of that quality from the
was received with natural aong the Tamil-speaking peo
was regretfully short-lived, most wicked reaction on the conspiracy to do away with side the Singhalese, whether
ne in a series of decisions of e alarm bell to leaders who
Singhalese power. The most f the Bribery Commissioner vy Council had held in emn unalterable and entrenchthat is to say, Article 29 could ed under any circumstances procedure laid down in the
ed coup case of Liyange & che Privy Council held that ca sovereign legislature but and therefore its law-making mited by the scheme of the

Page 218
Constitution. Their Lordship Criminal Law under which th vires of Parliament.
These cases were unmis leaders that the Privy Counc tend with was a far Cry from away with their toying with t. pillai Case. They were signs what would happen to the r Kodeeswaran Case if the lat Council once again.
All these cases arose ou. country's affairs during Sirim (1960-65) in which Felix R. I her Minister of Justice. But w began to reach Ceylon one af UNP-FP Government (1965 - LSSP-CP Alliance was in the C that a conspiracy to axe down probably hatched within the at this time with the secret c the UNP leaders.
Echoes of what was being on the floor of the House Speakers from the Alliance OJ ty to launch a scathing attack it removed at the very first UNP maintained a studied sile implored the Tamils to unite the Soulbury Constitution an their goodwill and sincerit vociferous in denouncing it Lawyer M.P.s and constitutio to talk of the sovereignty ar. people, of course, they knew ple - and to condemn the fo limited it as though they had after the Privy Council was f perverse manipulation of th
The Alliance got their op

therefore declared the Special e coup suspects were tried ultra
akable signs to the Singhalese il they were now having to conthe one which had let them get he Constitution in the Kodakanwhich gave them a clear idea of hain Constitutional issue in the er were to go before the Privy
t of the SLFP's handling of the avo Bandaranaike'sy Government Dias Bandaranalike held office as hen the Privy Council decisions ter another Dudley Sénanayake's 70) was in power, and the SLFP. pposition. It is quite conceivable the obstructing Constitution was inner echelons of the Alliance onnivance of some, if not all, of
proposed were heard very often in Parliament during this time. pposition seized every opportunion Article 29 and swore to have ppportunity they got, while the ence. People who had begged and with the Singhalese and accept d to give them a chance to prove of intention were now most as a British-given document. hal pundits of the Alliance began d supremacy of the people - by t meant only the Singhalese peoreign-made Constitution which liscovered its foreign-make only ound to stand in the way of their
Constitution.
ortunity at the General Election
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of 1970 when they were elected ing majority. It was the Members election who put on board the co assembly which led to the so-c given" Constitution of 1948 and t of Swadeshi-make in 1972. But b took steps to ensure that their i have to go for a scrutiny by the an Act of Parliament in 1971 ab Council. This manoeuvre not on Constitution with impunity, it also spect of the Kodeeswaran Case Council once again for a final pro tional issue.
It lay in the Supreme Cour despite the Privy Council's dire decide on the main issue of the Privy Council appeals the AES a in proceeding with the case and dous Costs and what a waste of wrung on the Kodeeswaran Case purpose for which it was launch
But that is not all. There is a
the AES's whole enterprise. The exercise now turned Out to be t public servants. That is the most before the Case (that is, before from their trade union) they did the Government for their wages, got them that right on the highest cil. It was a windfall for the Sing. time. Since government service of bounds to the Tamils the ruling As a matter of fact, many a grat have congratulated and thanked Council decision.
Thus the Kodeeswaran Casei on Tamils who have always been nuing to suffer, from a goodly d As history would have it, they agitation for Constitutional reforI
2O7

to power with an overwhelmof Parliament returned at this omic opera of the Constituent alled repeal of the "Britishhe replacement by a new one efore staging the opera they legal activities would never
Privy Council. They passed olishing appeals to the Privy y ensured their repealing the o effectively shut out any proever going back to the Privy nouncement on the constitu
t without being attended to ction to hear arguments and Case. After the abolition of ind Kodeeswaran saw no point abandoned it. What tremenabour. Thus the Curtain was finally without achieving the ned.
poignant and ironical side to real beneficiaries of the AES ne GCSU and the Singhalese unkindest Cut of all. Whereas the GCSU drove the Tamils not possess the right to sue now those very Tamils have tauthority of the Privy Counhalese public servants for all has now become almost out J is hardly of any use to them. eful Singhalese friend of his i Kodeeswaran for the Privy
is one of Fate's mocking tricks suffering, and are still contiose of intellectual snobbery,
masterminded the national ms and political freedom from

Page 220
the British, and it was the Sing beneficiaries to the total exc up the GCSU as the leading it was ultimately the Singha possession of it driving the T the Tamils' labour. They foug up to the Privy Council, and it who reap the benefits of it.
But did the Tamils learn a of the Kodeeswaran Case? Uní of their strong points to lear tion after generation of leader a century, have persisted in lessons of history. Be it ne political manoeuvre, Parliam litigation on political question in trying their hand at what w trustworthy, has insisted the predecessors, and led the Tan them was more a pastime fors in the service of the people. Th chapter. Even the leadershi Chelvanayakam's death, tho separate state for the Tamils, the same traditional weaknes is selfish arrogance, for negot be doubted that the Tamils paic July '83. A cynic once said t they deserve. However, the g resilience which will ensure t ship that will bring about the

shalese who eventually were the lusion of the Tamils. They built public service trade union, and lese public servants who took amils out to enjoy the fruits of ht the Kodeeswaran Case right is the Singhalese public servants
ny lesson even from the debacle ortunately it has never been one n lessons from history. GeneraSafter Ramanathan, for over half ignoring his warnings and the gotiation, entering into pacts, hentary manipulation or court S, every generation has persisted ere proved to be mistakes or uney could do better than their nils into a blind alley, Politics to elf-glorification than something hat will be our subject in the next p that came into being after ugh elected on the slogan of a Nas cast in the same mould with ss, or perhaps the correct word tiations and pacts. It can hardly da heavy price for it in the Black hat a people get the leadership Ireat hope is the Tamils have a che emergence of a new leadereir deliverance.
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CHAPT
efore an honest, sincere, emerge,the Tamils were de
of suffering, sell-out, and works the parliamentary form o no more than place their trust in leadership and show their accej If the leadership betray that trus price, and there is nothing they c the men they trusted enjoy the And that is precisely what befe 1965 General Election. To say th they deserve is only partly true
The events leading to that developments which followed forebodings of disaster as regard ty. But its leader, Chelvanayaka) was prevented from seeing by ca ble that a combination of factors bably worn out after years of s robust health that he was once
was surrounded by ambitious pli motives behind professions of so
20:

ER 15
and selfless leadership could !stined to go through a winter
deception. In a system that f government a people can do the professions of a particular ptance by casting their votes. st, it is the people who pay the can do about it except to watch
fruits of betrayal and deceit. ell the Tamil people after the at a people get the leadership
- General Election, and the
it, contained unmistakable s the future of the Federal Parn, did not either see them, or alculated scheming. It is possi
contributed to it: he was protruggle; he did not enjoy the
blessed with; at this time he ace-seekers who hid their real licitude for his position as the

Page 222
undisputed leader of the Tan Sometimes allowed his heart These are conditions whi unscrupulous ambitions to critical period in their histor the benefit of his once sober ty went down the hill.
In the Nineteen Sixties th Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) tog almost the entire Singhalese p the third largest Singhalese predominantly Singhalese pa ed of intellectuals whose poli sensitive and responsive to T
Originally the LSSP comm like N. M. Perera, Phillip Guna mund Samarakkody, Leslie Go Bernard Soyza, T. B. Subasing de Zylva, and many others. Th of the Trotskyst school of therefore the Party was suppo ternational outlook and esch tarian politics.
The LSSP's first test Of Sin( when S. W. R. D. Bandaranaik on the Crest of a wave of unbric first to breakaway from the LS Phillip Gunawardene. He join with W. H. William Silva and ot ty to all the anti-Tamil and Government. Still later, hej called National Government (1 who obstructed the implemen Dudley Senanayake had ente ín 1965 and which enabled Government at all. It is obviou a Singhalese intellectual to wh than a veneer to cover up his tially and in reality he was a
2

mil people; he was a man Who to rule his intellectual faculties. ch are ideal for those with exploit. Whatever it was, at a y the Tamil people were denied judgement, and the Federal Par
e UNP, the SLFP, and the Lanka Jether represented the voice of art of the country. The LSSP was political party. Although it was rty, its leadership was compristical philosophy was somewhat amil grievances.
enced its activities with leaders wardene, Colvin R. de Silva, Edbonewardene and wife Kusuma, he, W. H. William Silva, Terence ley all professed to be adherents international Socialism, and sed to view problems with an inLew narrow nationalism or Sec
perity in their professions came e was swept into power in 1956 dled Singhalese nationalism. The SP and traditional socialism was ed Bandaranaike's Government ther followers and became a paranti-socialist measures of that pined Dudley Senanayake's so965 - 1970) and was one of those tation of the Agreement which red into with the Federal Party Dudley Senanayake to form a is that Phillip Gunawardene was om socialism was nothing more political ambitions, but essendiehard Singhalese nationalist.
10

Page 223
So it was with the rest Of notable and noble exception o not take long for the rest to Gunawardene. In 1964 it Bandaranaike's SLFP Governim that Government's new Financ unexpected political somersau itself to be socialist. It naturally forces in the country. At the sa belief that in the ultimate anal group from among the Singh trusted to stand up for the Tal
The Secretary of the LSSP
volte-face in a Singhala langua the whole explanation was that clusion that it was futile to swi (of Singhalese Nationalism) a follow the true precepts of soc policies and measures of succe only earned them unpopularity was no longer possible to resis tionalism; if they were to have
nance of the country, they had Current and not against it. Sl leaders wanted to be Ministers not matter if the hue of the G and the devil take the red.
I once happened to ask on M. P. who had been at school w Perera had been in a hurry for had so far been choosing th daranaikes alternately, showi. or the other every time there not think that the electorate m for a change? His reply was luminating. He said they did of a chance.
All this add up to an ironic of transplanting the British pa unfertile and multiracial Soil C that emerged under the system
2

ノ the LSSP leadership with the f Edmund Samarakkody. It did follow the example of Phillip coalesced with Sirimavo ent, and N. M. Perera became e Minister. This was indeed an lt for a party which professed outraged the truly progressive me time it confirmed the Tamil isis there would not be a single alese politicians who could be nils.
explained the reasons for the ge newspaper. The purport of the Party had come to the Conm against the popular current ny longer. They had tried to rialism and opposed anti-Tamil ssive Governments, which had with the Singhalese people; it t the upsurge of Singhalese naan effective voice in the governo choice but to Swim with the horn of all rhetoric, the LSSP in the Government, and it did overnment was green or blue,
e of the LSSP leaders, a fellow rith me, why their leader N. M. Ministerial office. The country Le Senanayakes and the Banng its disillusionment with one was a General Election. Did he ight want to try Dr. Perera once quite honest though very il. not believe they had the ghost
al commentary on the wisdom rty system on to the politically f Ceylon. The only two parties were both conservative and far
1

Page 224
right of the centre, though one distant from the centre in co ploitation of the other, but bo The one and only third party, held out promises of a platfoi racial reconciliation and whi cesses of the other two, had leadership which allowed itsel fice - instead of leading the pe rabble.
The result was inevitable a decades that followed the wo) gressively weakened and even unions which derived their str crushed. Perhaps this is a pher situation where intellectuals w of people do not belong to that that people consider themsel reason of values which materi They tend to exploit the cred their own position in society. out on their careers with a scheme to that end. They migl ting point with all the earnestn of youth, but a variety of facto into them as they plod along LSSP leadership went through
The British Labour Party w dustrial Britain after the First anguished voice of a downtro ing class and peasantry. In the it grew to great heights under and daughters, but in the proce
material well-being of some se an intellectual elite that never of working class life. But it is th and without, which took ove generated a clash of intelle grassroots. Now the close of tl ing of all the social benefits predecessors had earned for the
21

e of them could be said to be less
mparison with the ruthless exth highly and recklessly racial. small though it was, but which rm of progressive thinking and ch could have checked the exthe sod cut under its feet by a I to reverse its role by lure of ofople, it allowed to be led by the
and is not surprising. In the two eking class movement was proctually destroyed, and the trade ength and support from it were nomenon that is intrinsic in the -ho come forward to lead a class - people, or having sprung from
ves different and superior by ial advantage might give them. ulity of the people to advance This is not to say that they set
preconceived and calculated at have taken off from the staress and sincerity characteristic rs and circumstances put ideas on their path. Presumably the such a crisis and succumbed. as a natural development in inWorld War. It sprang out of the dden and long-suffering worksecond quarter of the century the propulsion of its own sons ess it also elevated the levels of ctions, which in turn produced needed to go through the mill is intellectual elite, from within
• the affairs of the Party and :ctualism divorced from the le century witnesses an undo
and advantages which their people. Why should this happen?

Page 225
Perhaps the answer is in a minds of men in politics? A lo) novelist Howard Spring wrote ed on the early days of the B Keir Hardie was struggling to r of Organization. He gave his b is the Spur". He could hardly h. home, even without reading til ing, namely, the motivations into popular political moven motives, but very rarely is Another famous English write cent times, spotlighted anothe 'The Stars Look Down' Conve of trade unions would serve th king-makers rather than beCC
What is true of British La force wherever the same syste. can only come from leaders v cerned people themselves, no On a people from outside, nor fi On the people. Unless the lea sharers in the community life and therefore are capable of I ing a genuine Concern for their can be no true and unselfish st pay a heavy penalty for hav du,ped.
The chain reaction resultil with other factors had a trem and its effect in the long run ca ed a severe setback to the democracy. It eliminated all po ment and abuse of power. Not a to get elected to Parliament at therefore the Workers and tra tion in Parliament since then, { member, leaving the chauvini day. Workers have been denu action, which has naturally led a disgruntled workforce strail
2

other question, what rules the ng time ago the famous English satirical novel on a theme basritish Labour Movement when nake labour realize the benefits ook the tell-tale title of "Fame ave chosen a better title to drive he book, the point he was makof some people who get drawn ents. It may be a variety of genuine service one of them. er, Dr. A. J. Cronin of more reraspect of British Labour in his 2ying the message that leaders e workers better if they remain me kings themselves.
bour should apply with equal m is emulated. Genuine service who are thrown up by the conit from leaders who are foisted om those who force themselves ders are a part and parcel and of the people whom they serve, naturally and instinctively havsufferings and privations, there ervice, and it is the people who ing allowed themselves to be
ng from the LSSP debacle taken endous impact on the country, annot be overestimated. It caus
progressive forces and true ssibility of checking misgoverna single LSSP candidate was able the 1977 General Election, and de unions have no representaxcept for a solitary Communist st extreme right to have a field ded of all rights of trade union to an intense labour unrest and hing at the leash. Add to it the
13

Page 226
seething discontent in the Ta the mass violence to which it ture of Ceylon in the Eigthies that encourages investment o schemes for development ca
The LSSP was not the only fortunately for the Tamil par ty itself was led into the same evils of foisting a leadership belong and where they are fice. Let us take the first of t
As already explained, the red to as Jaffna Tamils) and th tations had always remaine knowing any common socia both belonged to the same language, professed the sam culture. It is deplorable, but th the leaders of the Satyagrah were arrested and detained at sections of the hill country Thondaman of the Ceylon V protest strike in the estates." strike. Had they gone through ed it would have paralyzed all problem to the Government." one-day strike observed in rumoured at the time that daranaike had successfully anything more than a token
Though the Federal Part nothing it could have done a bound, as its were, and react telling the hill country Tamil clusive preserve of theirs. The Federal Party enthusiast M.'
In 1962 the Federal Party at Mannar. This Convention 1 the emergence of a new era
which may be called the era o

mil one-third of the country and is subjected, and you have a picL. Certainly this is not the picture er attracts tourism. All grandiose
n only be a chimera.
movement to suffer this fate. UnE of the country, the Federal Par
evils we are discussing - the two on a people to whom they do not not welcome, and the lure of ofLhese for the present.
Ceylon Tamils (sometimes refere Tamils of the hill country pland as two distinct groups never 1 life or commingling although
ethnic stock, spoke the same ae religions, and had the same aat is how it was. When, however, a Campaign (all Ceylon Tamils)
Panagoda in 1961, some spirited Tamils pressured their leader S. Vorkers Congress to organize a Thondaman agreed and called a
with a prolonged strike as plann- the estates and caused a serious Thondaman later made it a token
an indifferent manner. It was the Prime Minister Mrs. Banpersuaded Thondaman against strike. Ey was disappointed there was _bout it. But it took it on the reed in a most imprudent manner leadership that it was not an exarchitect, of course, was the new Tiruchelvam.
met for its Annual Convention turned out to the one which saw in Federal Party politics, an era f Tiruchelvam Politics. Following
214

Page 227
his retirement from Public Serv. ed himself into the Colombog. but it was at Mannar that his firs' identified him with the Federal
formally joined the Party. As a whenever it suited him, he was and outside that he was not a m Mannar he acted and spoke as the leader of the Party, S. J. V. Sufficient to invest him with Part technical questions, and he w general acquiescence.
Tiruchelvam appeared to Thondaman's let-down. Under group proposed at the Convent trade union of Tamil plantation v withstanding the existence of t led by S. Thondaman and the D led by Abdul Aziz. Surprisingly after having invited Thondama vitees to the Convention. Thonc did. Tiruchelvam was convinced ty trade unions in the pla Chelvanayakam's image and ch could be ousted from leadersh
I opposed the move pointing ceed in any attempt to foist Cey North on those people. Any att memories, and past history wa Thondaman and Aziz were we Owners and not plantation work they, as well as the divisional an belonged to those people wher. never identified with them. It v those people over the heads of t of their identity. It was not only ciple and as strategy. I cited the Congress which at one time, negotiations with Mohamed Ali and brushing aside the advi jagopalachari who pleaded with
21

Ce M. Tiruchelvam had WOrmo oup of Party activists earlier, public participation in politics Party. He is not known to have matter of fact, in later years, wont to declare in the Senate ember of the Federal Party, At hough he was spokesman for helvanayakam, and that was y status. Nobody cared to raise as accepted into the fold by
pe the person most hurt by his influence the Colombo on that the Party start its own workers in the hill country nothe Ceylon Workers Congress lemocratic Workers Congress this proposal was brought up n and Abdul Aziz as special indaman did not attend, but Aziz that by organizing Federal Parntation districts, and with arisma, Thondaman and Aziz ip of the Tamil workers.
out that we would never suclon Tamil leadership from the empt was bound to rake up old is not helpful either. May be, althy property and business ers, but the fact remained that d section leaders behind them, eas the Tamils from the North ould never do to try to reach heir own leaders who were part practical, it was wrong in prin2xample of the Indian National frustrated by the failures of Jinnah and his Muslim League, ce and warnings of C. Rahis colleagues to meet Jinnah
5

Page 228
half way and avoid a partiti Muslims of India over the h League. The result was disast ed to be right. It drove Jinnah adamant on having Pakistan
The new leadership that v use for other people's expe Tiruchelvam's harping on the of plantation workers had fo The Party decided to go ahe grace as a result of my determ proved that I was right. That my first suspicion that pe Chelvanayakam's name and
It did not take long for th the plantation districts of the ther activities abandoned. Bu had cost the Party a tidy sum Fund. It was an ill-conceived å ing, and, perhaps, as the inci Government leaders were wat interest. The one thing th emergence of a firm sense ( Ceylon, without such divisio plantation Tamil section or E na Tamils, and so on. The Fe in the plantation districts h leaders convinced as ever that knowledge they used to the i deal with Tamil issues, partici ping away hundreds of thousa and their families under the
The incident was a comed persistent opposition to the F ly, also showed up an aspect of ty politics peculiar to Ceyl Convention I issued a stateme ted the Party's decision and si areas in competition with th bound to undermine the soli
weaken them. The statemer.

on of India, decided to woo the eads of Jinnah and the Muslim rous. Rajagopalachari was provfurther away and made him more
and nothing less. ras emerging in the Party had no eriences or lessons of history. respect which a new generation or Chelvanayakam was enough. ad with the proposal. I fell from Lined opposition, but later events was also the occasion when I got ople were going to trade on reputation. le Party's trade union offices in hill country to be closed and furt not before the whole adventure
of money out of the Satyagraha adventure from the very beginnlent next described would show, ching the development with keen ne Singhalese feared was the of solidarity of all the Tamils in ons as Ceylon Tamil section and astern Province Tamils and Jaffderal Party by its misadventure helped to make the Singhalese E that was an impossibility - which maximum wherever they had to alarly when the question of shipands of Tamil plantation workers
Sirimavo-Shastri Pact came up. -y of errors having to do with my Party decision which, incidentalE the nature of parliamentary parlon. Shortly after the Mannar ent to the press in which I regretaid that going into the plantation ne established trade unions was darity of the Tamil workers and at was indeed capable of being ,
216

Page 229
COInstrued as Criticism Of a Par Could have Created an impressic among the Federal Party ranks. papers, my namesake V. N Chavakachcheri, happened to w Kalugalle, then Mrs. Bandarana tion (later Ceylon's High Commis Government), on a mission to as tion in the transfer of a school which was One of the most vexin The Minister was reading the greeted Navaratnam amiably wi the request, and readily accedes M. P. that he had just been readin ment and complimented him for Smiled and left the Minister's Offi
Trivial though it was, the epi: a mini-version Of the machinatio were ready to employ at every : Wedge in its leadership and dest One had eyes to see. Unfortur however, the leadership that em the eyes or the Competence to se tions Came, as events were to pr
The LSSP's Coalition with th end of Mrs Bandaranaike's G therefore did not enjoy office fo in December 1964 after four ye. wait another five years to enjoy
The fall of the Government split in the SLFP where a powerf the LSSP's infiltration into their Senior Minister, C. P. de Silva, Coalition. C. P. de Silva was Pre: the House in Parliament, and M Command. With her husband the he was a founder of the SLFP. Foll he was removed from the office
Then Came the Throne Parliament's Session for 1964 whic
217

ty decision from within and on that a rift was in the offing On the day it appeared in the . Navaratnam, M. P. for walk into the Office of P. B. G. ike's SLFP Minister of EducaSioner in Ottawa under a UNP k for the Minister's interventeacher in his constituency, g duties of an M. P. in Ceylon. Times of Ceylon at the time, th a beaming face, listened to i to it. He then told the Tamil g the latter's 'excellent" statehis courage. Navaratnam just ce having got what he wanted.
sode was an exhibition of just nS which Government leaders slight opportunity to drive a roy the Federal Party, if only nately for the Tamil people, nerged after Mannar had not e even when major machinaove in the subsequent years.
e SLFP came toward the tailovernment (1960 - 65), and or long. The Government fell ars in Office. The LSSP had to
the fruits of that Coalition.
was attributable to a serious ul section probably resented ranks. This section, led by a was strongly opposed to the sident of the SLFP, Leader of rs. Bandaranaike's second in | late S. W. R. D. Bandaranalike, lowing the coalition, however, 2 of Party President.
Speech inaugurating the h COntained the Governments

Page 230
proposal to nationalize the I owned by a family which was tionally supportive of the unrestrained attacks and que ly given offence to the Prime it was an undemocratic step faction in the SLFP opposed
On the day of the voting Throne Speech C. P. de Silva the floor of the House and S tion benches. Nobody may { ing between them and the U The ruling Coalition was r Government faced Certain di were being made and the del Chamber frantic efforts were to win some votes from the
The Federal Party was th tion to save the Governmen of the Government came ove with it. First Felix R. Dias Ban who had been the most unre Language of the Courts Act Mrs Bandaranaike was dispo of the Federal Party, came pleading and giving promise the LSSP pleaded with the F ment a Chance to survive to his personal word to see tha Federal Party which was in its memories of the past tur
The Government was ded submitted its resignation, dissolved.

ake House group of newspapers closely connected with and tradiNP. These newspapers by their stionable journalism had certainMinister Mrs Bandaranalike, but nevertheless. The C. P. de Silva this move also.
on the Address of Thanks to the and 13 of his followers Crossed at with the UNP on the Opposilver know what talks or bargainNP had preceded the Crossover. educed to a minority, and the efeat. Even as the last speeches pate was drawing to a close in the 2 made by Government members
Opposition.
2 Only group which was in a posit if it wished. Prominent leaders r to the Opposition Lobby to plead Ldaranaike, the Minister of Justice lenting in regard to the anti-Tamil even though the Prime Minister sed to accommodating the wishes over and started unashamedly es. Then Dr. Colvin R. de Silva of ederal Party to give the Governimplement the B-C Pact. He gave t the Pact was implemented. The a very bitter frame of mind with ned down the Offer.
eated amidst great excitement. It and Parliament was promptly
218

Page 231
CHAPT
E
he last moments in the lif Bandaranaike proved the
power politics presumably the 1948 Constitutional Scheme It was certainly the Tamil eleme tatives (the Federal Party) whic
ment. Had they not voted agai: even the crossover of C. P. de Si could not have defeated the SL defeat was brought about by a n message was clear, that even af country plantation Tamil repr. Tamil strength was still an obs Singhalese party government.
The defeat produced diffe quarters as we shall see in the e the Federal Party was concerne it a sense of strength. Such mo life of a nation, and if the oppor wisdom and statesmanship for t it is more than likely to pay rich was developing after the Goverr
21:

'ER 16
e of the Government of Mrs potentiality of the balance of - foreseen by the architects of and legislative representation. ent in the House of Represen-h brought down the Governnst the Government en bloc, lva and his thirteen followers FP-LSSP combination, for the majority of only one vote. The ter the elimination of the hill esentation in Parliament the tacle to the free play of any
erent reactions in different events that followed. As far as d, it was an event which gave ments come but rarely in the tunity is seized and used with he general good of the people dividends. In the situation that ment's defeat, had the Federal

Page 232
Party chosen steadfast to ad and to its Commitment to Singhalese domination, wh respect and trust it in prefer G. Ponnampalam, there is lit would have taken a differe
But the new leadership advancement of self-interest second time in independent Cond of the two evils discuss office. It not only brought a been achieved for the Tamils of the Federal Party itself.
Parliament having been announced for March 1965, in the national scene were SLEP-LSSP-Communist Party Northern and Eastern Provin Federal Party and the Tamil
As the parties got into t. electorates, it evidently bec alignments that their suppo warrant any optimism for respective strengths in Parlia and that the contest was p foresaw a situation where 1 form a Government after t. before the election date bot for support in the event of tendency which had now be
It was well known that Chelvanayakam and enjoyec He was not a participant in or as a campaigner, and was ombo. Both sides approache port of the Federal Party in secret negotiations, now wit. presumably with the Chelvanayakam. Esmond W Directorate Conducted the n

here to its principles and policies save the Tamil people from ch alone made the electorate to ence to the Tamil Congress of G. tle doubt that subsequent history ht COurSe.
hose instead to exploit it for the and individual ambitions - for the Ceylon. This brings us to the sesed in the last chapter, the lure of bout the undoing of all that had till then, it also led to the downfall
dissolved, a General Election was , The principal parties contesting he UNP on the One side and the (CP) coalition on the other. In the ces the main Contestants were the | Congress as usual.
he field and campaigned in their ame clear to both the Singhalese rt in the country outside did not any significant change in their ament as at the time of dissolution retty close. Both sides probably neither might be in a position to he election by themselves. Even h began to woo the Federal Party
one or the other needing it - a }come a regular habit with them.
M. Tiruchelvam had the ear of Considerable influence with him. he election either as a candidate thus available to both sides in Cold him in secret to secure the Supadvance. Tiruchelvam Carried on h the One and then with the other, nowledge and blessings of ickremasinghe of the Lake House egotiations on behalf of the UNP,
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while N. M. Perera and Abdul Az the SLFP coalition. At one stage, o had reached a point satisfactory to he and Wickremasinghe visit Chelvanayakam and A. Amirthal
This is, of course, a reconstr election goings-on from subseque accusations and statements by the I had no personal knowledge of th I have no doubt that, unlike in th kept away from coming to my knc vious reasons. Tiruchelvam had by about my views and attitude on t position from me. It is true that h on I certainly would have done thwart Tiruchelvam's manoeuvres not to help either of them to gove independence of action for any p. Federal Party, from its very incept Constitution unworkable and to Our duty by the people was to be to encroach into Tamil interests a means available to us in the Parlia cooperation with any Singhalese not One of such means,
Of all the people on the Tamil the One group which had had enc of the unreiiability and the un Singhalese parties. And yet, why to parley with them even before th never been told why. It may have si hat experience, but One Cannot im and Amirthalingam, and whoever allowed themselves to do so. It m =way Chelvanayakam because Oft ship that existed between him and thalingam allowed himself to be comprehension. Later, however, a fold, it did not remain any longer
Prior to the election day, whe Wickremasinghe paid the visit to
221

ノ
iz tackled him on behalf of bviously when negotiations o Tiruchelvam and the UNP, ed Jaffna to meet with lingam personally,
uction of mine of the preent events and exchange of concerned personalities, for nem until after the election. 2 past, the whole affair was wledge calculatedly for obnow Come to know enough hese as to steer clear of opad I known what was going everything in my power to ... Our role in Parliament was 2rn, nor to barter away our rice. As a matter of fact the ion, had set out to make the Wreck it whenever posible. vigilant about any attempts und to resist them by every mentary System. In my view Gevernment to govern was
side the Federal Party was ough and direct experience trustworthy nature of the did the Federal Party agree e election? The people have uited Tiruchelvam to ignore nagine how Chelvanayakam else may have participated, light be possible to explain he almost parental relationTiruchelvam, but how AmirCarried away passes one's s the scenario beganto unso difficult to understand.
n Tiru Chelvam and ESmond Jaffna, I happened to be out

Page 234
in the field campaigning in t Contesting. The Kayts elector and I was in Delft, the farth mainland by something like 2 for my want of intelligence al to know, the agreement with ed fact, if not all the terms, at important promise to suppor in return for a Ministry has
What remained to be don by the accredited leaders aft on the day following the c things began to move fast. A Federal Party's support to for to the UNP on some terms.
Tiruchelvam had arrange under Chelvanayakam's lead in Colombo immediately afte tion results. The meeting wa V. P. Peiris at Turret Road in for the meeting Tiruchelvam in the matter, said that the { more than four, that is, S. J. Party, Dr. E. M. V. Nagana Rasamanickam, President of t. vince, and himself as negoti
The younger elements of the place led by such stalwa Kanagendran, and many othei of the Party and the most de the Tamil people's cause, ins delegation.
I was in a very embarras: Tiruchelvam did not want me I keen to go and be involved sell-out of the Tamil people. there was nothing to discuss, been effected, and this deleç the seal.
It was too late to interfere

he Kayts electorate where I was ate consisted of far-flung islands est of them, separated from the 5 miles of ocean. This accounted bout the visit. By the time I came :he UNP was probably a concludleast a broad outline, and the allt the UNP to form a government | already been agreed to. e was only a formal endorsement ter the election. I came to know onclusion of the election when All I came to know was that the 'm a government was to be given
:d for a Federal Party delegation lership to meet the UNP leaders !r the announcement of the elecs to be at the residence of Dr. M. Colombo. Shortly before leaving 4, who was playing a leading role delegation was to consist of not V. Chelvanayakam, leader of the than, deputy leader, S. M. he Party and from the Eastern Proator. the Party who had assembled at rts as K. Sivanandasundaram, K. es who, after all, were the live wire edicated and active adherents to isted that I should also be in the
sing position. It was obvious that e to be in the delegation. Nor was in what appeared to me to be a Somehow I had the feeling that that the final sell-out had already ration was going merely to place
e with a process which the whole
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Page 235
country was watching. The Gene an absolute majority either to Si Cumbent Prime Minister)orto Du of them was in a position to form as had been foreseen before the to know that the Federal Party's both sides. They had also got w Federal Party that evening, a reporters was besieging the plac place when such weighty matten of the Federal Party's role in Parli question of the advisability of Singhalese parties could be deb position was too delicate for anyt had been arranged.
Even so, I would have made th hope of making Chelvanayakan that stage. He appeared to be pe correctness of the step he w earnestness to get on with it. reputation for integrity would c him to back out of a deal that Several options flitted across in I agreed to join the delegation i from the young elements of the
The Conference with the UNI cordial atmosphere, hosted by D. Senanayake were associated Sugathadasa, and Esmond Wick much to be discussed or argued a ween Tiruchelvam and Wickrel were no disagreements which ha course, I found it necessary to ra portance.
I was writing down a draft oft Wickremasinghe recalled them. it appeared to follow most of the p but somewhat whittled down il However, I found one of the most which had been causing the grav of the Tamil people ever since C
223

ral Election had failed to give rimavo Bandaranaike(the indley Senanayake, and neither a Government by themselves 2lection. The Press had come support was being sought by ind of the UNP meeting the nd a strong contingent of e. It was hardly the time and 's like the fundamental issue amentary politics or even the
steering clear of both the ated and decided upon. The body to venture to upset what
e attempt if I had the slightest namenable to persuasion at :rfectly convinced about the ras taking and showed an What is more, his personal tertainly not have permitted had been made in his name. my own mind. But in the end in deference to the pressure
Party.
Pleaders proceeded in a very r. M.V.P. Peiris. With Dudley J. R. Jayawarderne, V. A. (remasinghe. There was not as all that had been done betmasinghe previously. There d to be thrashed out until, of ise a matter of very great im
he terms as Tiruchelvam and For all intents and purposes joints covered by the B-C Pact in the process of rewording. vital issues missing, an issue est apprehension on the part eylon gained independence,

Page 236
an issue on which the Federa Government ever since its ir state-aided colonization of Tai tlers from the South. What wa Dudley Senanayake Governme
It turned out to be an eml From the look of surprise on t and Wickremasinghe when I of displeasure on Tiruchelvar matter had not been raised du ed, Tiruchelvam had been talk other in bewilderment at a i stage. It seemed to me that T original text of the B-C Pact a the negotiations. S. W. R. D. B colonization would not be use strument to tilt the compositi the Northern and Eastern Pro later addition, as has been exp Tiruchelvam obviously had
When the question was r threw up his arms and cried, go for land?" That is it, that wa the pretext of giving lands to
had always followed the calci lands and planting them with S the South. They always ignor evitably lead to the eliminatio legislature. Even as I write the reports that the UNP Govern ing its regular Army to kill and their homesteads and village
Bandaranaike's formula 1 Senanayake and his colleague ed me very forcefully and ins which the Federal Party woul deadlock in the talks.
Just then - it was past mid that Mrs. Bandaranaike was re Queens House to tell the Gov
t
2

1 Party had been fighting every nception - the issue of planned
mil country with Singhalese setas going to be the attitude of the ent in this matter? Will he stop it? parrassing moment in the talks. che faces of Dudley Senanayake raised the matter and the look m's face, it was obvious that the uring the negotiations, or, if raisced out of it. They looked at each new matter being raised at this iruchelvam had been using the Es his guide when he conducted andaranaike's undertaking that ed by the Government as an inon and pattern of population in evinces against the Tamils was a lained in a previous chapter, and
no knowledge of it. aised now, Dudley Senanayake "Then where are my people to s the crux of the problem. Under a so-called "landless" the UNP ulated policy of grabbing Tamil inghalese settlers uprooted from -ed the protest that it would inn of Tamil representation in the se lines today (in 1984)there are
ment of J. R. Jayawardene is usI chase away Tamil families from s in the two Provinces. was not acceptable to Dudley s. Dr. E. M. V. Naganathan backsisted that that was an issue on d not give in. There was thus a
night - Dr. Peiris came in to say eported to be on her way to the ernor General that she had the
24

Page 237
support of the Federal Party ar government, and she should b
Mrs Bandaranaike had to make anybody. The one person who Tiruchelvam, never did - at lea and her coalition colleagues a The information caused a tens there was a sense of urgency. D the Governor-General to say th him at that instant and he woul General in a few moments with him in writing.
The deadlock was event Wickremasinghe suggesting a f accepted by the Federal Party himself wrote down the formu
In spite of the urgency, I had great moment at the time and v been raised by Tiruchelvam dur of the Tamil Public Servants wh cy in the Singhala language an dismissal. Dudley Senanayake w cessions. As I started to write t inghe and Tiruchelvam sugg Servants' grievances could be a was not necessary to burden paragraphs. The agreement wa subject, and the talks were cor
Dudley Senanayake initiall keep it with himself. I suggeste duplicate and exchanged betwe secretarial assistance, I had to t J. R. Jayawardene read out fro Dudley Senanayake and Chelva Chelvanayakam also gave a wr General that the Federal Party
Thus was added one more "I which had tried to seek soluti plagued Tamil-Singhalese relat British pull-out. Did it solve t
22

d was in a position to form a : invited to do so. What basis such a claim was not clear to ould have thrown some light, st, not until Mrs Bandaranaike cused him of double-dealing. e atmosphere to prevail, and idley Senanayake telephoned at the Federal Party was with d be calling on the Governor the Federal Party's support to
ually resolved by Esmond ormula which was reluctantly
delegation. Wickremasinghe la in my draft. 1 to raise another question of vhich too, apparently, had not ing his negotiations - the issue 1o had not acquired proficiend who were, therefore, facing as willing to make certain conthem down, both Wickremasested that the Tamil Public djusted administratively and it the agreement with lengthy s thus left incomplete on that ncluded. ed my draft and proposed to ed that a fair copy be made in een the two sides. For want of ype a fair copy in duplicate as
m the draft. It was signed by hayakam, each keeping a copy. iting informing the Governor
was supporting the UNP. Pact" to a series of illfated pacts ons to the differences which ionship before and since the ne problem? Alas. No, what

Page 238
became of it is another shame relationship as we shall short
Returning after the con: Tiruchelvam's residence in tł when he let fall a remark whic said that the Federal Party ha and try to win the lost rights Government. Though he mad it confirmed a suspicion that ł tle earlier at the time he and E that the grievances of Tamil Pu administratively, which had se Party would be part of the G
Suffering as I was from pen in which the Federal Party was said that the Federal Party coi ing such a thing. Tiruchelvam saying it was only a suggestion Group might do well to consid ning, but, I dare say, he made i position that was going to be en time to prepare the leader for
Another diversion lent col ment. Abdul Aziz of the Dem ushered into the house while h remained in the car parked on Even before Aziz started talkin him that the Federal Party was immediately without saying a
down-cast head.
Nobody will ever know foi should have called on Tiruche 2. It showed that the move leaders had been watched. Evid that the Federal Party was me they had come to find out wł them. What, if ever, hopes had
Soon after Dudley Senanaya ment took office, Mrs Bandara double-dealing and said that h

ul chapter in the history of that ly see. Ference, some of us were at ne small hours of the morning h confirmed my worst fears. He d better accept a Ministry now of the Tamils from within the e it appear as a casual remark, had been roused in my mind litEsmond Wickremmasinghe said zblic Servants could be adjusted eemed to imply that the Federal overnment. t-up resentment at the direction being led, Ijumped on him and uld not even dream of ever dolaughed it off for the moment of his which the Parliamentary er when it met later in the mora mental note of the type of op-countered and he had sufficient - it.
lour to the episode at that moOcratic Workers Congress was is companion, Dr. N. M. Perera, the roadside near the entrance. Lg, Tiruchelvam blushingly told ; supporting the UNP. Aziz left word, but with a glum face and
r sure why the two gentlemen elvam at that ungodly hour of ements of the Federal Party ently they had had intelligence eting the UNP that night, and lat Tiruchelvam had to say to Tiruchelvam held out to them? ike's so-called national Governinaike accused Tiruchelvam of e had turned to the UNP only
:6.

Page 239
because she had turned dow Tiruchelvam denied it. How mu accusation or the denial the w of interest is that, as far as the
the Federal Party had in its har their abject surrender, like N paper-in return for what? Th day dawned and the Federal Pa in Tiruchelvam's residence in
The importance of this emphasized, for it is this event to another and from one blun eventually opening the eyes C character of the leadership whi people in thraldom by false slo True, this awakening did not c but when it came, the resurgen a bang. This meeting thus assu that it is desirable that its stc
It was the day on which Ministers were going to be swo The elected Members of Parlial assembled in the morning at Til turned out to be a superfluous r from the beginning presented farce for somebody's benefit.
Even as he entered the hc Chelvanayakam looked round decided that the Federal Party join the Government und Senanayake. He was anxious t agreement just concluded we quickly. To that end the Federa as a Minister in the Cabinet to think of no one better able Tiruchelvam who had negotiat it, he directed his gaze towar dicating that what he had sai
His words sounded hollow even to himself. The short spel
2

/ر
1 his request for a Ministry. h truth there was in either the Drld will never know. What is famil people were concerned, ds a piece of paper in token of sville Chamberlain's Munich it was to be made clear as the rty Parliamentary caucus met he morning.
meeting cannot be overwhich, leading from one step der to another, culminated in f the Tamil youth to the true ch had been holding the Tamil gans and alliterative rhetoric. ome for another fifteen years, ce of the youth burst forth with Limes such historic importance ry should be told in full.
Dudley Senanayake and his frn in as the new Government. ment of the Federal Party were suchelvam's residence for what meeting. The whole proceeding the appearance of a comedic
use and took his seat, S. J. V. and announced that he has must accept Cabinet office and er Prime Minister Dudley o make sure, he said, that the s implemented faithfully and Party should have its own man see that it was done. He could o perform that function than ed the agreement. Having said ls the ground in a gesture in
was final.
ls if they carried no conviction Chappeared to be pre-planned
7

Page 240
so as to forestall any oppositio Chelvanayakam that we had ki in the existence of the Party. A confronted the party, or its exe tary group, with a decision of I unalterable. Of course, we all no one ever referred to him by ing "Periyavar" meaning "thel ving loyalty that no other mi leader of a people. More often i Iment in most matters. And he c advantage of it. But this Chelvanayakam. Who or what is futile to waste words in expla history was to take. The party to disappear in his own lifeti helplessly. The saddest thing i
made the instrument.
What started as murmurs ( a babel of voices all around th it was against the long-establis others asked how they could f had given promises from pla Federal Party would never seel ed to G. G. Ponnampalam's Tan that the agreement with the UN in the best interest of the Tamil plemented fully. He said that C of the Tamils and he alone was in the best interest of the Tam
The voices began to subside sion was taken in a different di Dudley Senanayake had agreed the Federal Party (?) and he wou Rasamanickam, and he accej Rasamanickam were all smile Somebody again said that it wa
M. P.'s to take office, to which T not an elected M. P.
Whether because of prior Chelvanayakam, I am unable to

1. This was certainly unlike the nown all those past fifteen years Eno time in the past had he ever cuctive, or even the Parliamenis own and indicated that it was loved him, and respected himany other term than the endearposs" - and gave him the unsweran or woman ever received as han not we respected his judgen his part had never once taken ay it was quite a different E had changed him, and why? It nation, for that was the course which he created was destined me while he himself watched s that he allowed himself to be
pf dissent by and by grew into
e sitting-room. Somebody said shed policy of the party. Some ace their voters to whom they itform after platform that the « office or Ministries as opposnil Congress. Tiruchelvam said NP made a difference and it was
people to make sure it was imChelvanayakam was the leader competent to decide what was til people.
little by little, when the discusrection. Tiruchelvam said that to reserve three Ministries for ld suggest that Amirthalingam, pt them. Amirthalingam and ; but formally said "No, no." is highly improper for elected ruchelvam replied that he was
knowledge or in deference to tell, but the objection was not

Page 241
seriously pursued by the M. P.s. ped out and became silent. The pearance of play-acting as the arrangement. I found myself lef tion to the proposal.
I must say that I was, inde lifetime was being thrown awa freedom movement that had sacrifice, suffering, and tears w bition of one man. Scenes of th nocent and unsophisticated me the Satyagraha Campaign and ed at me in my mind's eye. Th being pushed back to the positio nampalam succumbed to the m D. S. Senanayake. I was forced protest against Chelvanayakam illusions about the ultimate ou it go unchallenged by an hon
workable, alternative.
It was true, I said, we have p to form a government. Let us ho and continue to extend that suj Government in power so long implement the agreement and adopting measures harmful to require our holding a Cabinet pe ment Parliamentary Group. We from being outside the Govern more effectively--and still vote v We would thus retain our inde tion, and put the Government the Tamil people. We could no extent the UNP would have the the will and determination, to agreement. Was it not this ver protest march from Colombo to tation of an almost identical ag they were in the Opposition? V its then leaders, Dudley Senan
had since changed? Next, we
22

One by one the objectors dropentire proceeding gave the apbugh to cover up some secret Et alone to persist in the opposi
eed, furious that the toil of a y and the edifice of a people's been built up with so much as being destroyed for the ame beatings and sufferings of inn, women, and children during on the Galle Face Green mocke fate of the Tamil people was on they were in when G. G. Ponmachinations of the old veteran to raise my strongest voice of n's decision. Not that I had any tcome, but I did not want to let purable, and at the same time
ledged our support to the UNP onour that pledge by all means, pport and help to maintain the
as it took meaningful steps to 1 so long as it refrained from the Tamil people. That did not prtfolio or being in the Governe could function as effectively ament as from within--in fact, with the Government generally. ependence and freedom of acon its best behaviour towards t be sure at this stage to what e freedom and ability, or even e implement the terms of the y same UNP that organized a e Kandy against the implemengreement, the B-C Pact, when What guarantee was there that ayake and J. R. Jayawardene, did not know what the present

Page 242
Opposition, the SLFP-LSSP-CF it. What was more, by becom the UNP Government we WOu of the Federal Party and the the establishment of an auto insurance against Singhalese would certainly be a betrayal ( Party, and may perhaps spell hope of building a sincere fre Party would not survive this Tamil people to trust the Fede Tamil Congress and its leade ed Chelvanayakam of his Owr augural address to the Feder which he said that the bane of had always been the Craze fo ing that the Federal Party v Singhalese Government unti for the Tamil-speaking peop. become of Chelvanayakam's and honest politics?
At this, Tiruchelvam repe neither a member of the Fede Party Member of Parliament violation of the undertaking from a man who was an emini ed in his statement, then whe than exploitation of the Fedel made it all the more reprehe
My lone opposition, as ex had already been decided, e. defend the decision or to Chelvanayakam had been sitti immobile and without saying announcement. He now look time for the swearing in of M to get ready to go,
There was nothing more t meeting, and left the house.
Sometimes arguments an

P coalition, was going to make of ing a part of and taking office in ld be undermining the Credibility pona fides of our professions for nomous Tamil-speaking state as
domination. The proposed step of the people's trust in the Federal its doom, and with it bury any 2edom movement. I was sure the petrayal. What was there for the ral Party for in preference to the r G. G. Ponnampalam? I remindwords when he delivered his inral Party fifteen years before in the Tamil leaderships in the past or office and gave the undertakwould never seek office in any l the objective of a federal state ble was a Chieved. What was to reputation for trustworthiness
tated his declaration that he was 2ral Party nor an elected Federal and therefore the question of did not arise. It was strange logic ent lawyer. If he honestly believat he was doing was nothing less ral Party for his own ends, which 2nsible.
kpected, had no impact on what xcept that nobody attempted to
refute whatever I had said. ing through all the morning quite a single word after his opening ked at his watch and said it was inisters, and asked Tiruchelvam
hat I could do. I walked out of the
dreasons prompted by practical
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Page 243
experience and lessons of histor unpalatable truths if they stand of action. On a later occasion w support to the Sirima-Shastri "Navaratnam is far too ideali capable of adjusting to practical a particular point of view as the on one's capacity for perception a heavy responsibility placed against any course of action if } injurious to the Tamil people
hostile Singhalese governmen becomes all the more nece deliberately close their eyes to 1
In politics as in other fields a and unprincipled it may be an
may lie behind it, can always b ing it by invoking the argument objection however irrefutable, dismissed as theoretical. In t heeding better counsel it is the those who ignored better cou
In the Nineteen Thirties Ar biah Natesapillai disregarded counsel of the illustrious head o palam Ramanathan, co-operate ship, accepted office, and help Constitution though the Tam demonstrated by the Boycott. In better counsel, they joined the Soulbury Constitution. In 19 against the better counsel of G Chelvanayakam, accepted ( Senanayake, and helped the power into their hands which e plete dominion over the Tamil
Are all these theoretical? C practical experiences which CI ed through and, in some cases, actively. They cannot suddenl they appear to condemn your
pad.
23

Fy may prove to be irksome and in the way of a decided course hen I was opposing the Party's
Pact, Tiruchelvam remarked, stic and theoretical, he is in
politics." Whether one regards eoretical or pragmatic depends 1. A people's representative has on his shoulders to speak out ze is convinced that it is vitally
whether it emanates from a at or from his own ranks. It ssary when his own ranks their own practical experience. ny step, however self-motivated d whatever improper reasons e defended at the time of tak- of pragmatism. Any reasoned if inconvenient, can always be aking a wrong step without people who pay the price, not nsel.
unachalam Mahadeva and Suba the sage-like wisdom and =f their own family, Sir Ponnamed with the Singhalese leadered to work the Donoughmore il people were against it as a 1946, again going against that e Singhalese in welcoming the 47, C. Suntharalingam went . G. Ponnampalam and S. J. V. Cabinet office under D. S. Singhalese to wrest absolute enabled them to exercise com
people. On the contrary, they are hard helvanayakam himself had livengaged himself to resist most y become theoretical because
present politics.

Page 244
Then again, in 1948 G. G. E promising resister of all, h counsel of Chelvanayakam ar office under D. S. Senanay Singhalese consolidated thei to exercise domination over i rebelled to the extent of spl
To be sure, in all these per cooperation to the Singhale practical politics. Opponents out of touch with the reali politics, while the leaders g folios it was the people whop people found their cherished away from them step by step class citizens and stateless !
To protect them they turn years Chelvanayakam led croachments into the remain heritage. He led the fight aga all known peaceful means. H Governments would never h their oppression of the Tami
carrying on this crusade.
Then, in the present crisis ple were suffering under the very same Chelvanayakam against the lessons of his own judgement, and was made to
which he had condemned his in the name of practical politi say that practical politics soi portunist politics. What price to pay for it in consequence day, in the course of the twe we need not go into it here.
I would not be human if I me during these twenty years tion that I have been proved frequently, that is the only re

Ponnampalam, the most uncomimself went against the better nd his co-rebels, accepted Cabinet ake, and looked on while the r power and sat securely poised :he Tamils. Chelvanayakam even itting the Tamil Congress. fidies the Tamil leaders gave their se Governments in the name of
were branded as theoretical and ty. In this exercise of practical pt away with their Cabinet portaid a very heavy price. The Tamil rights and their lands being taken . They found themselves secondpeople in their own country.
ed to Chelvanayakam. For fifteen them to resist Singhalese ening vestiges of the Tamil people's inst the Governments employing e always said that the Singhalese esitate to use the Army to back Is. He grew old and feeble and ill,
s in 1965, as though the Tamil peo= spell of a malevolent curse, that suffered himself to be advised experience and his usually sound follow the same course of action predecessors for. It was also done Cs. Nobody need wonder if cynics metimes is another name for opthe Tamil people have been made is still being unfolded, day after nty years since that perfidy, and
do not admit that what sustained s is the feeling of personal satisfac
to be right. In public life, not inAward one gets for his labours. One
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Page 245
should not expect even a thanks the issue of starting rival trade ul tations, or On this present questi the several questions to be reco it fell to my lot to put up a lone fi the new leadership, pointing ou following would prove to be dis Though there is nothing to be ha ing of personal satisfaction that ing them, that events and develo the corrections of my stand, an be right.
Perhaps it is also true that th surviving remnants of that lead A. Amirthalingam) by a resurgen people is in no small measure due putting up. Regrettable though it the path of violence in carrying O ment, perhaps also it is because t other way that is peaceful to shak thirty years they had scrupulous violence with a fanaticak belief
It may be of use to refer here relating to the mechanics of neg national differences.
I have always held the view th never commit your side to the ap have even the slightest reason readiness of the Other Side tO im concluded. In most cases, negot which you are likely to be forc original demand, and you will g have abandoned your claim whi for all time. That is what happene C. Pact, which were never impl for the still watered-down and su ment Councils which the TULFul at a later time.
More than a decade after the tion of knowing that I had been in
233

from the people. Whether on nions in the hill Country planon of office acceptance, or on unted in the next few pages, ight against Tiruchelvam and ut that the course they were astrous to the Tamil people. ppy about, recall with a feelI did the right thing in oppospments since have vindicated d that I have been proved to
e eventual repudiation of the ership (renamed TULF under tTamil youth and a frustrated 2 to the resistance I have been is, if they have chosen to tread in a revitalized freedom moveihey do not know there is any e off oppression. For well over ly adhered to the path of nonin it like religion.
e to another pertinent aspect otiation and dialogue to solve
hat in negotiations you should proval of any terms when you
to doubt the sincerity and plement an agreement when iations involve bargaining in ed into whittling down your jo on record as appearing to ch will be quoted against you ed to the B-C Pact and the D.S.- emented, and paved the way bstanceless District Developnder Amirthalingam accepted
D.S.-C Pact, I had the satisfach good Company in this belief.

Page 246
e
t
During the days of the cam Jewish State in Palestine, th name of Berl Katznelson. B Prime Minister upon the cr this leader's views in such ) photograph of Katznelson a later Prime Minister, says Ben-Gurion favoured the Ro partition Palestine, Berl opp Peel plan on the grounds (w the British would never go t}
ment would forever be on t held against us".*
This should, indeed, ser vice to leaders who find the have to negotiate for decid
It may serve no useful p have-beens. We cannot rev help but recall with a forlo people missed yet another o been allowed to steadfastly of principled politics and u the people, steering clear of very critical stage in its stru what is more, if those who to UNP had been as unselfish tions as that veteran negotia brought Chelvanayakam ar negotiating table, had been might well have been a tot
The UNP in all likelihoo ty which was reduced to a Parliament, and which could next three consecutive Ger 1960, and March 1965) disintegrated and ceased to twelve years later in 1977 unleash slaughter and savag children of the very people,
i
1
* Golda Meir in MY LIFE, Futura Pu

ipaign for the establishment of a ere was a respected leader by the en-Gurion, who became the first eation of the State of Israel, held nigh regard that he always kept a ɔn his working desk. Golda Meir, of Berl Katznelson: "In 1937, when Iyal (Peel) Commission proposal to osed our giving our consent to the hich turned out to be correct) that arough with it, whereas our agreehe record and would certainly be
ve as a very salutary piece of ademselves in situations where they
ing a people's destiny. urpose to speculate on the mightvrite history. But yet, one cannot en feeling of regret that the Tamil Ipportunity. Had the Federal Party
maintain its unblemished record answerving loyalty to the cause of
both the Singhalese parties at this aggle for its stated objectives, and, pok the Party and married it to the
and as free from improper ambitor P. Navaratnarajah, who in 1956 ad S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike to the - the story of the Tamils after 1965 ally different one. od might not have survived. A par
bare eight Members in the 1956 d not get a working majority in the neral Elections (March 1960, July
might almost certainly have exist. It might not have been alive z to assume absolute power and ery on innocent men, women, and he Tamils, who helped it to survive.
blications Ltd., London, (1976), Page 101.
234

Page 247
The Tamil people might not b nightmare as they are doing no
Who can gainsay that it w unscrupulous leadership which Federal Party at Mannar that gav in 1965, thus making it possible ! as a force to be reckoned with, dr its forces, and, after twelve years machinery of government with tion-destruction of democracy, destruction of the minorities, dest of civilized conduct, destruction o tion, and, of course, destruction name of Ceylon among the civil
23

e having to live through a
W.
as the ambition-ridden and - had taken control of the e the UNP a new lease on life for it to continue to function raw in new elements, regroup - take absolute control of the all the potential for destrucdestruction of human rights, ruction of all known canons of democratic political opposia of the very image and fair lized nations of the world?

Page 248
CHA
udley Senanayake's C s sometimes referred Government. "It was in the sense in which the te ample, Winston Churchill's w tional Government because Parties in Britain - not only t the Labour and Liberal Partie also taken in SO as to make t voice of the nation as a whi
Senanayake's Cabinetwa presumably chose to call i Federal Party and Tamil Co Singhalese UNP in a sort of
The SLFP-LSSP-CP Coalitic official opposition in Parliam received the support of mo) terms of votes as demonstrate is inappropriate to charact
It was in reality, for all i minority government suppo.
 
 

PTER 17
abinet constituted in March 1965 to by some writers as a "National not truly a national government rm is used, say, in England for exfar-time Cabinetis known as a Nait embraced all the Parliamentary he ruling Conservative Party, but s which were the Opposition were he Government reflective of the ole.
s not such a Government. Writers it so merely because the Tamil ngress were associated with the
Coalition government.
on still functioned as a formidable tent, and they could claim to have re than 5000 of the electorate in 2d at the elections. The term, then, erize the 1965 Government.
Intents and purposes, a one-party rted in office by a temporary and
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Page 249
opportunist prop. The moment would tumble to the ground like a and the Opposition coalition har of that in the past.
So the UNP was astute enoug place as long as it was needed. It ing to satisfy petty demands. At t sighted enough to make use of th
was in position, to consolidate al as a strong national political part process it also infused a sort of of the Singhalese people in gene have no doubts about that powe
This coming together of a one the UNP and the Federal Party, p different quarters. We are here o had on the country's Tamil ele ourselves only to that.
Tiruchelvam was duly sworn i ted the minor portfolio of Local seat in the Senate as a Governo Tamil Members of Parliament, wł Party ticket or on that of the Ta Senators joined with those of t Government Parliamentary Gro
M. Sivasithamparam, the Tar piddy (later President of the TUI of Deputy Speaker of the House o bined vote of the Government Pa this election was the result of a the UNP and the Tamil Congress at the time that on the morning meeting at Dr. M. V. P. Peiris'ho on the Tamil Congress leader, G. latter's support for the UNP, and 1 give it until he was shown the Fer the UNP. He is not known to ha quite possible that Dudley Senai and Sivasithamparam accepted i for each other.
237

the prop was withdrawn it house of cards. Both the UNP ve had sufficient experience
h to see that the prop was in was able to do that by seemthe same time it was also fare opportunity, while the prop id entrench its own position "y in the country. During the clout into the popular power ral so that the future should
I.
e-time pair of imcompatibles, roduced diverse reactions in 'oncerned with the impact it ment, and we shall confine
n as a Minister, and was allotGovernment. He was given a nent-appointed Senator. Ąll hether elected on the Federal amil Congress, and all Tamil he UNP to form the ruling up. nil Congress M. P. for UdupLF), was elected to the office f Representatives on the comrliamentary Group. Whether iy bargaining on the part of was never known. It was said after the Federal Party-UNP use V. A. Sugathadasa called
G. Ponnampalam, to get the that Ponnampalam would not deral Party's agreement with ve asked for any office. It is nayake offered it on his own t out of the regard they had

Page 250
The first display of a tri Senanayake's Government al tion coalition came early in 1: colleagues, it was on the quest D. S.-C. Pact. The Federal Party pressuring the Government t. hasten the implementation of with, the language part of it, 1 people. The Government for them with a show of sincerit
After much chopping and set of Regulations prepared ! with his colleagues in the Pa final Regulations in Parliamer subsidiary legislation contemp (Special Provisions) Act of 19 Tamil"which the late S. W. E finished.
This proved to be the sign tion partners were waiting for for a showdown with the Gov
Whereas in 1956 the UNI Kandy against the SLFP's B-0 of the SLFP and its partners to long procession through the
UNP's D. S.-C. Pact. If in 1950 up at Gampaha by the SLF administration's Police op demonstrators. A yellow-robe sion was killed in the shootir
While all these exchanges was well known, symptoms Singhalese themselves that family banners between rival of the matter is, if we may pe side cared two hoots for their were ostensibly trying to upl shooting spoke eloquently abo them all -- the much-hated wc

al of strength between Dudley nd Mrs. Bandaranaike's Opposi966. As I had already warned my ion of the implementation of the
Parliamentary Group had been hrough Minister Tiruchelvam to the Agreement at least to begin est they lose face with the Tamil its part was also keen to mollify
Y.
changing performed on a draft py Tiruchelvam in consultation rty, the Government tabled the at in January 1966. This was the plated under the Tamil Language 958 for the "reasonable use of R. D. Bandaranaike had left un
al which the SLFP and its coali. They wasted no time to gird up vernment. ? led a march from Colombo to : Pact, this time it was the turn ) organize a marathon two-mile streets of Colombo against the i the Kandy march was broken P's goons, this time the UNP ened fire on the coalition d Buddhist monk in the proces
ng.
of mutual compliments were, as of the in-fighting among the vas going on under influential
camps for supremacy, the fact rmit ourselves a slang, neither
respective "Pacts" which they 1old. What followed the Police ut the common denominator for ird "Tamil".
38

Page 251
After the shooting the demon ed their way to the Victoria Parl bungalow and there, at the foot of (which had replaced that of the toria), held a vow-taking ritu significance of this ritual can onl to Singhalese history as told by t particularly the Mahavamsa (the
Vihare Maha Deviis the legen Duttugemunu, the Singhalese h quished the Tamils in the secon the greater part of the island of C kingdom of Anuradhapura ruled name of Ellala Singhan (Elara in S Coast of the island was a narrow prised the Small Singhaiese pr tugemunu was born and grew u
The Chronicle narrates that
teens Dutta Gamini, as he was th his aged father to take up arms a the north. The father was averse the mother happened to see hers bed with his hands and legs dra torso. On being asked for the rea the north are the hated Tamils, in where am I to stretch my legs a mother comforted him with the day conquer the Tamils. In time, t his father a set of women's appa for the father's cowardice, march Ellala Singhan in single combat Tamil kingdom.
History books are never tired Pali Chronicle. Every Singhalese grows up thus imbued with a Chronicles imparted not only rac the word "Tamil' This hatred is form of fear. It is a well-known Sil to this day that when a little child fed the mother threatens with Tamil, eat dear." The child is mi
239

trators and the Crowds wendopposite Dr. M. V. P. Peiris' the Vihare Maha Devi statue British monarch Queen Vicall before dispersing. The y become clearby reference he Buddhist Pali Chronicles, : Great Dynasty).
dary Queen Mother of King ero who is said to have vani century B. C. At that time ceylon constituted the Tamil by an aged Tamil King by the inghala). Along the Southern strip of territory which comincipality of Ruhunu. Doutp in Ruhunu.
as a young prince yet in his en known, had been urging gainst the Tamil kingdom in to any such venture. One day on lying Crouched in his large wn and tucked up under his ason, the prince replied: "To the south is the great ocean, and sleep comfortably?"The assurance that he would one he prince raised an army, sent rel in token of his contempt hed on Anuradhapura, killed and became master of the
of telling this story from the
child, from nursery upwards, sense of racial pride. The ial pride, but racial hatred of sometimes made to take the hghalese village custom even i whimpers and refuses to be the words, "There comes a ade to obey in terror.

Page 252
It was to this pride and ha peal. A vow taken in th Dutugemunu's mother could the Singhalese people with a and deeds of Dutugemunu h.
There is nothing wrong, C ing the valorous deeds of yol or unusual. Most nations of th a matter of fact, if you take awa whether mythological, legen no national history that a peo They are usually excellent m
The harm, therefore, lies il in trying to exploit it and ma cient racial enmities (in this with a view to making politic plural society. The other side, deeds and a martial history to memories of a glorious past whole country. Ceylon history quest was the monopoly of eit It has always been a ding-do. hitting now this side and the
In trying to grapple with t in modern times, problems w artificial union into which bot a gratuitous quirk of history, to the past and revive ancien of no return, and the country tificial union. That precisely evitably taken, for which t responsible for the gover themselves alone to blame.
To get back to the Regulat to outvote the Opposition coali approved by Parliament. Butt any useful purpose? Did it help Singhalla problem including lí
It certainly served the Fed leadership, now dominated by
2

tred that the ritual sought to ap2 spiritual presence of King not fail to fire the imagination of longing for a return to the times imself.
if course, in reminding or recallJr ancestors, nor is it unnatural le world and most peoples do. As ay such accounts of heroic deeds, dary or historical, there Canbe ple can cherish and be proud of. laterial to kindle patriotism.
In the motivation. The misuse lies ke an attempt to perpetuate anCase, twenty-two centuries old) al capital out of it in a modern too, has its own equally valorous recall. The other side also has when they were masters of the : does not show that military conher the Singhalese or the Tamils. ng affair, the tongue of the bell in the other.
he problems of a plural society hich are the direct result of an hsides were thrown together by if both sides have to hark back t feuds, then you reach a point is ready for untangling that aris the course events have inhe politicians who have been nment of the country have
ions, the Government was able tion and to have the Regulations he great question is, did it serve to bring a solution to the Tamilanguage any nearer?
eral Party leadership well. That Tiruchelvam and Amirthalingam
40

Page 253
on whom had fallen the Onus Ol the Government, was able to di Credulous electorate and justify Content that the Tamil electorate in the future assured. They we Ministerial office that they devi a disinclination, to see anythin occupation with Parliamentary
From the point of view of th as one year succeeded another if not to the general Tamil publi section of them, that it was mu of language of Communication began to see that neither the Ta the D. S.-C. Pact, not even the Cabinet, touched even the fri withstanding the Federal Party contrary. Signs were not wantiI Government was determined as UNP objectives. Only the Tami for the Government's stability the Ministry, refused to see th
If anybody had expected th to make any meaningful chang language, they did not have to w All Government offices througl work in Singhala only as befo) Eastern Provinces where the Re ministration to be Carried On i because another provision in til all inter-departmental and all int communications to be in Singh compulsory for all Tamil employ be proficient in Singhala as bef concession was that the GoverI time to acquire that proficiency ed the same as before.
The Official Language De responsiblity of making the ent to Singhala completely, took in forcement of the Official Langu
24

defending the decision to join angle the Regulations before a their decision. They were now as were satisfied and their votes re so obsessed with votes and eloped an inability, or perhaps g outside their immediate pre
responsibilities.
e real Tamil problem, however, it became increasingly clear, cat least to the knowledgeable ch more than a mere question with the Government. They mil Language Regulations nor presence of a Minister in the nge of the real problem not
leadership's assurance to the ng for anybody to see that the ever to pursue the traditional l leadership, in their concern and their eagerness to cling to ΘΙΥ1.
e Tamil Language Regulations ein the position of the Tamil ait very long to be made wiser. nout the country continued to re. Even in the Northern and 'gulations provided for the adn Tamil there was no change, he same Regulations required er-Governmental business and ala Only. Consequently, it was rees in Government Service to ore the Regulations. The only ment gave them an extended , Penalties for default remain
partment, charged with the |re administration Switch Over leasures for the rigorous enLage rules. Tamil Government

Page 254
Servants were given warnings to acquire proficiency within
Some Tamil Public Servants and made representations tha Federal Party's call they had ref and urged that it was his duty they were not victimized for ob them that the Federal Party ha ment and there was no reason t Singhala any more. He has got they had better start studying a cy tests as quickly as they CC "administrative adjustment" Wickremasinghe had been talk house,
It was the most unkindest Cu people. The Federal Party, whicl obstacle, having thus been net stand in the way of complet ministration. Vhereas previous to impose the Singhala langua their determined opposition, ment in partnership with the achieving it with the active su
Road sigils in some city str Government institutions and O. Tamil lettering alongside Sing Federal Party M.P.s to whom pl was more convenient than to ri terest in serious questions of S tions in Parliament other Simi were also carried out. Otherwi ly any improvement in the stat other hand the Official Languag ahead more vigorously with it the official language throughc
Tamil Public Servants now f down. The majority of them wil to the study of Singhala to save
24

of the consequences for failure the time given to them.
met the Federal Party Minister ut it was in pursuance of the rained from studying Singhala, as the Party's Minister to see aying the call. Tiruchelvam told s now settled with the Governopersist in the refusal to study them an extension of time, and ind pass the Singhala proficienpuld. Apparently this was the Tiruchelvam and Esmond ing about at Dr. M. V. P. Peiris"
it of all Fate's tricks on the Tamil h had been the most formidable Jutralized, there was nothing to e Singhalesization of the adGovernments had been unable ge on the Tamil people against Dudley Senanayake's Govern2 Federal party succeeded in pport of Tiruchelvam.
eets and nameboards in a few ffices were repainted depicting ghala to silence some of the re-occupation with such things sk their positions by taking inubstance. To avoid their queslar changes of a trivial nature se the Regulations made harduus or the use of Tamil. On the e Department was ableto forge s task of enforcing Singhala as but the whole country.
elt themselves helpless and let ho had families to support took their jobs. A few of them who
2

Page 255
were unable to reconcile the Service to fend for themselve clung to their jobs and at th refusal to learn Singhala.
Three principled and co Pathmanathan, Surendranatha last-mentioned category. The them to be served with notices to test the reaction.
These three were bright, men in their twenties. Learnin was like second nature to the of them was able since to coll don University. It was thus pr was the cause of their not aco
They knew that without po against them. They were resis ing its servants. They turned to to him. He referred then Tiruchelvam washed off his ha because they were obstinate
Eventually Pathmanathan, were dismissed from Governm in Singhala. They were the first that fell as fruits of the Fede
Government.
Pathmanathan is no more, of homage to his memory sho we are on this topic of the T Chelvanayakam's constituenc inspiring him to dedicate himse cause espoused by the Federa young student at school. He u about the Tamil problem. He i of the Federal Party's betrayal. suffered several years of priva in 1982, and let there be no of the Tamil people. If he want on himself misery and privatio His was the first young life th
2

r conscience left Government as best they could. A handful e same time persisted in their
urageous young men named n, and Kulamani belonged to the Language Department selected of dismissal probably as a feeler
intelligent, and capable young g and acquisition of knowledge 1. If I remember correctly, one ect an Arts Degree of the Loninciple and not inability which quiring proficiency in Singhala. litical intervention all odds were iting the Government while be) Chelvanayakam and appealed 1 to Minister. Tiruchelvam. inds saying he could do nothing about learning Singhala.
Surendranathan, and Kulamani sent Service for non-proficiency I Government Service casualties ral Party's settlement with the
and it is only fitting that a word puld be placed on record while amil Language. He hailed from Fy, and that was responsible for elf to a life of service to the Tarnil I Party even while he was yet a ras a lad with an intense feeling never recovered from the shock
He was not a man of means and tion after his dismissal. He died doubt that he died in the cause ed to, he need not have brought ns by refusing to learn Singhala. at was sacrificed at the altar of
43

Page 256
opportunist politics to be follow in the years to follow. No word enough to pay tribute to his cou the frail frame which contained patriotism and nobility of chara
Looking back to the nearly th question was started, one can cl language was used to squeeze the vices and Government employi was almost stopped. In the extre being taken in they were requir undertaking to acquire proficier of time and work in the Singhal service were made to leave. The
made no difference whatsoever. had been one of the important which thousands of Tamil fa livelihood for well over a century ed to the Tamils.
What is important is not th employment to the Tamils, but a towards which the Singhale Singhalesization of the administr instrument for the achievement objective.
With the bureaucracy and tl Singhalesized, Singhala has bec Government throughout the e Tamil homeland of the Norther much so, that today a law is not the official language of Ceylon. I necessary at a time when Ceyl cess of transition from British rule authority of law (illegal and un to divest Tamil of its lawful statu position. It was necessary ui themselves the sole rulers of th in the saddle. Once that is achie becomes superfluous. For examp ly and hypothetical event of the and the language provisions in tl
244

ed, of course, by many more is of praise can be adequate erage and iron will, in spite of 3 it, and to his high sense of acter. hirty years since the language early see how systematically e Tamils out of the Public Serment. Recruitment of Tamils mely rare event of one or two red to sign on the dotted line icy within a specified period a language. Those already in
Tamil Language Regulations - Government service, which
avenues of employment on amilies depended for their y and a quarter, was thus clos
ne closing of this avenue of far more significant objective ese leaders were aiming. ration was only a means or an of a more important political
ne Public Service completely ome a fact of life and a fact of
ntire country including the en and Eastern Provinces, so E needed to lay down what is t might have been considered Lon was going through a proe to vest the Government with constitutional though it was) s and English of its dominant ntil those who considered e whole country were firmly eved an official language law ole, even if in the most unlikeOfficial Language Act of 1956 ne present constitution being

Page 257
repealed today, the language. tions would still be Singhala,
It cannot be otherwise, for During the one hundred and fi never needed a law to make Ceylon, English was the langua English was the language of th underlying the entire langua Tamils, and with them the M groups, have no illusions abou British power are.
Language was only One of power had to be asserted. The enforcement of Singhala only and the Federal Party's inan have helped to embolden the for they now turned their atte was next on their list of prio) reason to calculate that the n ty was an opportune momen
There is a Tamil proverb foolish parrot that sat perched days on end for the fruits to rip and in the end found itself che burst and the fibrous contents the Federal Party, like the Prov for the D. S.-C. Pact to be impler took up the UNP's project fort Comalee which was one of the the Tamils out of the Eastern
This was the Nationalizati This subject has already been If it is mentioned here ag chronology of events, and tention to the calamity of ho destiny of the Tamil people the Ministership clouded the judg Chelvanayakam. No price Co comalee and yet the Federal
2

in which the Government func
and Singhala only.
it is like in the old Colonial times, fty years of their rule the British English the official language of age of their government because he rulers. The political objective age policy is thus to make the fuslims and all other minority it who the real successors to the
the fronts in which Singhalese success which attended the full throughout the whole of Ceylon e acquiescence must Certainly UNP to attempt further inroads, 2ntion to another subject which rities. They naturally had good eutralization Of the Federal Part to be exploited.
which cites the example of a on a silk-cotton (kapok) tree for pen so that it could feed on them, 2ated when it saw the ripe fruits blown away by the winds. While Terbial parrot, waited and waited mented, Dudley Senanayake next he port city and harbour of Trinir most deeply-laid plans to trick
Province.
On of the Trincomalee Harbour. discussed in an earlier chapter. jain, it is only to keep to the I also to focus the reader's atow in those fateful days in the e obsession about Tiruchelvam's ement of even a wise leader like uld be Considered to Save Trin
Party leadership considered a
45

Page 258
single Cabinet post too big a p half of the Tamil people's tra
When the nationalization lot once again to put up a lone
Minister to oppose it. I told m Tiruchelvam was prepared to ment would not risk the Feder and proceed with the measu silence. Tiruchelvam put for arguments playing down the i justifying his acquiescenc spokesman for Chelvanayaka the potential dangers, but the on pushing ahead with their so tion to its logical end Tiruchel the Cabinet, and that he did n Cabinet was necessary to get
Thus Trincomalee was anot of Ministership and opportun have been tragic indeed. Taker the Seruwavila electorate fo Comalee District, it has led to t] tual extinction. They are livin proves the truth of the Tamil pulled out with the help of a ne would require a crowbar to d
Nothing could have been n the old fire that was in the Fed ceased to be a champion and alone a freedom movement. TI last of the victims of politica
were still to come.
Prime Minister Dudley Sen nearing the end of the tei (1965-1970). Barring the Lang in the D. S.-C. Pact had been t tion. And yet, the Federal Pari two partners in the Governm Federal Party and the UNP, is o trasts best illustrated by prover

rice to be paid to save an entire litional homeland. roposal was mooted it fell to my fight against it and to urgethe y colleagues I had no doubt if resign on the issue the Governal Party's withdrawal of support ce. Chelvanayakam listened in ward all manner of specious mportance of the proposal and e. Amirthalingam acted as m. Not that he was unaware of Government seemed to be bent :heme. If we carried our opposivam would have to resign from ot want. His continuance in the the Pact implemented fully. her victim to be bled at the altar ist politics. The consequences 1 with the subsequent carving of r the Singhalese in the Trinhe Tamil population nearing virg through an experience which proverb:what could have been eedle, if time is allowed to lapse,
o it. more clear during this phase that eral Party was dying out. It had protector of Tamil interests, let rincomalee was by no means the 1 opportunism. More betrayals
anayake's Government was now In for which it was elected uage Regulations, not a syllable ouched by way of implementaFy kept on waiting. The way the ent acted during this time, the uite an interesting study in conbs. If the Federal Party emulated
46

Page 259
the parrot in the fable, the UNP strike while the iron is hot. To di no time could be more propitio tion by the Federal Party is ke
The Prime Minister next to Indo-Ceylon Agreement, also Pact. It was an agreement ente office, the SLFP's Sirimavo Ba Shastri, Prime Minister of In discussed in the next chapter.
24

followed the well-known adage:
eal with issues involving Tamils us than when a possible opposiapt under freeze.
ook up for implementation the known as the Sirimavo-Shastri ared into by his predecessor in İndaramaike, with Lal Bahadur dia. This will be the subject

Page 260
CHAP
o understand the haste
· gave such top priority to
achievement, while a the UNP's own election Government's attention, it is it was the UNP, when it funct of all the Singhalese force dependence, which sowed th sprouted the Tamil-Singhala
which masterminded three of of legislation in the very firs namely, the Ceylon Citizensh Residents Citizenship Act, and tions Order in Council Amer
As previously explained, the UNP launched the Singh quent governments on a caree ed the country into the turm not recovered. Although S. I from it and founded the SLFP original undivided UNP held ments. The Indo-Ceylon Agr

PTER 18
with which the Prime Minister - the implementation of an SLFP number of matters promised in
manifesto still awaited his necessary to keep in mind that tioned as the united leadership s in the first years after ine poisonous seeds from which problem tree. It was the UNP "the most machiavellian pieces it year of independence, 1948, ip Act, the Indian and Pakistani the Ceylon Parliamentary Elecidment Act. .t was with these first acts that Llese leaderships and all subse!r of Tamil-baiting which plungbil from which Ceylon has still V. R. D. Bandaranaike seceded the political philosophy of the good and inspired all Governpement was thus a logical and 48

Page 261
necessary follow-up action if the of Parliament was to be achieve
It is not surprising, therefore UNP Prime Minister, gave it top get legislation passed to hasten th of the Agreement and to set up th teeth for doing it while he stille fidence of the Federal Party. Wh the Federal Party leadership ri significance.
The principal aim of the thr hit Tamil-speaking population in by Chelvanayakam when he was the influence of motivated Couns been either to take away the Tam altogether or make it doubtful need not go into the other Cons
The worst hit were the Tami ing in the tea and rubber estates Ceylon, because their citizenship only from the time when British tation industry and opened up t of the three Acts they lost their rights which went with it. The sec to make a gift of citizenship if th successful attempt to oppose thi applications numbered several
Throughbureaucratic Contr( infinitesimal minority out of this able to get past the rigid standa granted the citizenship they had and dry.
According to the new laws th was not restored belonged neithe physically living and working to as part of the permanent popula ing been made to make it their ho franchise rights for generation ancestors had been lured from, culprit and creator of their pl
249

principal aim of the three Acts d.
!, that Dudley Senanayake, a priority and was anxious to he process of implementation he necessary machinery with njoyed the support and conat is really surprising is that efused to take note of the
ee AC:ts Of Parliament was to Ceylon, as was once foreseen more alert and was free from el. Their Combined effect had hill people's Citizenship status in the eyes of the law. We equences and ramifications.
l plantation workers labours in the hilly parts of Central and identity in Ceylon dated planters established the planhe estates. By the operation citizenship, and all the other Dond Act, however, purported ey applied for it. After an uns iniquity, they applied. The hundreds of thousands.
Dl and other devices only an vast number of applicants was rds of processing and to be
lost. The rest were left high
ese Tamils whose Citizenship er to Ceylon where they were produce the Country's wealth ion of the country after havme and enjoy Citizenship and s, nor to India where their nor to Britain which was the resent predicament. Having

Page 262
created a new "problem" for i arbitrary laws and administra Ceylon called it the "Indian were involved were arbitrar
With this problem of the successive Ceylonese Goveri it for them. They made re Government of India to acce dia. India's Constitution and recognition. So long as Pan
Minister of India he refused t He consistently maintained t. and therefore they were Ce
Jawaharlal Nehru died in Lal Bahadur Shastri. Mrs Siri in the last lap of her term as - 65), lost no time to take up
Minister of India.
Sometime in June or Jul met in New Delhi and conclu Ceylon Agreement of 1964 of Ceylon. It is also sometir Shastri Pact.
Taking the number of t Ceylon as one million, the tw dia would take 525,000 pers while Ceylon would absorbi and their natural increase. T to be decided later. A fifteenplete the process. These we agreement. (A few years latei the balance 150,000 into two persons with their natural ii
It is an unprecedented ir the two countries, India a treaties for the forced movem country to another, except division of territory, are unt world. This treaty between II tion more than a million c

hemselves by their unilateral and .tive actions, the Governments in Tamil Problem". The people who ily referred to as "the stateless". :ir own creation on their hands, iments approached India to solve peated efforts to persuade the pt these people as citizens of Inlaws would not permit any such lit Jawaharlal Nehru was Prime O countenance Ceylon's request. hat they were Ceylonese citizens ylon's reponsibility.
May 1964 and was succeeded by mavo Bandarnaike, who was then Prime Minister of Ceylon (1960
· the matter with the new Prime
y 1964 the two Prime Ministers led an agreement called the Indoconcerning the aforesaid Tamils mes referred to as the Sirimavo
he so-called stateless Tamils in Fo Prime Ministers agreed that Insons with their natural increase, and grant citizenship to 325,000 he balance 150,000 was left over -year time limit was fixed to comere the substantial terms of the - the two countries agreed to split equal halves, each to take 75,000 ncrease.) nternational agreement between nd Ceylon. Such international nent of masses of people from one perhaps when accompanied by a aeard of in any other part of the ndia and Ceylon sought to apporof the permanent population of
250

Page 263
Ceylon between the two of them chattels having no human rights were not even consulted. The v even know where India was, ha their lives from birth, from gener known nothing but the tea bushe Ceylon around which they lived ment the two Prime Ministers de their homes, root and branch.
Evidently the mild-natured ne allowed himself to be coaxed int first woman Prime Minister. Or, acquaint himself with the true na Empire had left behind - the probl overseas. It is also possible that quately advised that Ceylon was the far flung possessions of the ol had taken poor working-class fa them an integral part of the popu Bahadur Shastri never had the e dhi who was personally involved ple in Africa. Nor was he so well i who had an intimate and first-ha tions of such people in Ceylon perhaps, never realized that he wa might prove to be disastrous to placed in other lands and cause g inconceivable that this deal with of a post-Nehru weakness on the a little to Idi Amin's decision to d dants of Indian settlers in Ugan
The agreement was hailed in 1 as a personal triumph for Mrs B Where previously such stalwart R. D. Bandaranaike, John Kotela failed, this inexperienced lady wł diplomacy had succeeded. It was achievement on the part of Mrs of her people.
In the Tamil part it was reject horse deal between the two cou
251

as though they were as many or feelings of their own. They ast majority of them did not d not even seen the sea. All ation to generation, they had !s and rubber trees of central and laboured. By this agreeecided to wrench them from
w Prime Minister of India had o the agreement by history's he may not have had time to iture of the legacy the British ems of people of Indian origin he may not have been adenot the only country among ld Empire to which the British imilies from India and made lations of those countries. Lal !xperience of Mahatma Ganin the problems of such peonformed as Jawaharlal Nehru and knowledge of the condi, Malaysia, Fiji, etc. Shastri, as creating a precedent which
millions of people similarly Frievous hurt to them. It is not a Ceylon, showing somewhat part of India, contributed not zal similarly with the descenda a few years later. the Singhalese part of Ceylon andarnaike, as indeed it was. s like D. S. Senanayake, S. W. vala and others had tried and no was a novice in politics and s undoubtedly a monumental Bandaranaike for the benefit
ed out of hand as an inhuman ntries. It was attacked for the

Page 264
human suffering and misery in. It was seen as a diabolical power of plantation labour. ty opposed it. At its Annual comalee the agreement was resolution and the Governm plement it. It was one of the the Federal Party to ve Bandaranaike's Government
All this, however, was for ty presented itself to the Fe to the agreement. Forgotten very cause Chelvanayakam nampalam twenty years earl and founded the Federal Par timonious professions of sol Federal Party for this long-s vulnerable section of the Tan opportunity was thrown aw
Early in 1968 Prime Minis ed a Bill in Parliament for t Ceylon Agreement. In Cabin the support of Tiruchelvam.
In my view, to support degradation for any Tamil p I could never persuade myse once again I found myself i Party's Parliamentary leade to be unavoidable.
By now it must be clear t with them has never been t myself the duty of opposing Government and Tiruchelva time passed my presence ca and irritation to Tiruchelvan supporters. It became more i committee of the Trincomale tion at the Party headquarte: hundred harbour workers ha comalee to voice their prote:

the operation was bound to result
device to weaken the bargaining [ore significantly, the Federal parConvention held in 1964 at Trincondemned in a strongly-Worded ent of India was urged not to im! many factors which influenced ote against and defeat Mrs. . in December 1964. gotten when a unique opportunideral Party to deal a death-blow . also was the past when for this
and others split with G. G. Ponier, broke up the Tamil Congress, ty. Forgotten also were the sancicitude since the founding of the suffering, oft-attacked, and most nil population in Ceylon. And the
ay.
ster Dudley Senanayake introducche implementation of the Indoet, obviously, the Bill had received
this Bill was the very nadir of arty, let alone the Federal Party. elf to be party to this betrayal. So at variance with the rest of the rship, and another clash seemed
o the reader that my relationship oo happy ever since I took upon g the Federal Party's joining the m's becoming a Minister in it. As me to be a source of uneasiness i and Amirthalingam, and to their manifest during the discussion in ee Harbour Nationalization quesrs in Jaffna. A party of more than ad travelled all the way from Trinst. They besieged the Party office
252

Page 265
and stormed into the meeting in a demonstration. Amirthalingam fC ly jostled about in the melee. An finding me as the sole champion himself as to refer to me as a "low expected from a man like Amirth the prevalent attitude of the Tirl Intolerance of any opposition ha with them in carrying on the af
Perhaps for this reason, so m Party's support for the Sirimavoa radical reversal of a long-estab damental policy, was never bro organs of the Federal Party, note caucus, before Tiruchelvam gav Cabinet committing the Party, Nc to show the authoritarian and a newly crept into the Party leader it go without a challenge, eventh me was Parliament.
I decided to defy the Whip a. the Bill when its Second Readil course, that my opposition was ference as the Bill was Certain tC an almost unanimous vote. But I w one Tamil voice of protest go do should point an accusing finger. a moment that outweighed all What claims can the disciplinary ty have to obedience? I had no d the correctness of the step I cor
The Party Parliamentary cau ed for a meeting at Chelvanayak the Debate on the Second Readin was to persuade me not to defy
I told them II Could not in COn not wish to hurt Chelvanayakam ing the very noble example he ol that was far less wicked and ou before us, but Concerning the ve
253

rather unruly and boisterous und himselfunceremoniousgered by this treatment, and of the men's cause, he so lost fellow". It was not language alingam, but it only reflected lchelvam clique towards me. ud become a ruling principle fairs of the Party.
homentous a question as the Shastri Pact, which involved blished and oft-declared funought up before any of the ven before the Parliamentary re his Consent to the Bill in D more evidence is necessary utocratic tendency that had ship. I was not inclined to let hough the only forum left for
nd to speak and vote against ng was taken up. I knew, of not going to make any difbe passed by Parliament by as determined to have at least own on record lest posterity From my point of view it was considerations of discipline. rules of an undisciplined paroubts about the propriety or ntemplated.
lcus was hurriedly summonam's residence on the eve of g of the Bill. Its only purpose the Party Whip.
science support the Bill. I did 's personal feelings by recallnce set for all of us over a Bill |trageous than the One now ry same people. But I did tell

Page 266
them I found it impossible to recent trend to indulge in op its ideals, principles, policies, it had so far valued. Even ift ing to revolt against the inh Indo-Ceylon Agreement to try like a herd of cattle and more from their homes and COnsiderations Of Self-intere: to be disastrous to the Tamil I tarily wished to go to India earth should stop them. Bl 525,000 and to make laws ( Bill we were being asked to st bour, seize helpless men wo put them. On board, and ship opposite shore, could not be tion of forcible and compuls out of Ceylon. It was obviol authorize the use of force
Could not be worked. How el achieved? What if the numb plied to go to India fell shor
Tiruchelvam and Amirt they were quite certain the B. template Compulsory expatria maintained that there were ment and the Implementatic acceptable. Those difference though I was myself a lawy
It may not be out of pla known at the time of our di ment of India's Foreign Sec there was an element of Com ment. A day or two after th Parliament such a moderat Madras, reputed for its conc relations, editorially comme reasons for objecting to the would have made no differer they had known them.

reconcile myself with the Party's portunist politics abandoning all stated objectives, and everything hey did not have the human feeluman attempt on the part of the Creat the Tamils of the hill COunto uproot 525,000 of them and ship them away to India, at least st should tell them it would prove ace in Ceylon. If the people volunof their own free will nothing on ut to fix an arbitrary figure of as set out in the Implementation upport) to requisition ships in harmen, and children in their homes, them away to be dumped on the for anything if not in contemplaory expatriation of Tamil people us that unless there were laws to and compulsion, the Agreement se could the target of 525,000 be er of persons who voluntarily aprt of 525,000?
halingam intervened to say that ill and the Agreement did not Conation. Both were lawyers, and they differences between the Agreeon Bill which made the Bill more s were not visible to my eyes even e.
ce if I mention here, though not scussions, that even the Governretary Shri Jha had agreed that pulsion in the Indo-Ceylon Agreehe Bill was passed in the Ceylon e newspaper as THE HINDU of iliatory opinions on Indo-Ceylon nted that there was force in my Bill. But these opinions, of course, Lice for my wise Colleagues even if
254

Page 267
Then the root-cause of ther the Party came to the surface Tiru Chelvam will have to r Tiruchelvam himself pleaded wi it would be the end of the Party to build. That might be true, but it. The issue was one which inv Tamil race in Ceylon. It transcer ties and personalities. Though have little impact, it might at lea TG C€,
When all attempts at persuas the end requested me to absent to abstain from participating in which seemed to carry an under the part of his conscience, tha leadership to do might not be th also an avowal of his helplessne promise that was hard to reject w thought I agreed, but reserving t ment explaining the reasons fo
Throughout my battle with til was One other Member who too and stood by me to the very en Senator M. Manickam from Ba elected Senator in the Upper H ever be adequate to praise this vince for his Courage and his un cause. He had a grievance that h as I was given. He addressed Chelvanayakam, and resigned
Next day the Bill was passed tion. I issued a statement to t Cumstances under Which I abs voting, and my reasons for it. registered my protest and OppC Of the House in Parliament orth my purpose equally well.
My opposition to the Billanc ment Whip thus became a ma
25

!al malady that was afflicting gain - "If we oppose the Bill 2sign from the Cabinet." h me that if I opposed the Bill which I had helped so much I could do very little to help lved the future of the entire dedall considerations of parmy Solitary Opposition could st salvage the fair name of the
ion failed, Chelvanayakam in myself from the Debate and the voting. It was a request tone of admission, at least on t what he was suffering the le right thing after all. Was it ss? I don't know. It was a comith reason. After Considerable he right to issue a public stater my abstention.
he Parliamentary Group there ok up the same stand as I did d. He was my friend the late atticaloa, the Federal Party's Duse. No words of tribute Can noble son of the Eastern Prohselfish devotion to the Tamil e was not given the same right a long letter of complaint to from the Party in protest.
in Parliament without opposihe Press explaining the cirtained from the Debate and It did not matter whether I sition to the Bill on the floor rough the media. Both served
open defiance of the Governter of public knowledge.
5

Page 268
I suppose, in the ordinary co discipline, the Prime Minist planation from Tiruchelvam a Parliamentary Group why I, the Government Parliament free vote and allowed to pub. Bill. I do not know what expl to find out.
An account of this infame without at least a broad ske followed the enactment of t plementation Act of 1968. anything more than a bare o be sufficient to show how ] leadership impervious to hu
No time was lost in settin Agreement. After a period Governments on the one ha much savings and what perso ed to be taken away, etc., and I in New Delhi and the severa the other hand on problems o expatriated families, the expa
The interests of the Tamil axe was to fall were suppose leaders, Thondaman and An
C. who owed their seats in Pa Government. Wedged in betv countries and a disinterested was precious little these two minimize the hardships ensi
In the years that followed Colombo and the ports of Tal Rameswaram on the Indian s human misery which always a of population. Thousands of r and jobs taken away, were h
make-shift tents and camps w. women, young and old, and I ed out of the only country i

-urse of enforcing Parliamentary ter would have called for an exand the leader of the Federal Party still supposed to be a member of ary Party, was given the right of Jicly declare my oposition to the anation was given, nor did I care
pus episode would be incomplete etch of the human tragedy that the Indo-Ceylon Agreement Im
Circumstances do not permit utline but even the outline would politics made the Federal party
man misery. ng up the machinery to work the
of wrangling between the two and over questions such as how onal belongings were to be allowbetween the Central Government 1 State Governments of India on -f receiving and rehabilitating the atriation process got under way.
plantation workers on whom the d to be looked after by their own namalai, two M. P.s of the C. W. arliament to appointment by the veen the Governments of the two a Ceylon Tamil leadership, there
could do except to soften and aing from the catastrophe. 1, the Central Railway Station in aimannar on the Ceylon side and ide bore eloquent witness to the accompanied such mass transfers people in pitiful rags, their homes uddled in railway platforms and aiting to be transported. Men and pabes in arms were being bundlthey had known. None of them 256

Page 269
knew why. None of them knew w home awaited them at the jour
They left with tears and a lon for the homes where their fathe ay buried among the tea bushe a Government Tourist Bungalow worked as servant boys in the B the man who raised his voice on talked incessantly about the ho which they had left behind. The and expressed their yearning to government would give them pr ed the feelings of almost everyo Country under the Sirimavo-Shi
And then a time came when quired number had not applied to the Police, and the Army happe field day in the hill country tea e rorized the Tamil workers, both Succumbed to the natural insti begged to be sent to India.
These activities appeared to lawyers who had contended tha plementation Bill did not contain pulsion. They seemed to teach something outside the pale of l
By the year 1983 the implem be all one-sided. It is clear that C of the bargain. Let the figures :
"According to the available fig origin and a natural increase Indian Citizenship and repatri Sri Lanka had reciprocally g persons plus a natural incre
"A total of 400,000 stateless estimated to be in Sri Lanka
st SRI LANKA NEWS of Thursday, July 28
House Group of Newspapers owned and
25

here they were going or what ney's end.
jing for the land of their birth, rs, and their father's fathers, 3. I once met three of them at in South India in 1976. They ungalow. They spotted me as their behalf in Ceylon. They mes where they grew up and were in their early twenties, return some day when a Tamil otection. I dare say they voicne who was forced out of the astri Pact.
presumably because the rego to India, Singhalese goons, ned to take turns in having a !states. They attacked and termen and Women. The workers nct of self-preservation, and
be a form of reply to the wise ut the Agreement and the Imany element of force or comthem that reality of life was egal arguments.
Lentation process appeared to eylon failed to keep to its part speak:
ures, 406,000 people of Indian of 149,200 had been granted ated up to December 31, 1982. ranted citizenship to 176,000 ase of 54,000."
people of Indian origin are today." *
1983, a Weekly News Digest of the Lake published by the Government of Ceylon.
t

Page 270
Taking these Governmer may be a safe guess that the Indian citizenship were all th to the end of 1982, whether of conditions deliberately cr This gives a shortfall of 194,0 target of 600,000 made up to the 75,000 agreed to later. H India? There can be no other
pulsion.
Ceylon's quota, on the o fixed plus the 75,000 agreed and their natural increase. It only to 176,000 and their nati shortfall of 224,000 and nat spite of this lagging far behi there are 400,000 stateless
It is not unlikely that t 224,000 still waiting to be gra natural increase. It may also who did not apply either to belief that they were Ceylone that the law did not apply to
may include a few persons w plications are held in abeyai to see that Ceylon granted ci with their 406,000 (roughly tion naturally arises, why ha of 1982, to close the shortfa anywhere near its quota of 4 view of the situation developi in the secret hope that they way or another. This was the
At this stage the Ceylor took up the matter with the Thondaman, was a Minister J. R. Jayawardene. To quote SRI LANKA NEWS:

nt statistics for what they are, it
406,000 who had been granted hat had applied to go to India up voluntarily or under compulsion Feated in the plantation districts. -00 to meet the Agreement's total the 525,000 originally fixed plus How are they to be made to go to - way except to use force or com
ther hand, is 325,000 originally to later making a total of 400,000 E has granted Ceylon citizenship ural increase, thus leaving a large ural increase, still to be met. Innd India's performance, it claims persons still in Ceylon. his 400,000 is made up of the nted Ceylon citizenship and their o possibly include some persons India or to Ceylon in a genuine ese citizens by every standard and - them. It is even possible that it ho opted for India but whose apnce by the Government of India itizenship to a number matching 56%). We do not know. The quess Ceylon failed, even by the end Ill of 224,000 by approaching to 00,000? One is left to wonder, in ng in the country, whether it was could be got out of Ceylon one position at the beginning of 1983. a Workers Congress apparently President of Ceylon. Its leader, S. in the Government of President from the same news story in the
258

Page 271
"President Jayawardene hast interviewed him recently people of Indian origin wil three months, Rural Indus told a Colombo meeting."
Apparently Thondaman was sa be solved very soon. This was
In August Singhalese goons Tamil plantation workers in th burnt and destroyed their h Government's Security Forces of thousands of terrified work Sought Sanctuary in temples, whatever safe places they cou
According to a Tamil dail reputation for a pro-Governm Tamil plantation workers frc presented a petition to Minister and their families be sent to 30,000 from Haputale and Bant to have made a similar reques
These are figures taken a Nobody will ever know how me frantic appeals to escape to Ind C. Party office may be better authentic information one is le that between 200,000 and 300, and became refugees in that Co in which they fled Ceylon, pe) possible. We only know that th Shrimati Indira Gandhi, was re Cern about this mass exodus O
One inescapable conclusio. odus that resulted from the Bl
* THE VIRA KESA RI of August
2

old a C. W. C. delegation which hat the problem of stateless be resolved within the next
trial Minister S. Thondaman
tisfied that the problem would
in July 1983.
and mobs attacked and killed e hill country tea estates, and omes. The presence of the had no restraining effect. Tens ers fled from their estates and
schools, refugee Camps, and ld find.
y newspaper, latterly with a ent stance, more than 20,000 Dm Passara and Moneragala Thondaman begging that they India immediately. Another darawela estates were reported t to the Minister.
ut random from a newspaper. any thousands more made such ia. Perhaps the Minister's C. W. informed. In the absence of ft to rely on unoffical estimates ,000 found their way into India untry. Given the circumstances haps no authentic figures are Le late Prime Minister of India, ported to have eXpressed conf Tamil refugees from Ceylon.
n to be drawn from this mass exack July-August 1983 is it was
29, 1983, published from o Colom bo.
59

Page 272
of tremendous assistance in a w of the Sirimavo-Shastri Pact. V whether the Government had no denying that the vast maj India, if not all, were out of the
ed to be stateless persons of Ceylon, and who themselves uncertainty about their futur
It is also an undeniable fact under the Indo-Ceylon Agreen to 400,000 persons and their na with granting citizenship only t increase of 54,000. For all inter itself may now be regarded as
If the Singhalese Governme with a sovereign country like I prising that they showed a far v agreements with Ceylon Tamil that the Tamils have come to th ments can never be trusted Federal Party itself was to lea
Is it any wonder that a n come up among the Tamils w! or negotiations with Singhale

way to a sort of "implementation" Vhether it was intended or not, knowledge of it or not there is prity of the people who fled to e 400,000 whom Ceylon claimIndian origin still remaining in Swere waiting in Ceylon with an
e status.
t that as against its commitment hent to grant Ceylon citizenship atural increase, Ceylon got away co 176,000 persons and a natural nts and purposes the Agreement s a dead letter. ent could treat their Agreement ndia in this fashion, it is not surVorse cavalier attitude to solemn s. It is by such bitter experience e conclusion that these Governto honour agreements, as the
rn within a short time. ew generation of leaders have no refuse to have any dialogue se Governments?
260

Page 273
CHAP
968 was quite a productiv ter of achievements. Its ho
ty yielded rich dividends which Prime Minister Dudley : able to rush through with ease in earlier times, would have the Federal Party.
We have discussed some of We shall now turn to yet anoth anti-Tamil intent, was as much { ed of the SLFP-LSSP-CP coalitic Its passage through Parliament
Ever since the Indo-Ceylon. was disposed of the Federal Par through its Minister Tiruchelv. ing any further to implement t DS-C Pact. The Party laid grea a means of securing some mea ministration of the Tamil Prov scheme. It was therefore anxio as quickly as possible.

TER 19
re year for the UNP in the matoneymoon with the Federal Par, because that was the year in Senanayake's Government was e a number of measures which, met with stiff opposition from
i
f
them in the previous chapters. aer which, also by reason of its dear to the opposition comprison parties as it was to the UNP.
was therefore, equally assured. Agreement Implementation Bill -ty was urging the Government am to take steps without delayhe District Councils part of the et store on District Councils as sure of participation in the adinces under a decentralization us to see this part implemented

Page 274
Besides, the Party leaders had reasons to begin to enter of the Pact being implemente known how far Tiruchelvam even in his relations with the
About this time, that is, Senanayake's Government, t. that Tiruchelvam's presence i be resented by certain extrer was even talked about in Parli Casion he had been insulted southern Constituency in a very presence of the Prime M element of truth in these rum Creasingly clear that the Fede Government was beginning perienced and less calculat something of a mill-stone roun standing in their electorates,
In this background situatic Federal Party leadership was about the Pact. But, even as th ment to bring forward a sche District Councils the Prime Mi ties. He alone knew how long the Cabinet and how long he Party's support. And so he dec ly to get what he wanted whi with him. He next took up a UNP Considered as a necessa with.
The Prime Minister obtail for a Bill for the Registration and introduced it in Parliamen who was supposed to be the Fe interests in the Cabinet, had
At no time was the Party's sulted for its views on the Bill at this time the Party's methc
r 4

around Tiruchelvam may have tain doubts about the prospect d at all. They alone would have was effective in the Cabinet, Or : Prime Minister,
in the closing years of Dudley nere Were rumours suggesting in the Cabinet was beginning to ne elements among the UNP. It amentary circles that on one oc
by a Singhalese M. P. from a rather vulgar exhibition in the inister. Whether there was any ours or not, it was becoming in2ral Party's participation in the to be regarded by the less exing sections of the UNP as d their necks and affecting their
Dn it was not surprising that the getting to be rather nervous ey were pressuring the Governme for the establishment of the nister had his own order of priorTiruchelvam was going to be in was going to have the Federal ided to act decisively and quickle he still had the Federal Party nother proposed law which the ry weapon to arm governments
ned the approval of his Cabinet
of persons resident in Ceylon, rt. Needless to say, Tiruchelvam, bderal Party's watchdog of Tamil given his approval.
Parliamentary caucus ever Con... It was not surprising, because od of functioning was such that
62

Page 275
Tiruchelvam's judgement, right that of the Party and all its org sultative, or Parliamentary.
The Bill was a most extraord which professed to be democra population of close to fifteen mil which every person in Ceylon every person upon reaching t register himself or herself at a pr ment and obtain an Identity Cai holder displayed on it. The Iden his or her person at all times a anywhere. It must be instantly ed by a Policeman. Failure to pr mediate arrest of the person o powers of the Minister were so make the Identity Cards spell ou holder administratively on the
A more sinister piece of le Ceylon was hard to imagine-a C feuds and problems, with a maj ever on the watch for an opporti do not belong to their race. Quit stigma, and the insult of having their necks, it contained a world Tamil-speaking population. It predominantly Singhalese Polic pression and persecution with have Singhalese names could b arrest, ill-treatment, and even t
The Prime Minister explaine to curb the influx of (Tamil and M South India. It was by that very ti to all persons in Ceylon bearin speaking the Tamil language. If ) corollary to the Indo-Ceylon Ag there might have been some se that people from a more deve would want to immigrate illega backward Ceylon was the height the argument with which he asl ed no convincing to approve th
26:

or wrong, was substituted for ans, whether executive, con
inary measure for a country tic and with a heterogenous lions. It proposed a law under 18 years of age or over, and he age 18, was required to escribed Government Depart'd with the photograph of the tity Card must be carried on nd whenever he or she goes produced whenever demandoduce would result in the im1 the spot. The Rule-making |wide that it was possible to it the citizenship status of the
decision of a bureaucrat. egislation for a country like eylon with its perennial ethnic prity race and a Government inity to pounce on those who ce apart from the humiliation, to wear dog's tags tied round of potential for disaster to the - put into the hands of a
e Force an instrument of opwhich all those who did not e subjected to indiscriminate orture. ed that the law was necessary Iuslim) illegal immigrants from oken that the law spelt danger
g Tamil or Muslim names or he had said it was a necessary Freement Implementation law emblance of logic. To suggest loping and prosperous India lly into an impoverished and
of absurdity. And yet,that was ked a parliament which needLe Bill.

Page 276
Obviously the illegal imi down with Tiruchelvam and ship. They were so simple as aimed against Tamils in Ceylo in any way. They were even law applied equally to all Singhalese people as much a tion. It could not have been policeman would ever dare to failing to carry his Identity Ca they had become such a set o forgotten their common sens excuse to shield Tiruchelvam
I felt very strongly about which the Tamils were going catastrophe if the Bill became ly man who was in a position to see him and try to persua I had no illusions about my try nonetheless.
I met him alone and tried thinkable for the Federal Par Tamil-baiting law on the stat herent and lurking dangers a ty to a law which was almost o speaking population to untol suggested that he should try
Bill put off at least until after implement important parts o
To my sorrow, Chelvanaya pointing though not unexpec to see the potential mischief
He agreed that the dange was honest enough to conced a dangerous weapon in the police. (This admission of Ch trast to Amirthalingam's che hustings in 1970,that I was p dark shadow at night.) Chels now too late to make any chai

nigrants explanation had gone his cohorts in the party leaderto believe that the law was not on or that it would not hurt them naive enough to argue that the the people in Ceylon, to the s to the Tamil-speaking populathat they did not know that no
arrest a Singhalese person for ard. The truth probably was that of namby-pambies that they had e and were ready to trot out any
the prospect of a great calamity y to face. It would be a terrible law. Chelvanayakam was the on. to avert the calamity. I decided de him to intervene. Of course, chances of success, but I had to
to convince him that it was unty to help put such a manifestly cute book. I pointed out the innd said that we could not be parcertain to expose the entire Tamila harassment and persecution. I and get the consideration of the
meaningful steps were taken to f the DS-C pact. akam's response was most disapted. The pity is that he was able
in the Bill. ers I pointed out were there. He Le that the law might prove to be hands of the hostile Singhalese elvanayakam's was in sharp coneap gibe two years later, at the rone to seeing a genie in every Fanayakam, however, felt it was nges in the Bill (as if any number
264

Page 277
of changes could make it any the no choice but to put up with it an may arise if and when any attem the law against the Tamils Tiruchelvam (a Queen's Counse sions very carefully before agre
It was now abundantly clear into a frame of mind to inte leadership's handling of Parliam against Tiruchelvam, and he app the criticism came from me. It se to think that any criticism or op matter how reasonable the grour was motivated by a vendetta agai sion with Tiruchelvam's securit shadow any inclination to wei problem himself. He seemed to h ly days of building up the Feder Tamil Congress policies he and I tain principles which G. G. Poni and interpreted as Chelvanayaka himself. When a leader is in suo of persuasion could have any cha tries to wean him from his cho resistance, even though he sees t! ing in the path.
I ended the interview by telli tended to oppose the Bill come ing a mistake to let the Bill,becor chance to prevent it and then he the future. I told him I would ratl wilderness than prostitute my co1 which the people had reposed i
I was not unaware of the cons render accounts for his actions to what downright selfish ambition can do to bring about the destruc knew that I was an obstruction in and they were not going to tolerat their will. The party itself had ce liberation movement and the lea
265

eless sinister) and there was d deal with any situation that pt were to be made to misuse of Ceylon. He added that 1) had looked into the provieeing to the Bill. that Chelvanayakam had got rpret any criticism of the entary matters as a criticism eared to resent it. More so if emed as if he had been made position coming from me, no ads and what the merits were, inst Tiruchelvam. The obses
y of office seemed to overgh the pros and cons of a Lave forgotten that in the earcal Party and in fighting the had together stood up for cernampalam likewise resented
m's personal vendetta against ch frame of mind no amount nce of success. The more one osen path the harder is the ne reality of the dangers lurk
ng Chelvanayakam that I invhat may. I said he was makme law now when he had the ppe to deal with situations in her prefer to go into political nscience and betray the trust n the Federal Party. sequences. Everybody has to
posterity. Let posterity know - on the part of some leaders tion of a people. Such leaders = their pursuit of selfish ends, ce me in the Party when I defy ased to be the Tamil people's dership, therefore, no longer

Page 278
needed the team work of all
ment only for the achievem cynic has been heard to rema leadership they deserve. It n truth is precisely what the la the gullibility of the Tamil e
This interview with Chel for me at least, for it was the problems of the Tamil people ting of our ways. It ended a struggle for a noble ideal. W ideal yet. In some inexplicabl had once been a great and far a long and intimate associati .me to be something of a syn awaiting the people.
There was no mistaking 1 the Party had passed and the course, Chelvanayakam was disputed leader of the Tamils. his position demanded the ex leadership to steer clear of the gathering on the horizon arou and infirmities, both phyical symbol. Indeed, he confess trusted friend asked him ab few years afterwards. Of thi
On the day of the Secon Minister opened the Debate w need for the law as already i a smooth passage without op for a lengthy speech.
When I rose from the Gov posing the Bill, there was con it was not anticipated. Nobody ty was having difficulties ove ranks the initial surprise gav They were all themselves sup in my action the first crack
I was followed immedia

types of talent. That is a requirement of an ideal like freedom. A aurk that, after all, a people get the nay be a cynical remark, but its ast days of the Federal Party and electorates seemed to prove. Ivanayakam was a sad occasion, last time the two of us discussed e together. It also marked the partwenty-year comradeship in the e had not got anywhere near the e way, this break with a man, who sighted leader of our people, after on in a common cause seemed to nbolic premonition of dark days
the leadership into whose hands e ciharacter of that leadership. Of s still the nominal chief and un- But the misfortune is, just when cercise of a dynamic and forceful e dark clouds which were already and the Tamil people his ill-health and mental, made him a helpless ed to this helplessness when a but the formation of the TULF a
s, later.
d Reading of the Bill, the Prime with a short speech explaining the
mentioned. He was confident of eposition, and there was no need
vernment Benches and spoke opEsternation in the House because
y had known that the Federal Parer the Bill. Among the opposition e way to unrestrained jubilation. pporters of the Bill, but they saw in the Government. ately after by Amirthalingam. 266

Page 279
His rising so hurriedly to speak g Federal Party leadership thought at the earliest opportunity, the
Minister, the UNP, and the Hous UNP-FP partnership. Lest some drawn, it was perhaps thought pru tion that the unruly sheep would Federal Party and it would not aff started his speech by saying at th could now save the Hon'ble Men
Amirthalingam then went on to most uncharacteristic of him and acme of servility. He spoke in Tam to the Prime Minister. To highlig
Minister he quoted a sacred hym Saint Manikkavacakar. The hymn Siddhanta doctrine of philosophy surrender to God and the ultimate In his ecstasy of God-realization aginary but reverential banter wit! quoted hymn is:
"What I gave You is me (a mer
What I am rewarded with is
Oh Lord, who is the cleverer? The hymn, of course, has no rele for the registration of persons an like dog's tags, but the relevanc analogy is applied in the context Minister: "What we (the Federal mere minority people); what we go Minister of Ceylon); Oh Mr. P cleverer?" It was thus hyperbolic I cursed my lot for having had to s of Tamil shame.
What was the need for all this? ment for the leader of the UNP w jected to the severest criticism by t its entire existence? It was not di
For one thing, there was the the Federal Party Minister's ]
267

ave the impression that the they had a duty to perform luty of assuring the Prime e that all was well with the wrong conclusions may be dent to give a prompt indicape suitably dealt with in the ect the rest of the flock. He e very outset that only God iber for Kayts. ɔ deliver a speech which was
which sounded as the very il, and paid a glowing tribute ght his praise of the Prime n from the Tiruvacakam by is an exposition of the Saiva relating to soul's complete losing of its identity in God. the Saint enters into an imh God. Freely translated, the
re nothing), Pou (the Supreme God),
evancy in a debate on a Bill d identity cards to be worn y becomes clear when the E of the praise of the Prime
Party) surrendered is us (a pt in return is you (the Prime rime Minister, who is the al thanks for the DS-C Pact. it and listen to this pinnacle
Why this new-found endearhose policies had been subhe Federal Party throughout fficult to see the purpose. growing resentment against presence in the Cabinet.

Page 280
Tiruchelvam could hardly h abler advocate to plead his C make him see under w (Tiruchelvam) was helping UNP-FP partnership and the there was also the need to C attempting to break that par value of the "great achieve
After a couple of mores reply, the Bill was put to the vote cast against.
I was sipping tea in the voting when Amirthalingar the same table. Without any rogance of a potentate, he sa pel you from the party." It in no mood to oblige. I was in made him say it, nor was I in the Consequences of what I mind before I decided to opp was the change that had co him behave as if he were th ing in the Federal Party, Q always the human side to enough to take mental not warmth of friendship that hi Leadership Consciousness unfeeling automaton. No wo. take to politics not out of any ings of love, pity and compa trymen but driven simply by listens to the dictates of Cons thalingam has of late imbi Tiru Chelvam.
I could not help contras with the reaction of the Tam palam, who had all the reas one of his political enemies happened to run into me in speak on the Bill. He asked barreled. I agree one barre

lave found a better Occasion Oran ause with the Prime Minister and hat difficult Circumstances he to maintain the integrity of the stability of the Government. Then ondemn the Member for Kayts for tnership without appreciating the
ment" of the DS-C Pact.
peeches and the Prime Minister's House and passed with my solitary
Cafetaria of the House after the n came in and sat opposite me at preliminaries, and with all the araid: "We have no choice but to exwas rather provocative, but I was ot interested in the politics which need of anybody to tell me about did. I had weighed all that in my pose the Bill, What struck me most me over Amirthalingam to make he whole Party and as I a hireurnuite apart from politics, there is
any relationship. I was human e of the withdrawal of the usual ad previously existed between us. had transformed a friend into an nder, history hasseen many a man y idealism or the finer human feelassion for oppressed fellow Couna thirst for power. Ambition never cience or reason. Obviously Amirbed ideas under the tutelage of
ting this incident at the tea table il Congress leader, G. G. Ponnamons in the world to regard me as and to harbour an animosity. He the Lobby before he was due to me: " You used the word doublel is Section - what is the other?"
268

Page 281
I explained to him pointing out th could be used to harass the Tamils he spoke, he attacked the wordin
make Rules and elicited an assura that Identity Cards would not me of the holder. After the voting he ing to my voting against: "I had no Government, but I admire that fe he may prove to be right."
One may not always agree political views, as I never did, but cused of is political dishonesty. In honest enough to acknowledge v circumstances did not permit hi never made a secret of his UNP le tion, and he stood by the UNP Gov Party, he did not try to apply wh purpose.
Indeed, this element of sinc characterized G. G. Ponnampa throughout although his egoistica it out. For example, we may nevei what made him to give up his 1 Soulbury Constitution and absolu to the Singhalese and to accept a
Government in 1948 - whether it opponents made it out, or because and a genuine belief that there v the Singhalese for ever but the pru with them and try to improve the he told the Tamils and advised th any sympathy for either reason. Ti is that Ponnampalam never devia end of his life in spite of the many fortunes. Even his political enem respect for this sincerity and con
We will have occasion to refer Consistencies of the Federal Party on the so-called Constituent Asse say that within a couple of days aft Reading of the Registration of Per
269

ne provisions which I feared 5. He kept his word, for when g of the Minister's powers to nce from the Prime Minister ention the citizenship status
told a mutual friend referrp choice but to vote with the ellow's guts. I have a feeling
with G. G. Ponnampalam's one thing he cannot be ace the case of this Bill he was vhat was right even though En to vote for the right. He anings when he sought elecFernment. Unlike the Federal uite-wash over the Bill for a
S
erity and consistency had slam's political career all al ways did not help to show r know the real truth about relentless fight against the te power being handed over Ministry in D. S. Senanayake's was the lure of office as his of a sincere change of views vas no use in clashing with dent thing was to co-operate e lot of the Tamil people as em to do. We may not have ne undeniable fact, however, ted from this course to the - fluctuations in his political ies cannot stint paying due asistency.
again to the contrasting in- leadership when we touch
mbly. Here it will suffice to ter the voting on the Second Csons Bill, I received a letter

Page 282
from the Federal Party info ed from the Party. I was not
malities, but I did take not formal show-cause notice w Party's committees and Cou sider the expulsion of a foi sign of the autocratic attit taken over the leadership C going to Constitute the lead demise of the Party,
My twenty-year Connect brought to an end. But note to send cheques to me fo signatures were needed to count. I co-operated withou closed with the closure of
When Parliament met f Crossed the Floor and took of the House. The Bill passe and became the law known of 1968 which compelled Card. This time, surprising Member of Parliament fol against the Bill.
The significance of this the Bill nor in my expulsion of it, but in the effects of th cerned about the impact th Tamil population in Ceylon had feared as early as 196
This law has been in ope the Government will not de population have been issue missioner in charge of the. times that his Department v ed. And yet, the Police an every person had been issu
The havoc which the la

rming me that I have been expellinterested in technicalities and fore that not even the courtesy of a as given to me, nor were any of the ncils given an opportunity to Conunder General-Secretary. It was a ude of the personalities who had If the Federal Party and who were arship of the Tamil people after the
ion with the Federal Party was thus ntirely. Chelvanayakam continued or my signature, since our joint
operate on the Party's bank acit hesitation until the account was the Party itself.
or the Third Reading of the Bill I a seat on the Opposition Benches 2d through the Third Reading also as the Registration of Persons Act 2very person to carry an Identity gly, S. D. Bandaranaike, the SLFP Gampaha, joined me in voting
chapter lies, not in my opposing from the Federal Party on account e law. No Tamil can fail to be Conhe law is having on the life of the h. It is even far worse than what I 8.
}ration for over fifteen years. Even ny that not even half the country's 2d with Identity Cards. The ComRegistration has said a number of vas not adequately funded or staffthe Security Forces behave as if led with an Identity Card.
W has played on the Tamil popula
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Page 283
tion bears no description. Who are reported to have been rour with their Identity Cards, and tl particularly Tamil youths, were Forces and not heard of since.
Cases have been reported w ched and destroyed, and then th production of Identity Cards.
Applicants for passports or reported as being turned away their Identity Cards.
The full extent of the mischie piece of legislation, particularly not be known for some time. T and reports are continuing to rea mass media which show that I against the Tamils as offensive destructive than rifles and mac
Even well-known personalit: people on the roads are unat legitimate business. By no stre could they be accused of being India. The mere fact of their be sion of Identity Cards is enough ty Forces and subjected to perse two illustrations from the inter
"The leader of the All-Ceylo Ponnampalam, was briefly i on September 3, 1984. "Mr Ponnampalam, when I
Tirukoneswaran Temple in T Army. His car was subjected to produce his identity card his identity card in his possi card. The Army was not sat was taken to the Army cam the Police Station. After sub
was released.
27

le villages in the Tamil areas .ded up to gather in one spot 1ose who did not possess one, : taken away by the Security
here Identity Cards were snatLe youths taken away for non
other travel documents are for not being able to produce
:f caused by this machiavellian , in the years after 1982, will he scenario is still unfolding, ich the international press and lentity Cards are being used ! weapons, no less lethal and :hine guns. ies in public life and innocent ble to move about freely on tch of anybody's imagination illegal immigrants from South eing Tamils and not in possesto be picked up by the Securicution and harassment. To give
national press: n Tamil Congress, Mr Kumar detained by the Lankan army
returning with his wife from rincomalee was stopped by the i to a search and he was asked . He said that he did not have ession but produced his wife's isfied and Mr Ponnampalam
p at Trincomalee and later to jecting him to questioning, he

Page 284
"Mr Ponnampalam, a law) gress and son of the late N unknown person. In spite my on this occasion is tyr
all Tamils are subjected d The London magazine might ) nampalam was only recently a tested J.R. Jayawardene for tl It was an all-island election he No Army personnel could hav nampalam was a suspected ille
Two senior civil servants i Government of Switzerland, M. were reported to have visited tion there for the purpose of problem in Switzerland. Writi ditions which the Tamils fa newspaper correspondent in
"Mr Pete Hess and Mr Urs island in August. Their 24 without identity paper is
No useful purpose will be so" to those that are still alive ship who helped to put this di of the Security Forces despite pleasure from the fact that I
Nobody can derive any pleas ings of one's own people. But is, it was in the power of these ly refused to give this weapor pleas to exercise that power. through all these sufferings.
While deploring the leade the people themselves are not ty for their plight. Electorates and politically mature for the beneficially. If this is lacking i Tamil electorates had been i much of the suffering might
* TAMIL TIMES, London, September 19 ** Iain Guest from Geneva in

rer and leader of the Tamil ConIr G. G. Ponnampalam, is not an of that fact, the action of the Arsical of the harassment to which ay in and day out."* have also added that Kumar Pon- Presidential candidate who conne office of President of Ceylon. Id only two years earlier in 1982. re pleaded ignorance or that Ponegal immigrant from South India.
n the Justice Department of the Ir. Pete Hess and Mr Urs Hadorn, Ceylon in 1984 to study the situadealing with the Tamil refugee ng about their report on the conce in their country, a British Geneva reported:
Hadorn spent eight days on the --page report states that anyone picked up by security forces." ** served by my saying "I told you out of that Federal Party leadersastrous weapon into the hands
my warnings, nor do I feel any have again been proved right. ure from the misery and sufferwhat is most deeply deplorable Tamil leaders to have effective1, and they wilfully rejected all The people need not be going
rship, it has also to be said that without a share of responsibilihave to be enlightened enough democratic process to function t is the people who suffer. If the nore vigilant and enlightened, have been avoided. But they
34. he DAILY TELEGRAPH, LONDON.
72

Page 285
repeatedly endorsed (1970 and the Federal Party leadership had honeymoon with the UNP and called constituent assembly. Th habit of swallowing platform rh through deceitful jargon even w character to be swept off the fee rhetoric. It is a strange weakne
This weakness on the Tamil inept leadership and a politica very astutely taken advantag Singhalese nationalism with a everything Tamil. The result i modern Ceylon. The Tamil stri equal place in the country has be and out of the hands of profess the. habit of regarding Parliame
The contribution from the deplorable. Lacking in enlighter ship, the Singhalese leaders we suit of power. They seemed to car and economic prosperity of thei youths rebellion 1971 was an in indifference. Whether it be int growth, full employment, indust: etc., which alone can take a co and prosperity, they pursued pa tion for the effect on their owi destroyed the very foundation: nation.
If the Singhalese people th poverished by the mis-governm is no way that the Tamils can d same time, there is no reason w try should share in that impover
which they have no control.
This was the general picture in Parliament calling for the cr traditionally Tamil homeland in which it was made will be disc
27

977 General Elections) what done during their shortlived in their handling of the soey never could get out of the etoric. They could never see hen warned. It is part of their
by substanceless alliterative Ss in a highly literate people. side, an ambition-ridden and lly immature electorate were e of by a Mahavamsa-type 1 endemic hostility towards s the trauma which afflicts iggle for an honourable and en taken away from the voters ional politicians who were in
nt as a career. ! Singhalese side is no less led and farsighted statesmanre only interested in the purre little even for the well being r own people-the Singhalese nevitable consequence of this er-racial harmony, economic rial peace, a contented labour, antry on the road to progress olicies without any consideran people. In the process they s which sustain a prosperous
emselves should become iment of their own leaders, there o anything to mend it. At the hy the Tamil part of the counishment through policies over
when I made the declaration eation of a Tamil State in the Ceylon. The circumstances in assed in the next chapter.

Page 286
CHAP
t long last the muchA. posals for the establish tabled in Parliament i)
The District Councils, it w tre piece in the DS-C Pact (tho' ment of which the Tiruchelv leadership had been sitting thi hopefully waiting like the par cipal attraction with which thi porters in the country an Government and accepting of raised the hopes of the people big, and the future of the Tam much store on it that they ha the Government even wher measures which made harmful interests.
When eventually the Whi in detail the whole thing turn cerning the main feature whi Party, viz., sharing administra the two Tamil Provinces. It wa a hand in drafting the White
2

PTER 20
heralded and long-awaited Pronment of District Councils were in a White Paper.
ill be remembered, was the cenugh undefined) for the establisham clique in the Federal Party rough for more than three years, rot in the fable. It was the prinby sold the Pact to the Party supd justified their joining the fice. From public platforms they to believe that it was something hils depended on it. They set so ld refused to be deflected from the Government resorted to encroachments into vital Tamil
te Paper spelt out the proposals ed out to be a damp squib conh was of interest to the Federal tive power and responsibility in S claimed that Tiruchelvam had
Paper scheme.
74

Page 287
It was a scheme for the wh plied to all the twenty-two ad Ceylon is divided. There can Tamil about it.
Far from decentralizing th envisaged transforming the island into elected bodies (Dis
pings of a legislature - sans pov Kachcheris, these Councils w ed from Colombo by a Minis finances were to be allocated a Government Agents, answeral be the chief executives of the District Councils were in effec ed by a different name.
Nothing could have been Pact, or a more calculated frau course, I cannot claim to ki Tiruchelvam and Esmond negotiated it and whether this itself contained only a nebulo cils as a means of decentraliza was a parody of even the leas contemplated powers of the C
In my view, if it was mer ministrative decentralization machinery it would not have n made it most obnoxious from tempt to introduce the Official ministration of the Northern effectively than even the Off Tamil Language Regulations.
The White Paper Proposal in the two Tamil Provinces to C Singhala. Even elected Local village level, like Village Coul have to work in Singhala and 1 democracy at the lowest rung White Paper, therefore, the

ble country, that is to say, it apministrative districts into which :herefore be nothing specially
! administration, the Proposals
wenty-two Kachcheris in the rict Councils) with all the traper and money. Like the existing ere to be directed and controllter. Like the Kachcheris, their nd received from Colombo. The ble only to the Minister, were to : Councils. In other words, the t the same old Kachcheris call
a greater betrayal of the DS-C id on it, than this document. Of now what transpired between Wickremasinghe when they was all they agreed to. The Pact pus reference to District Coun. ation of administration. But this t that had been held out as the Councils.
ely a harmless exercise in adby a rehash of the Kachcheri nade much of a difference. What the Tamil standpoint was its atLanguage of Singhala in the adand Eastern Provinces far more icial Language Act itself or the
s required the District Councils onduct their affairs in Tamil and Government institutions at the acils, Town Councils, etc., would amil, making a mockery of local
of the ladder. According to the Federal Party was agreeing to
75

Page 288
conduct the affairs of their Dis nar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Trin etc., as well as those of all the Councils, etc. in Singhala and
It was a very cunning de Government. What they them Tiruchelvam, they were getting force the Singhala Only Act ir fall for a Party which had wag Green, in the Trincomalee Mar the umpteen number of Goveri Government to a standstill for i Provinces in its fight against tl
The SLFP-LSSP-CP coalition condemned the White Paper Pi a division and fragmentation of ed the usual cry that the UNP w people to the Tamils, a cry that Singhalese camps for alternating it was again an excellent tool t
The White Paper was duly - Parliament one day. The momer item in the Order Paper, the enti ed a walk-out in demonstration tion Member, Prins Gunasekera, minded Member of Parliament copy of the White Paper and I House on his way out of the Cha for the White Paper which w shared, I for my own reasons a
I stayed behind as I did not w tunity to proclaim the real Tan rose to speak the Opposition se remained only the UNP and the gress Members on the Governm I had to say. It was not only an White Paper Proposals were tota whatever the Federal Party may opportune moment to tell the at large that Singhalese Gover
27

trict Councils in Jaffna, Mancomalee, Batticaloa, Kalmunai,
Tamil Village Councils, Town Tamil. rice on the part of the UNP selves could not do, thanks to g the Tamils themselves to en- the Tamil Provinces. What a ed a "war" on the Galle Face ch, before the Kachcheris and hment Offices, and forced the Ehree months in the two Tamil ne imposition of Singhala. Opposition, on the other hand, -oposals as paving the way for the country. They further raisas trying to sell the Singhalese comes very handy to both the guse or rather abuse. To them
o play politics with. taken up for consideration in it Mr. Speaker announced this re Opposition got up and stagof their protest. One Opposithe soft-spoken and socialisticfor Habaraduwa, set fire to a iurled it into the well of the amber. Such was the contempt e all on the Opposition side nd the rest for theirs. ish to miss that unique oppornil viewpoint. So that, when I ats were all empty, and there Federal Party and Tamil Conlent Benches to listen to what
occasion to declare that the lly unacceptable to the Tamils, think of them, it was also an Government and the country nments and political leaders

Page 289
could no longer be trusted to the Tamils, and that the two pe of the ways.
There comes a time when The DS-C Pact, despite the mo deficiencies even as an interim was essentially an agreement Tamils to try and meet some agitating the minds of the Tan it as merely an exercise in ] Singhalese party to get the bett and then to dump it as junk in i ment, was the most indecent al affairs. The Pact had served th ple in general more than was e side it was worse than a dead 1 last nail in the coffin of Tamill
with the Singhalese.
There can be no doubt that a calculated repudiation and be appearing to be one. It made District Councils part of the Pa tation at all. A more cunning u tions of a solemn agreement i
And yet, it was not an isoli familiar pattern which had a characteristic of the way in whi attempts to reconcile Singhales were made and then unce Singhalese. That history spani a century.
In the Nineteen Twenties S a Tamil, laboured hard to brin political groupings and the Ta brella of one common national National Congress to press for British Government on the un the reforms would be shared t partnership. When the time ci Singhalese leaders went back

honour their plighted word to pples have reached the parting
the plain truth has to be told. tivations on either side and its solution to the Tamil problem, etween the Singhalese and the of the grievances which were nil people at the time. To treat political opportunism for one er of another to capture power, itter disregard of the Tamil eleid grossest betrayal in national e UNP and the Singhalese peo!xpected of it, but on the Tamil etter. The White Paper was the 1opes for an honourable peace
the White Paper Proposals were etrayal of the DS-C Pact without ! a show of implementing the
ct, and yet it was no implemenway to wriggle out of the obliga
was hard to imagine. ated occurrence but followed a lready been set. It was quite _ch in the long history of similar -e-Tamil differences agreements remoniously broken by the ned a period of more than half
ir Ponnampalam Arunachalam, g all the splintered Singhalese mil associations under the umorganization called the Ceylon Constitutional reforms from the derstanding that the benefits of my both the peoples in an equal ame to formulate demands, the on their undertaking and used

Page 290
their majority in numbers to for president Sir P. Arunachalam
A Singhalese delegation of way to Jaffna to meet with Tam agreed Common demand to be ning the basis of legislative agreement was called the "Ma in due time by the Singhalese name of their organization Ceylon National Congress anc binding on the new name Con Ceylon National Congress" Secretary of the Congress.
Important leaders represent National Congress entered int Ponnampalam Ramanathan, le before the Royal Commission u Donoughmore which was due evidence before the Commiss Commissioners were inclined munal representation, they we told the Commission that they that agreement. It made the C. perial Government that they w ment between parties for con Report of the Donoughmore C
In the Forties, after the con the Soulbury proposals for a ne stitution were being opposed were insisting as a pre-Conditi the island must accept the new their speeches in the legislatur the new scheme fairly and not and pleaded with a credulous se word of honour and help them offer. The Tamil leaders trustec of the Soulbury scheme - vide debates, 1946. And then, when the new scheme was negotiati. the DOminiOn Status intO COI British again insisted on a con
2?

rce the Tamils and the Congress to leave the Congress.
prominent leaders went all the hill leaders and negotiate for an presented to the British concerrepresentation. The resulting hendra Pact". It was repudiated leaders on the ground that the nad since been changed into i the agreement was no longer gress - vide "Handbook of the by S. W. R. D Bandaranaike,
ting the pan-Singhalese Ceylon o a similar agreement with Sir ader of the Tamils, to be placed under the chairmanship of Lord
to visit Ceylon. While giving ion, however, noting that the
against the principle of Comnt back on the agreement and t should not be held bound by ommission to report to the Imrere not concerned with agreeimmunal representation - vide Dommission.
clusion of World War II, when w Dominion Status type of Conby the Tamils, and the British on that all the Communities in scheme, Singhalese leaders in e promised the Tamils to work to the detriment of the Tamils et of Tamil leaders to trust their to take advantage of the British i and voted for the acceptance
Hansard of the State Council the first Prime Minister under ng with the British to advance mplete independence and the sensus of all the Communities
፤8

Page 291
as a pre-condition, Prime Minis same promises on behalf of th friendly and trusting Tamil Mi tharalingam) to join in the una Suntharalingam trusted his frie independent. After independe thrown to the four winds, and through by the Singhalese-domi
Tamils.
In the Fifties, Prime Ministe representing the Singhalese ent Federal Party seeking to solve arising out of these laws. With unilaterally at the behest of th
In the Sixties, Sirimavo Ban CP coalition partners sought tł Party to defeat Dudley Senana ment promising to implement t and when she obtained an abs which enabled her to govern on her promises to the Federal resorted to more anti-Tamil me
Then we have the last of the Pact, and the last of the betray
Who can say that the Tamils ting in a sincere desire and will with the Singhalese by negotia world would have gone for dia face of betrayal after betrayal:
It is always a fashion to advis and solve disputes by dialogue a to violent confrontation and disputes or in international cons ly advised to avoid wars and to continue to oppress, persecute
No doubt, it is a very salut quite often well-meaning, too. pleasure of it. But the trouble is ideal, and never will be so lor
21

er D. S. Senanayake made the
Singhalese and persuaded a nister in his Cabinet (C. Sunnimous request to the British. nd, and Ceylon became fully ice all these promises were laws after laws were pushed mated Governments hitting the
r S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike as ered into the B-C Pact with the Some of the Tamil grievances .n a few months he tore it up e Singhalese Buddhist clergy. daranaike and her SLFP-LSSPle co-operation of the Federal yake's UNP minority Governhe B-C Pact. After the defeat, olute Parliamentary majority her own strength, she ignored Party and her Government pasures. e pacts in this series, the DS-C vals in the White Paper. in Ceylon have ever been waningness to settle their disputes Eion and dialogue? Who in the logues again and again in the
e disputants to sit round a table nd discussion, and not to resort
wars. Whether in national licts parties are being constantnegotiate, while governments - and even commit genocide. ary advice and a noble ideal,
Nobody fights a war for the - it has never been a pragmatic g as governments being what

Page 292
be de Ills S of
they are and the tyranny of th ing the ruling principle of stronger of the disputing pé govern their attitudes nor diplomacy. They rarely appro spirit which the exercise requ left to its own devices to shal
If the weaker side listene waited till the end of time for would have been no wars of i colonies of George III's Engla continued to be governed by England without represeni
Westminster, there would hav dependence, no American De there would be no United Stat coincidence, under President J the Tamil people inhabiting th being advised by well-meanin States of America, to cont Singhalese Government in Co ombo without representatio Colombo.
Dudley Senanayake's treat room to doubt that the Tamil by dialogue. No Singhalese lea any agreement conducive to ar Singhalese and the Tamils in a could ever be statesmen enoug nationalism's insatiable thirst tion and create the necessary o co-existence possible. | When, therefore, I was add Paper Proposals for District C the ill-fated pacts between the told my listeners within and again would the Tamils want t D S.-C agreement be the last speech was constantly interru Senanayake and J. R. Jayaward and it was not difficult to unde

de majority and armed might bedemocracy. Governments, the arties, never allow idealism to
altruism to influence their ach the negotiating table in the aires for success. The weaker is ke off tyranny and oppression. ed to this idealistic advice and
a solution to its problems there independence. If the American and listened to such advice and y England and to pay taxes to tation in the Parliament at -e been no American War of In-claration of Independence, and es of America today. By a queer 1.R. Jayawardene's Government, eir own homeland in Ceylon are ag friends, including the United inue to be governed by the olombo and to pay taxes to Colen in Ceylon's Parliament in
inue tods, includinn Ceylon a
ment of the D. S-C Pact left no problem could never be solved .ders could be trusted to honour i honourable co-existence of the I unified Ceylon. None of them h to rise above Singhalese ultrafor complete and total dominalimate to make such honourable
ressing the House on the White !ouncils, I traced the history of : Tamils and the Singhalese and outside the House that never .o have any more pacts. Let the pact, and the last betrayal. My pted by Prime Minister Dudley ene. They belonged to the UNP, rstand their reaction. What was
80

Page 293
rather incongruous were the in in the House, S. M. Rasamanic
Turning to my erstwhile Co I urged them to abandon the Di to give up any hope they ma plemented in the letter and spir. I also appealed to them not to the Singhala Only Act in the T
Finally, I made the declaratic Tamil people to wake up and r State in their hereditary homele which they lost to the Europea. earnest call to the Tamil-speak struggle for the establishment alone would ensure their Contil and distinct people in Ceylon a glorious Cultural heritage, lang would the Tamil-speaking peopl free State in their part of the i friendship and absolute equality the Singhalese people.
My call for a free Tamil State have any animosity towards the They have no feelings other thal ship and fraternal feelings neighbours. What they resent tolerate was the attempt on the Cians and Governments to exerc the cloak of democracy.
There was nothing new abou Ponnampalam Ramanathan had last memorable speech in the O an audience of British Official warned that in view of the Briti reposed in them by the Tamils the Singhalese leaders' transpar - to gain complete dominion, a Cl one day become inevitable. He the Dounghmore Commission's self-government. In the course
28

terruptions from a Tamil M. P. kam of the Federal Party,
leagues of the Federal Party, strict Councils Proposals and y have to get their Pact imit in which it was entered into, take on the task of enforcing amil Provinces.
on that it was now time for the e-establish the ancient Tamil and in Ceylon's north and east in colonial powers. I issued an ing people to strive hard and of the Tamil State, since that nued existence as a respected nd preserve and protect their uage and religions. Only then e be able to live in an equally island on terms of amity and with the Singhalese State and
2 did not imply that the Tamils Singhalese people in general. n sincere sentiments of friend
towards their Singhalese zed and what they will not 2 part of the Singhalese politiise dominion Over them under
ut the idea. Long before me, Sir predicted the possibility. In his ld Legislative Council before s and Singhalese leaders, he sh attempt to betray the trust by their partisan attitude and ent manoeuvres and intrigues y for Tamil separation would was voicing his opposition to proposals for reforms towards of it he was also condemning
1.

Page 294
the shortsighted intrigues of ning them of the possible CC
More recently C. Sunthar idea from public platforms speeches.
What was novel about m time a positive and emphati free Tamil State was ever ma lies in the fact that it reflect generation which was gettin which was beginning to be ge future of the Tamil-speaking message of hope to a long-suf ing of confidence that they wi the imperialist-style outlook
I knew that the whole wor be ridiculed, but I was not ( thought. So did the world Mohammed Ali Jinnah. By unintelligent and the unthink thinking part does not laugh Cuimstan Ces and the inevitab: in the affairs of a Country a development proving to be t
As I had foreseen, I did no of ridicule. The then Deputy S tatives, M. Sivasithamparam, in the same train back to Jaff Paper. He asked me: "What are talking about, Sir? If their up position off Kayts or Kar wont your Tamil state sink to t Indeed, the ridicule has now t ticipation of what was to hap) the Ceylon Navy's gunboats ( off Kankesanturai. Only the to hold its battered head abov thanks to the intrepid fig Sivasithamparam has since United Liberation Front, a parli

the Singhalese leaders and warDnsequences.
alingam had been toying with the s, in somewhat non-committal
y declaration is, it was the first C call for the establishment of a de in Parliament. Its importance ed the thinking of a whole new g frustrated and losing all hope, 2nuinely apprehensive about the people in Ceylon. It conveyed a fering people, and infused a feelere not without a remedy against
of Singhalese Governments.
ld would laugh at me and I would oncerned with what the world laugh at Theodore Herzl and world, one only refers to the ing part of it. The intelligent and but pauses to think about the cirility of a particular development nd about the possibility of that he right course.
Dt have to wait long for my share peaker of the House of Represenand I happened to be travelling na after my speech on the White is this separate Tamil state you Navy's H. M. Cy. S. Wijaya takes nkesanturai and fires ten shells, he bottom of the Indian Ocean?" urned out to be an intelligent anpen. Sixteen years later, in 1984, lid shell the coastal villages from Jaffna Peninsula still continues e the waters of the Indian Ocean, hters of Vadamaradchi. And become president of the Tamil iamentary party of sorts supposed
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to be working for a Tamil state. cians should not change their c trusting Tamil people in genera and property and pay a heavy p integrity and farsightedness in leaders,
The need for a Free State top ple was far too urgent to pay hee ridicule, the leaders whom the them, and I felt that no time sh patriotism and inborn intelligen Tamil people and call on the themselves in time to achieve t.
I am glad that the Tamil con strong and meaningful struggle toward that end. I have not the S state will be a reality in the not hoped that the people will carry minded devotion to the objective wavering.
Not long after the debate on Paper, Tiruchelvam left the Cab withdrew from Dudley Senanay,
Whether Tiruchelvam left of to leave and for what reason is reason may not necessarily eve claimed it was because of his Minister over some Hindu rights a Hindu Temple in Trincomalee. question whether a Minister, wh a leech when far more moment rights were being eroded, would trivial issue like this.
Tiruchelvam's quitting office consequence or of interest. What Federal Party at long last realize committed. They broke off from calamitous and Costly partnersh four years of that partnership ha reparable and lasting damage to
283

It is not suggested that politipinions, except that it is the who suffer loss of life, limb rice for the lack of sincerity, politics on the part of their
rotect the Tamil-speaking peo!d to any possible laughter or people trusted had betrayed ould be lost to appeal to the ce and Common sense of the em to wake up and bestir he goal.
untry has taken it up, and a is being seriously carried on lightest doubt that the Tamil -too-distant future. It is to be
on the struggle with a singlewithout flagging and without
the District Councils White inet. The Federal Party also ake's Government.
his own accord or was asked difficult to say. The stated n be the truth. Tiruchelvam differences with the Prime to perform funerary rites at It will always remain an open o had clung to his office like OuS Tamil interests and vital have quit on a comparatively
or the reason for it, is of no is more important is that the il the great blunder they had what had proved to be a most p with the UNP, Though the d been the cause of some irthe Tamil nation in Ceylon,

Page 296
this belated wisdom was at le crossed over to the Oppositi ly belonged and took their s Benches.
Nothing more was heard for District Councils for the
Government. It was shelved the DS-C Pact in traditiona in the Tamil tale, both the
respectively their allotted ta tive branches of the thorny porary eclipse because of a appreciate the importance o climbing back to Federalism and Tamil languages becaus to be votaries of platform r
There was another duty when Parliament was near Federal Party was in the Op because of the lesson it animosities among elected i fect weighty matters of put
It was sometime before Government that the Tamil to learn Singhala were dismi discussed in a previous ch quiescence of Minister Tiruc thus a party to the dismissa there was not much of a pro to make any impression in th to the Tamil people, not c dismissed individuals, but future generations. I decide on the matter.
I introduced a Motion of condemning the Govern discrimination in the Public S Servants, namely, Pathm Kulamani, for the reason ti known Parliamentary proce

ast a welcome development. They on in Parliament where they rightleats beside me in the Opposition
. of the White Paper on Proposals duration of Dudley Senanayake's for good. With it was also buried .l style. Like the genie (vethalam) JNP and the FP, after performing sks, climbed back on their respec
tree - the UNP going into a tem| Singhalese electorate unable to of what they had done, and the FP and Parity of Status for Singhalese e of a Tamil electorate ever prone hetoric. which I felt called upon to perform ing the end of its term and the
position. It merits recalling here imparts of how petty personal representatives can harmfully afolic interest.
the Federal Party's quitting the Public Servants who had refused Ssed from Government Service as Lapter. It was done with the achelvam, and the Federal Party was 1. Perhaps because of this reason -test which was articulate enough ne Tamil country or to bring home only the injustice caused to the the implications of the action to d to force a debate in Parliament
Address to the Governor-General
ment for perpetrating racial Services by dismissing three Public anathan, Surendranathan and hat they were Tamils. It is a welledure, but it required a seconder
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besides the mover. I relied on t they owed the Tamil people to a debate.
However, when I moved the provoke a debate for want of a
M. P.s rose to second the Motio present in the House in full strer been given for this unpardonab if it was not a calculated hostility
It is a recognized Parliamenta mally second a motion for purpo the seconder is opposed to the s Several friendly Singhalese M. P. ing Mudiyanse Tennakoon, the
Member of Parliament for Nikaware they known that the Tamil M. I about a matter that affected the have made it a point to be preser my Motion.
The Federal Party M. P.s mus for their attitude. Perhaps they trauma of defeat to think of doir ing a public duty. Perhaps they ha me in a personal way. Or, it ma ashamed because the Motion t Federal Party equally. Whatever I was not a little surprised when
Chelvanayakam had said, when he would have seconded the M giving a personal slant to our E obligations to the Tamil people.
The breakaway of the Feder ment to the risk of being defeat was no need to wait to face any in any case was nearing the end ed, and the country went for an in 1970.
The new trend of the Party large number of strong and since of the old Federal Party. They ł
28:

le Tamil M. P.s'sense of duty econd the Motion and force
Motion of Address it failed to seconder. None of the Tamil n even though they were all igth. No explanation has ever le, shall we say, indifference, * to the subject of the Motion. iry tradition to get up and forses of discussion even though subject matter of the motion. s, prominent among them bekind-hearted and sympathetic stiya, told me afterwards that had .s would be so unconcerned Tamils themselves they would at in the House and seconded
t have had their own reasons were still smarting under the ng the right thing or performad feelings of revenge towards ay be they felt awkward and py implication condemned the - the reason might have been, I was told some time later that - confronted by a friend, that ption if I had asked him, thus Parliamentary duties and our
al Party exposed the Governed at any moment. But there such eventuality. Parliament
of its term. So it was dissolvother General Election early
eadership had driven away a ere believers in the true ideals Lad all been patriotic minded

Page 298
and very active workers in th despirited, frustrated, hopeles tion. With my leaving the Fed We all got together to form a quently to consider the ne counter the false leadership C Tamil people to complete fre
This group no longer beli to the Tamil problem. Even at Convinced of the utter impos: in any type Of political asso therefore, proposed that the ideal of a completely free Ta lead them towards its achiev
The new organizati KAZHAKAM, was according free and self-governing Tamil It visualized a Constitution f of the British Statute of Westn Queen would be the head of she already was for the resto thus have a status similar to til Zealand.
It seemed at the time of th Kazhakam that this concept under which the two races Cc respective ancient homelanc peoples, respecting each ot treaties for mutual defence an try, Since then, however, even picture.
A series of illegalities star elected at the General Electio) stitutions in utter disregardo Ceylon, an unprecedented cc tant violations of human right to the democratic system-all a Tamil uprising that the CO
2

e Tamil cause. They all became s, and without any sense of direceral Party some more came out. à new loose group, and met freed for a sincere movement to of the Federal Party and lead the edom.
eved in federalism as a Solution that time, in 1969, the group was sibility for the Tamils to co-exist ciation with the Singhalese. It,
new movement should set the mil State before the people and ement.
on, TAMILAR SUYADCHI gly inaugurated in 1969 with a
State in Ceylon as its objective. or the Tamil State on the model ninster. The same Sovereign and state for the new Tamil State as f Ceylon. The Tamil State would hat of Canada, Australia or New
he inauguration of the Sulyadchi would be a reasonable scheme puld co-exist peacefully in their ls in Ceylon as free and equal her's independence, and with d the defence of the whole COunits have completely changed the
ted by the Government that was n of 1970-experiments with conf the fact of the Tamil people in ontempt for the rule of law, blas, a despotism that is totally alien these combined to give rise to untry had never known in its
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recent history. It is something nature. If it is a fact today, it cou by having been driven to the w
The resentment against Sir course, been building up over a ] British left. These acts of misgov the banks of patience. It is impo1 generation of Tamil Youth has co a generation which has never m either in the classrooms or on t deliberately kept apart by Gov evitable result then is confront
I ceased to be a Member of Pa tion. I was therefore not a partic to the Tamil Uprising. A brief an the circumstances. We shall att chapters of this book.
28

which is contrary to Tamil ld only have been generated
Fall.
nghalese domination has, of period of years ever since the ernment only helped to burst rtant to remember that a new -me into being and taken over, Let its Singhalese counterpart
he playing fields. They were Fernment policy, and the in
ations and uprisings. arliament after the 1970 Eleccipant in the events which led Lalysis is all that is possible in tempt it in the next and last

Page 300
СНАР
Volebrook in 1833 and Tin
extremities of the peri
third, which saw the so colonial revival of the histori ercise of dominion over the Ta ning of the process and the o
Before Colebrook Ceylon Dutch ruled the Tamil Kingdor of the island and the Singha maritime provinces in the we little more than a century, an the Portuguese had ruled in Singhalese Kingdom of Kandy as an independent nation rule strong South Indian Tamil co aspirations for dominion, the
The annexation of the Kar 1815, and the political unifica one Ceylon by Colebrook in 1 pletely in favour of the Singh island as one colony inevitabl tion and political institutions
2

TER 21
ruchelvam in 1965 mark the two od of time, a century and one-wing of the seeds for the postcal Singhalese quest for the ex
mils, the one marking the beginother its fruition.
was never one politically. The n of Jaffna in the north and east lese Kingdom of Kotte in the st as two seperate entities for a d before them from about 1621 a a like manner. The second - in central Ceylon still held out d by a dynasty of rulers having nnection. The question of any refore, did not arise.
dyan Kingdom by the British in tion of the three kingdoms into 833, changed the scenario comalese. British rule of the whole y led to a mixing of the populan course of time. The stage was
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thus set for a revival of the old Si tion of the Tamils which had tuguese and the Dutch occupati of British rule.
That Colebrook of the Tiruchelvam in the twentieth p in making it possible for the Sin tion is one of the most stinging i Ceylon. It is possible that this calculated one by either of ther not escape being seen as the i about in their respective times country and the other obliviou the role he played.
Colebrook jumbled the p Kingdoms together and poole thereby laying the foundation i and vesting the Singhalese ma dominant political power. A Tiruchelvam rounded it off by a coalition government with t} tional Party, thereby giving a Singhalese anti-Tamil political momentum to the most dieha among the Singhalese. What is f action had in reducing the Feder ment, a Party which had emerg tive Tamil resistance to the Sing period of a century and a non-violent, was the only Tam feared because it did not let t
Colebrook at least could cla and government well with hi ministration and an efficient sy when his country was commer quered colony. He could not ha was helping to build would co1 did. The Tamils of his time medieval that they could not t of resistance except to take upt at the receiving end of the fo
28

ighalese ambition for dominaain dormant during the Poron and the first hundred years
nineteenth century and layed an almost identical role ghalese to achieve their ambionies in the history of modern result may not have been a 1, but, in retrospect, they cannstruments which brought it the one in the service of his s of the conflict of interest in
eoples of the three ancient :d them into a hotch-potch, for a future counting of heads ajority with the potential for
century and a half later taking the Federal Party into ne pan-Singhalese United Nafresh lease of life to a dying
party and providing added rd and reactionary elements ar more tragic is the effect this al Party into a moribund movered as the first and only effechalese juggernaut in the entire third. Its militancy, though il force which the Singhalese hem govern in peace. Lim to have served his country s proposals for a unified adstem of tax Collection at a time acing the rule of a newly conve foreseen that the empire he ne to an end in the manner it were so unsophisticated and ave known any other method he sword and fight-and perish reigners' fire-arms, as did the

Page 302
brave Pandara Vanniyan an They were a conquered peop what plans were being made would have been the least to simple folk in 1833 with no western politics,
The same Cannot be said O He was a highly educated ma a professional, profoundly modern statecraft and politic tainments and qualifications when he made his entry into a people's leader and never Tamil people's aspirations in th or faced elections to have him. representative. But he repr acknowledged sole voice of th ed to him to have an intellig stratagems and to provide the leadership to guide them cle,
Instead, Tiruchelvam and snares of Singhalese machin 1965 General Election and a disastrous consequences. The resistance movement of the
But this is not all, the wors Sirimavo Bandaranalike got t assembly in the wake of the 1 guess that the constituentass under-cover intrigues and the and dealing around the 1965 probably conceived in the circ rounding Tiruchelvam's takin camp and thwarting Sirimavo chances. The SLFP-LSSP-CP their minds to make an assa strength in the Constitution ritual at the Vihare Maha Dev determination. Even then, it is taken any definite shape.
2

Other Chieftains of the Vanni. le. In their scramble for survival,
by the conqueror to rule them agitate their minds, an ignorant he to guide them in the ways of
f'Tiruchelvam Cun the Other hand. n of the Twentieth Century and Knowledgeable in the ways of S. He had all the intellectual atto serve his Countrymen well famil politics. Maybe, he was not experienced the impact of the e sense that he had never sought self chosen as a people's elected 2sented the Federal Party, the e Tamil people. The people look2nt understanding of Singhalese 2m with farsighted and patriotic ar of all pitfalls.
the Federal Party fell into the ations. That is the story of the fter. We have already seen the Federal Party was no more the Tamils that it. Once was,
e was yet to come. It came when Dgether a so-called constituent 970 General Election. It is a safe ambly idea is an offspring of the clandestine political wheeling General Election. The idea was umstances and atmosphere surthe Federal Party into the UNP Bandaranaike's Prime Ministerial illiance, conceivably, made up ult on the power of the Tamil all framework. The vow-taking i statue could have fuelled that possible that their plans had not
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Another development in the CC must have clinched matters for th on the constituent assembly ide
About this time the Judicial C cil in London handed down two reaching effect on the interpret stitution in force. The decisions p Conscious Singhalese leaders ar decisions were concerned with 29 Of the Constitution.
The leaders were aware that restrictions on the law-making p theless, they had trusted on the s in the very same Article for ame that is, upon a certification by the has been passed by a two-third Representatives.
It had therefore been thought a sovereign and supreme legislat ruled in the two judgements thi Supreme, after all.
The de CisiOns were in twO CaS during Sirimavo Bandaranaike's 1 Government had rushed through ty legislation which affected the tion of justice. They had nothing discriminatory legislation. One pointment of Bribery Tribunals a suspects in an alleged attempted the two cases on the ground that Constitution and therefore ultra
The two cases went up in appe was the highest court of Appeal Judicial Committee made a ve analysis of the scope and effect of Their Lordship's Judgements.
I have already discussed til previous chapters. Nevertheless,
291

bnstitutional field, however, am and driven them to decide
a.
Committee of the Privy Counjudgements which had a faration of Ceylon's 1948 Conprovoked the ire of the powerhd pricked their pride. Both the interpretation of Article
Article 29 laid down Certain Owers of Parliament. Neverspecial procedure prescribed :ndment of the Constitution, : Speaker that an amendment is majority in the House of
that Ceylon's Parliament was ture. The Privy Council now at it is not so sovereign and
es arising out of laws enacted 960-1965 Government. That Parliament two pieces of hasjudiciary and the administrato do with minority rights or law was concerned with apind the other was to deal with coup. Both were impugned in they were in violation of the -vires of Parliament.
all to the Privy Council which at the time. The Judges of the ry exhaustive and learned of Article 29 for the purpose
his Article 29 in some of the in view of the bearing on the

Page 304
proposed Constituent asser repeating what it is all abou
Ceylon's Parliament cons Houses of Parliament, name Representatives. It was not as unlike the British Parliamen of the Constitution. It was es the 1948 Constitution, and de that Constitution. This law-m. formed part of the fabric of stitution.
The Corner-stone on whic rested was the well-recogn separation of the state's three ecutive, and judicial. Accord
(a) Legislative power was
(b) Executive power was
answerable to Parlian
(c) Judicial power was ve
The independence of the jud without political control or i requirement that Supreme C ed from office except on imp vesting control of the minc Judicial Service Commissio Judges,
Article 29 spelled out in power of Parliament in the (almost identical with the wi tions): "Parliament shall ha peace, order, and good goverI (2) and the rest of the Article two types of limitation and )
(a) Any law which discril or religion- that is, all advantage on One Com others, or which mai

mbly, I may be excused for Lt.
isted of the Sovereign and the two :ly, the Senate and the House of sovereign legislature in the sense, t at Westminster, it was creature tablished under the provisions of erived its law-making powers from laking power was woven into and the general Scheme of the Con
h the scheme of the Constitution ized Constitutional principle of main powers, viz., legislative, exiingly, under this Constitution:
; vested in Parliament;
vested in a Cabinet of Ministers hent; and
2sted in the Judiciary,
liciary to exercise judicial power interference was ensured by the ourt Judges Could not be removpeachment in Parliament and by br judiciary in an independent in consisting of Supreme Court
n sub-section (1) the legislative
most Comprehensive language Ording in most written Constituve power to make laws for the hment of Ceylon." By sub-section a this power was made subject to restriction:
minated against any Community aw which Conferred a benefit or munity or religion but not on the de one community or religion
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subject to a disability ord - was declared void by th
(b) The provisions of the Con only if the amendment w jority in the House of R
This Article, therefore, was su flaunted safeguards for the minc sioners were satisfied that by th ing the protection of the minor rejected the Tamil demand for b legislature.
The Singhalese leaders agree accepted the Soulbury proposa they had mental reservations w for the proposals. They would s on the amending power contail
AS time passed, it became ab Waiting for an opportune mome. be in a position to command a tw of Representatives. They woul power and either do away with only sub-section (1) or amend its provision that would fortify the tion of the Singhalese people unc principle of rule-by-majority de
The Privy Council decisions Cart. The earlier of the two Ca 1964. It is the Case of The Brib inghe in which the issue was til wise of a law to establish Briber were special courts of law forth sons charged with bribery and ed by a simple majority in the F Privy Council ruled that establ the exercise of the judicial powe Soulbury scheme of separation in Parliament. The state's judi
29.

sadvantage but not the others è Constitution itself. This was c prohibition.
stitution may be amended, but are passed by a two-thirds ma-presentatives.
pposed to contain the muchrities, The Soulbury Commisis provision they were ensurities and, because of it, they alanced representation in the
!d to this limitation when they ls. But there is no doubt that hen they showed enthusiasm seem to have laid much store ned in Article 29.
undantly clear that they were nt when a Government would o-thirds majority in the House d then invoke the amending the entire Article 29 keeping uitably by incorporating some dominant and privileged posiler the guise of the democratic e CiSiOn.
intervened to upset the appleSes, I believe, was decided in ery Commissioner vs. Ranashe constitutionality or otherTribunals. Bribery Tribunals e trial and punishment of percorruption. The law was passouse of Representatives. The ishing these Tribunals was in r of the state which, under the of state powers, was not vested ial power was vested in the
3.

Page 306
judiciary by a charter of Justi of the Colebrook unification into a single Crown Colony ed all its powers only under tent, therefore, to take awa except by amending the Cor procedure laid down in Artic was accordingly declared ul
The other case was decid case of Liyanage and others Law Act passed by Parliamen ed attempted coup d'etat durir Government. This Act veste powers exclusively belonging Cill declared it also ultra vi reasoning.
The issue in both cases, i the question whether the i. power of Parliament to make. had been Confined to a mer
the Singhalese leaders as the
What really caused the power in Colombo was the f quivocal pronouncement in Commissioner vs. Ranasingh law-making powers of Parliam which shattered all their drea plete dominion.
Analysing the law-making ed in Article 29 of the Cons Judicial Committee Of the Pri considered opinion that the section (2) paragraphs (a), (b solute prohibition of all discri of the Communities and wer Cannot be altered or amended amending procedure prescrib of Sub-section (2) paragraphs Lordships,

ce from the Sovereign in the wake of the three conquered territories in 1833. Parliament which derivhe Constitution was not compethat power from the judiciary stitution in accordance with the le 29. The Bribery Tribunalslaw tra vires of Parliament.
ed about two years later. It is the vs The Queen out of a Criminal to deal with suspects in an allegng Mrs. Bandaranaike's 1960-1965 2d the Minister of Justice with to the judiciary. The Privy Counres of Parliament on the same
t would thus be noted, was only Impugned laws were within the If the Privy Council Judgements 2 finding on that issue, perhaps ne ire and peevish resentment of ey did.
wild flutter in the dovecotes of urthermost emphatic and unethe earlier case of The Bribery e on the restricted scope of the ment. It was this pronouncement ams of absolute power and Com
powers of Parliament as containtitution, their Lordships of the vy Council pronounced as their
limitations contained in Sub, (c), and (d) constituted an abminatory legislation against any 2 entrenched provisions which even by having recourse to the 2d in that Article. The provisions
(a), (b), (c), and (d), said Their
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"represent the solemn bala citizens of Ceylon, the funda. ter se they accepted the ( therefore unalterable under
This interpretation of the 19 did from the highest Tribunal of lend justification to the Soulbury the Article 29 which they were would provide a safeguard for th Kodeeswaran case appeal then Privy Council it was almost certa Act of 1956, which made the lan munity alone as the sole officia disadvantage and in discriminatic munities, would have been prono ched provision and declared vo
There were people in legal ( the view that this pronounceme Sions of Article 29 was not bind because it was in the nature of W an obiter dictum, that is, an exp way in the Course of a judgemen the determination of the issue in experienced and astute lawyer n alliance knew better. The forthr of the pronouncement by a Be. made it clear that it was more th the Judges of the Judicial Com Kodeeswaran's appeal. Unless th being heard by the Privy Counc Singhalese gains which the Singl put the clock back. Not only tha nent obstacle to all their future
And so, never an opportuni Members Of the SLFP-LSSP-CP ( lifetime of the 1965-1970 Pa "undemocratic" fetters of Articl declaring that they would do aw, vision of the law at the very firs cle 29 was not the only offendin a whole was a standing shame. T
295

nce of rights between the mental Condition. On which inDonstitution, and these are
the Constitution."
48 Constitution, Coming as it Appeal, Certainly seemed to CoI, missioners' thinking that writing into the Constitution e minorities. If applied to the awaiting disposal before the in that the Official Language guage of the Singhalese comll language of Ceylon to the Dn of the Tamil-speaking Comunced violative of this entrenid.
ircles in Colombo who took ent on the entrenched proviing on judges in future cases hat in legal parlance is Called |ression of an opinion by the it, and not a finding on which the Case rested. But the more members in the SLFP-LSSP-CP ight and unequivocal nature nch of very eminent Judges han certain to be followed by mittee who could be hearing Le appeal was pli evented from il it was going to undo all the hala Only law had earned and it, it was going to be a perma
plans.
ty was missed by prominent Dpposition during the entire rliament to denounce the e 29. They were never tired of ay with this "obnoxious" proit opportunity they get. Artig culprit. The Constitution as hey talked about the indignity

Page 308
of having to be governed un had forgotten it was the draf but it was Convenient to igno pose) Constitution; it milita Singhalese people; not on sovereignty, it even obstructe people and impeded the prog have to devise a way to give t tion free from the shackles C
It was in pursuance of thi tuent assembly idea was CC SLFP-LSSP-CP allian Ce. In fOr assembly the Constitutional not have been unaware of th taken to have examined the
They must have known th have no legal Or Constituti Assembly of India which gav stitution was set up in pursue Independence, and the sev France had a legal basis. To CC Ceylon found itself was an all that theirs was a device to do by the Law of the Constitut Council and would be decla dependent judicial tribunal. ( Ciple of law that what Cannot law Cannot be done in an ind ly the SLFP-LSSP-CP alliance worried about these nice qu tionality.
What, after all, is legality In practical terms the Concep it is Called in Civilized societ are sanctions to back it. Eve intermediary institutions in t to enforce the rule of law. In th police and armed forces whi as a government is in Comma tions it can, if SO minded, res short of publicly flouting Co

der a British-given (not that they of their Own Board of Ministers, re it since it had served their purted against the Sovereignty, the ly it imposed fetters on that d the Cultural development of the ress of the country. They would hemselves a brand new Constituof the British-given Constitution.
s line of thinking that the Constionceived as the brainchild of the mulating their plans for Such an law pundits in the alliance Could he legal obstacles. They must be
proposition from all angles.
hat a Constituent assembly Would Onal standing. The Constituent ve the people their present Conance of the Declaration of Indian eral Constituent Assemblies in py them in the situation in which bsurdity. They must have known something which was prohibited ion as interpreted by the Privy red a nullity by any free and inDf Course, it is a well-known prinbe done directly according to the irect way. So, what of it? Evident: leaders (and lawyers) were not estions of legality and Constitu
? It is merely an abstract Concept. t of legality, or the rule of law as les, has no meaning unless there n Courts of law are no more than he process of applying sanctions he ultimate analysis it is the state's ch are the real sanctions. So long und Of these instruments Of SanCsort to any number of illegalities urts of law, if the government is
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sensitive to international gaze lawyers were well aware that an be the only bulwark against suc and that was precisely why the S preserved the principle of separat of the 1948 Constitution and kep control. But they had no time to tions. Their determination to
minorities of the power which the far too overpowering for any su
In all the alliance's plans to assembly and to tamper wit! therefore, the Privy Council loor gest obstacle. As long as the righ cil remained the constituent asse not be able to survive even a mir Tribunal. The decision in the ci sioner vs. Ranasinghe has made t equally compulsive was the need Kodeeswaran's appeal case (whic the Privy Council in his favour Supreme Court for further hear going back to the Privy Counci thus, appears to have been give
Judging from the nature of churned out by the constituent a programme, the SLFP-LSSP-CP al paid little attention to anythin aspects of their constitutional ex vis the Tamils and the minority enthusiasm to achieve somethin of capacity or forethought to lo pear to have given any thought t. possible situations that may aris elements inter se. As subsequent Bandaranaike and her alliance be own exercise. There is an interest
which best illustrates Mrs Band
Bhasma Asura was one of the endowed with supernatural pow and had enslaved all the Devas. I
297

and scrutiny. The alliance independent judiciary would h illegalities by governments Toulbury Commissioners had ion of powers in their scheme t the judiciary out of political ) waste over such considerastrip the Tamils and other it Constitution gave them was .ch considerations. give birth to the constituent 1 the lawful Constitution, ned in the distance as the bigt of appeal to the Privy Coun!mbly and its creations would nute's scrutiny by that august ase of The Bribery Commishat quite plain. Not only that, to save the Singhala Only law. h had been partly decided by and sent back to the Ceylon ing) must be prevented from il at any cost. This question,
n priority in their plans. the constitution eventually Lssembly and their legislative Lliance would appear to have g else other than the legal cercise and their effects vis-a- Communities. Either from an ng spectacular or from a lack ok far ahead they do not app the necessity to provide for e among Singhalese political - events would show, Sirimavo -came the first victims of their ing story in Hindu Mythology laranaike's efforts and fate. e patriarchs of the Asura clan ers. He was a mighty warrior n his supreme arrogance and

Page 310
boundless ambition, he coi (Hindu word for Almighty Universe. He performed pe Relenting to the severe aust before him in human form a Asura asked to be blessed wi he touchedwith his hand w boon was readily granted. I the head of Siva himself to tive, and stepped forward to heels and ran for dear life. help. Vishnu assumed the f beauty and took her positio latter on seeing her lost his 1 forward to seize her in his a "let us first dance a duet to exactly as Ido, step for step, for gesture, I will then yield agreed and the dance began ed her right hand little by li Bhasma Asura did the same. her hand and touched her 1 and touched his head. Ban
Moral: Unbridled arroga the destruction of the poss asked for a boon from the e it and wished to test their R. Jayawardene (the dam destroyed them.
To get back to the allianc ed that their scheme depen forthcoming 1970 General portance that they should w but win with a two-thirds I
The General Election of and her SLFP-LSSP-CP allian tory. They secured more t! worked for. The UNP was tr During the election campai Party in Government was ce UNP's potential for betrayir

nceived the idea of usurping Siva
God) and becoming Lord of the enance invoking Siva for a boon. erity of the penance Siva appeared and asked what he wanted. Bhasma th the power that whosoever's head puld be blown to Smithereens. The Bhasma Asura wanted to test it on see whether the power was effec- touch Siva's head. Siva took to his
He ran to Vishnu and begged for orm of a lovely damsel with divine n in the path of Bhasma Asura. The head, forgot about his test, and ran arms. "Tut, tut, wait," said the girl, pgether. If I find you imitating me
movement for movement, gesture to your desires." The foolish Asura 1. She danced and swirled and raisttle and held it over her head, and The girl then slowly brought down head. Bhasma Asura followed suit g, burst his head into little bits. ance and ambition will only lead to sessor. The SLFP-ILSSP-CP alliance lectorate and got it. They misused power (1977 General Election). J. sel in the myth) appeared and
ce's plans, it is clear that they realizded entirely on their success at the
Election. It was of the utmost imvin the elections-not merely win, majority in the House.
1970 gave Sirimavo Bandaranaike ce an unprecedented landslide vichan the two-thirds majority they Founced to an ignominious defeat. gn its partnership with the Federal caselessly played up as a sign of the ng Singhalese interests. Even more
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Page 311
telling was the campaign that th done nothing to ease the har Singhalese masses. In contrast, vote-catching promise that she wo of subsidized rice to the people i with an overwhelming majority. a platform gave the alliance the
Prime Minister Sirimavo Ban Government of the SLFP-LSSP-CP 1970. Nobody can be accused of the turmoil and turbulence whic in the '80's is directly traceablet during the seven years it was machiavellianism of this Govern country professing to be democi
All the same it is true that crowning act to what had been pla leadership of the Singhalese peop a sort of Master Plan intended t Singhalese party that may happe transfer of power from the Britis
The Government lost no tim blueprint they had made for a n Singhalese Ceylon where no-othe voice in the affairs of the cour legislative programme to be foll
First, the Upper House of Parl hold up legislation was abolished. consisted only of the Queen and t
Next, the right of appeal to Her abolished by another Act of P Parliament's power to enact the questioned.
Having thus set the stage to ca ly and without any chance of bei they declared that all Members o elected House of Representatives members of a parallel body whic assembly'. That is to say, by a simp CP hierarchy every single consti
299

ne UNP-FP Government had Iships of daily life for the
Mrs Bandaranaike made the puld restore the two measures if she were elected to power It is not surprising that such
victory they planned for. daranaike and her coalition alliance took office early in exaggeration if one says that h Ceylon is passing through Lo what this Government did - in power. The calculated
ment has no parallel in any ratic.
what they did was only the anned by the pre-polarization le in the '40s—what had been o be followed by whichever en to run governments after
sh.
e in taking action upon the ew Ceylon of their vision, a r community would have any atry. Obviously they had a Pwed.
iament (Senate) which could - As a result, Parliament now he House of Representatives. Majesty's Privy Council was arliament. Constitutionally, two measures could not be
arry out their plans effectiveing successfully challenged, of Parliament of the lawfully = would also concurrently be
h they called a "constituent ble diktat from the SLFP-LSSPetutionally-elected M. P. was

Page 312
endowed with an alter eg This body named the "co ed, would draw up, enact, for Ceylon to supersede i
The constituent asser Minister, and formally se ceremony at the Navaran the regular Parliament B Barrister-at-law, and distin ombo Bar, was appointed put in charge of the assem well-known history book" a well-documented thesis torate in Philosophy by the stitution which eventual assembly is reputed to be
Polemics and rhetoric and proceedings notwiths to make a secret of the re stituent assembly enterpri Constitution lock, stock al provisions of its Article munities of Ceylon agains constitutional and illega steamroller majority wł Singhalese) had given the From the Tamil standpoint amining the provisions of simply are not interested in in view of the events tha quences to the country as have a look at its main fe
Ceylon is to be renam would be a republican unit dent to replace the Queen his office to appointment t legislature, to be called N. elected representatives w constitutional doctrine of been the corner-stone of tl and all three categories of

p for extra-constitutional purposes. nstituent assembly", they announcand promulgate a new constitution Ehe 1948 Constitution in force.
mbly was convened by the Prime t up at an impressive inauguration gahala, a school hall, far away from uilding. Colvin R. de Silva, M. P., guished criminal lawyer of the ColJinister of Constitutional Affairs and ably's work. He is the author of the "Ceylon Under British Occupation", for which he was awarded the Doc- University of London. The new conly emerged from the constituent ear his imprint in every clause.
s which accompanied the drafting tanding, nobody made any attempt al purpose that lay behind the conise. It was to do away with the 1948 and barrel, including the entrenched
29 which protected all the comet discriminatory legislation, by un1 means on the strength of the nich one community alone (the
m, and have a new one in its place. , therefore, nothing is gained by exthe assembly's product. The Tamils a the so-called new constitution. Yet, t followed and the general conses a whole, it may be of some use to -atures.
aed the "Republic of Sri Lanka". It -ary state with a constitutional presi
as head of the state. He will owe py the politicians in power. The new ational Assembly, would consist of rith an enlarged membership. The
separation of powers, which had he 1948 Constitution, was ignored, E state power (legislative, executive
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Page 313
and judicial) were vested in the N National Assembly would be at or preter and enforcer of the laws, an of law from the Supreme Court de fect be agents of the National Ass would be conditional on their swe constitution. It would be a constitu cern of a majority of the Singhales akin to the provisions of Article 2 for the protection of ethnic or re itating the Constitution of India, so tal Rights were spelled out, but in declared to be subservient to "state may mean. State policy, therefore, right, whether individual, collecti protected by the law, or the cor Covenants.
Thus all the safety valves which tained for the protection of the citizen against abuse of power and alone safeguards for the minorities stitution of the SLFP-LSSP-CP allia obsession to make it as fool-proof make vis-a-vis the Tamils and other cellent instrument in the hands elements among the Singhalese the to prevent its use for infighting, a
It is sometimes an interesting p picture of an astute politician like his way to Navarangahala to vote i constitution. What thoughts would his mind? Would he not have been the vanity of these learned constiti have said to himself that he had
The so-called new republican co in May 1972. From that time on name of "Ceylon" was change "Republic of Sri Lanka." The la transformed itself into the illegal b Assembly. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister of a lawfully-coi
301

ational Assembly. Thus the ace the lawmaker, the inter1 the chief executive. Courts Ownwards would only in efembly. Their holding office aring an oath to uphold the tional duty and special cone people. There was nothing 29 of the 1948 Constitution ligious minority rights. Im-me rights called Fundamenthe same breath they were - policy", whatever that term would over-ride every other ve, or human, and whether nstitution, or international
a the 1948 Constitution conpeople and the individual autocratic governments, let , were swept away. This connce, a product of their blind
as human ingenuity could - minorities, would be an exs of authoritarian-minded emselves. There was nothing as time was to prove. Pastime to imagine a mental J. R. Jayawardene wending For the adoption of the new
have been passing through - chuckling in his sleeves, at ution-makers? Would he not only to bide his time? onstitution was promulgated Nards the country's lawful d to the illegal name of
wfully-elected Parliament -ody known as the National gave up her lawful office of nstituted Government and

Page 314
transformed herself into ar legitimate government. Th and all government measure purported laws made by thes and all their judicial decisio tions in obedience to the ord the stain of illegality.
But there is no forum or i ty could be established. The independence or the judicia on the constitution, since, b are sworn to uphold the const or legal process or peacefu could be proven and the G
This, of course, is the assembly and the constituti leaders were not concerned thought, nor would they be siderations of illegality of th ed on.
Moreover, judging from Government leaders, partic tional Affairs, indulged in to could see that they had imbil law theorists in the West. Ins pear to have discovered that the people and not in a w discovery which they did no have been self-defeating to of power from the British, ar cil decisions. They also disco ty that may attach to the con be repelled by taking shelter cepts of the theorists. Thus tional Affairs, Dr. Colvin perorations about "sovere "constitutional autochthon revolution", and such like served his purposes.

a illegal prime minister of an ilenceforward every government, s, and every legislature, and all the e legislatures, and all courts of law, ns, and all police and military acers of such governments, all carry
tribunal before which the illegalire is no court of law which has the I power to make pronouncements y their very oath of office, judges titution. There is no constitutional al means by which the illegality overnment brought to book.
Tamil view on the constituent on it produced. The Government
with what the Tamils and others deterred from their plans by cone course of action they had decid
the constitutional law jargon the
ularly the Minister of Constitujustify their course of action, one ped new ideas from constitutional spired by these theorists, they ap-, after all, sovereignty resided in. Fithdrawing colonial Empire - a ot wish to make because it would
make at the time of the transfer ad not until after the Privy Ccunovered that the stigma of illegaliistituent assembly exercise could behind the newly-formulated conwe see the Minister of ConstituR. de Silva, making pontifical eignty resides in the people", y", "legal nationalism", "legal convenient Tegal theories which
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Such propaganda might have cover up their illegal exercise in th theorists, but they need not have intended for consumption by the illusions about the usefulness, in arguments to save them from S Tamils have been nurtured in the Own dating from the earliest time the irrigation channel". They kn Twentieth Century. As if to confi modern times the late Professor sity of Cambridge, a distinguishe while discussing illegal constitutio to this 1972 republican constituti ing down-to-earth observation to
"The vague concept that ultim the 'people' is widely accept overtones. Even where a cons ed from above or below by ma it is commonplace for the de assert that they derive their because it is awkward to be stig usurper. And by producing a on behalf of the people, the achieved. Or is it? "It is one thing to say that gov consent of the governed; it is a a constitution has acquired the ly because it has obtained th convened Constituent Assem electorate or both. Yet to asse constitutional amendments) p sistent with the pre-existing le will land one in a morass of ficulties...... "Once questions such as th acknowledge that in certain legal continuity, be it peaceful and violence, may have to be constitutional and legal orde
303

helped the Government to le eyes of the world and legal taken all these pains if it was
Tamils. The Tamils have no practical terms, of legalistic inghalese domination. The
wisdom of a proverb of their s: "The stronger determines ow that it is still true in the rm that it still holds good in S. A. de Smith of the Univered authority on the subject, ons with particular reference on of Ceylon, has the followI make: nate 'sovereignty' resides in able because of its political stitution has been overturnanifestly illegitimate means, e facto holders of power to
mandate from the people, gmatized as an undemocratic constitution approved by or e accolade of legitimacy is
Fernment should rest on the nother thing to proclaim that e force of supreme law meree approval of an irregularly ably or of a majority of the ert that all constitutions (or procured in a manner inconegal order are legally invalid
absurd and insoluble dif
nese are asked, one must circumstances a breach of or accompanied by coercion e treated as superseding the r and replacing it by a new

Page 316
one. Legal theorists have their concepts to the facts tion sooner or later beg Kelsen has postulated, th ple underlying a constitu tion ought to be obeyed, order, followed by acquie judges and the general i issued by the new holder basic norm of ultimate pri Thus, might becomes rig
Thus, it is might, exercise and what is just and right, wh ment that came into being in argument which condones th legal right to govern also ves ten years later, with the v themselves bloodied with the of power cannot have the ri "terrorists."
At the time the constituer was scope for a challenge in th with independent judicial p learnt by experience that pol solution to their problem, the the occasion with a special in tunity which could have bee to prevent the convening of the tyranny of the Singhalese supinely inept leadership of th lost.
It was left to C. Sunthara instituted proceedings in the convening of the constituent ing with the lawfully establis Court refused the applicati premature.
* S.A.de Smith, Constitutional and Admin

no option but to accommodate of political life. Successful revoluets its own legality. If, as Hans e basic norm or ultimate princitional order is that the constituthen the disapperarance of that escence on the part of officials, public in laws, rules and orders
s of power, will displace the old nciple and give rise to a new one.
ht in the eye of the law".* d in brazen contempt for the law ich is the basis for every GovernCeylon since May 1972. The very aeir ill-gotten constitution and ilts the Tamil's fight and uprising, irtue of right. Those who are stigma of undemocratic usurpers ght to call the Tamil fighters as
nt assembly was convened, there ne Courts which then were vested ower. Although the Tamils had Eitical litigation could never be a
plain and naked illegality vested mportance. It was unique opporen availed of, if not successfully the assembly, at least to expose e Government. But thanks to the ne Federal Party leadership, it was
lingam to make the attempt. He e Supreme Court to prevent the assembly and unlawfully tampershed Constitution. The Supreme on on the ground that it was
istrative Law, Penguin Books (1974), PP. 67-69.
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Page 317
This abortive attempt on th rise to a pertinent question academic exercise.
What would have been th private individual, however Ceylonese citizen he may be, representatives of the Tamil pe Federal Party M. P.s) had gone b receiving the Prime Minister's ble at Navarangahala to meet a a petition to prohibit the Prime of Parliament from committin
which would affect the lawful. Ceylon to the detriment of the tioning M. P.s? It was within Members of Parliament to do
These questions were nev speculation on these lines is no in practical terms. They arise tunities. The Supreme Court mi an application by the M. P.s. strengthen the case for a compl tuent assembly.
Boycott was another option There was every reason in the constituent assembly and ref ceedings in any manner. Nobo about the outcome of the exerc have been under no illusions al claimed that they had a "man constituent assembly. The fact received any such "mandate" third of the country, because testing elections in that one-th the other hand, was returned i the alliance's politics.
There was a strong opinion i ed the Tamil M. P.s to have noth assembly, because to particip defeated would undermine the
3(

e part of Suntharalingam gives or speculation purely as an
! result if, instead of a single :minent and distinguished a he whole body of the elected pple (ay, the fifteen or sixteen efore the Supreme Court upon .otice requiring them to assems a constituent assembly with
Minister and all the Members y any extra-Parliamentary act y- established Constitution of people represented by the petithe competence of the Tamil
er tested and, therefore, any
more of any help to the Tamils ! while deploring lost opporght very well have refused even But it would have helped to ete Tamil boycott of the consti
1 open to the Tamil leadership. - world to keep away from the use to participate in its prody could have had any doubts cise. Tamils in particular could pout the purpose. The alliance date" from the people for the - was they neither sought nor from the Tamil-speaking onethey prudently avoided conird part. The Federal Party, on on a platform of opposition to
n the Tamil country which urgning to do with the constituent ate only to be outvoted and e moral strength of the Tamil

Page 318
people's case in the eyes of th means available to me to mak ingam likewise made great ef Federal Party could not be def ticipate. On one occasion w] them in informal conference i
Mayor of Jaffna, A. Amirth forcefully, "Nobody can dicta to go to the constituent asse another opportunity to expose ed racism.
The Federal Party Membe: tendance when the constituen session. One of them went so ing the enterprise as a memor country. They continued to ] month after month until, of co time probably - that they wei Singhalese assembly.
The way they handled the time they were in participati rawest student of politics an understand that longstanding ethnic problems which have leaders are never solved by ra an assembly. Sensible leaders v out first in private meetings bel ment is reached between the d agreed formula would be pla assembly's stamp of approval. 1 no such thing. Of course, nos since there was no other part they had come to the constiti lawyer taking the view that he by default, to raise certain mat they had to act the part out t
The Federal Party leaders v made two bids concerning the
ONE, the Government le should become a republic reta
30

e world. I myself tried by every e them stay away. C. Suntharalforts to dissuade them. But the lected from their resolve to parnen Suntharalingam and I met at the residence of S. Nagarajah, alingam made it clear rather te to the Federal Party whether mbly or not." And so was lost the SLFP-LSSP-CP alliance's nak
rs of Parliament were in full att assembly met for its inaugural far as to deliver a speech praisable event in the history of the participate in the proceedings urse, they realized - for the first ere a small number in a largely
Tamil problem during that short ion would confound even the d diplomacy. They could not national disputes and festering
baffled many generations of Lising them in open sessions of Tould discuss and hammer them hind the scenes, and if an agreeisputants it is only then that the Iced in open sessions for the "he Federal Party leadership did uch course was open to them, I willing to talk things out. Yet ient assembly, however, like a e should not allow a case to go ters for the sake of raising, and ɔ the end. rere therefore reported to have Tamil problem in the assembly: :aders proposed that Ceylon ining the unitary structure of
16

Page 319
the state. The Federal Party lea the republic be a federal unio
was outvoted by the Singhalese was rejected. It was never a se regionalism, worse still on eth Singhalese. What else is the m and the D. S.-C Pacts?
TWO, the Government was the new constitution the langu cluding the reasonable-use-of-T Federal Party leaders demande be given parity of status and throughout the country. Colvi turned it down. The utter incon cy of a party which had climb of the ladder in its language de the watered-down Reasonable tions at the hands of the UNP : ty of status could not have bee de Silva of the SLFP-LSSP-CP alli ed the march to the Vihare M
The Federal Party leaders c wildest dreams the smallest h be accepted. They were all lea for more than twenty years an
was not a single member in the group who would support the
Why, then, did they have demands with the full knowle and having them eventually re to advance the cause of the T
Critics of the Federal Part Singhalese alliance's exercise s ment were indulging in what leadersnip's gimmick of playi home consumption-with an ei it a gimmickry may sound ratt was no other conclusion to bi subsequent politics.
Following the rejection of t)

lers moved an amendment that I of linguistic states. The Party : majority, and the amendment cret that any type of political nic basis, was anathema to the .eaning of the fates of the B-C
· proposing to incorporate into .age laws currently in force, inamil language regulations. The d that both Singhala and Tamil . made the official languages 1 R. de Silva is reported to have sistency and political expediened so far down to the last rung :mands as to thankfully accept Use of Tamil Language Regulaand now climbing back to parien lost on a man like Colvin R. .ance leadership which organizlaha Devi statue. Could not have had even in their ppe that these demands would ders who had been in the game d should have known that there e whole assembly outside their
m.
e to raise them? Making the dge that they will be rejected, ejected, was surely not the way amils. Then, Why?
y's participation in the hostile aid that the Members of Parliathey called the Federal Party ng-to-the-gallery politics - for ve on the next elections. To call aer as a cynic's sneer. Yet there e drawn in view of the Party's
heir demands, the Federal Party
07

Page 320
Members of Parliament wit. assembly. The remaining Gov Completed the work of the asse had the new Constitution Thereafter, the Co-operation be tion GOvernment and the UNI had been very evident during each went their way.
The promulgation of this so Of 1972 had the effect of exten of Parliament from five to seven the lawful 1948 Constitution (v any time) was five years. Ther life of the legislature it create Assembly as five years, but this of the promulgation of the cor those persons who were electe Election would end up their le 1977.
The next General Election ties made feverish preparation
While the Government part the state's establishments and ac the new republican status, and i their own political strength, leadership of J. R. Jayawarde. revitalizing its organization with elements, the Federal Party reorganizing the Tamil part of idealism in favour of purely pa the leaders of the three groupi whither they were taking the CC personal power, each in their OV seen the impending catastroph
Taking the Singhalese partie Writing on the wall even when
armed rebellion in 1971. That r youth's disillusionment with t Whatever hue-green, blue, Orr
In 1970 the Singhalese y
30,

hdrew from the Constituent ernment parties and the UNP mbly and, as mentioned earlier, promulgated in May, 1972.
et Ween the SLFP-ILSSP-CP COali- ,
in the work assembly which the proceedings ceased, and
-Called republican constitution ding the term of the Members years. Parliament's term under which has not been repealed at Lew Constitution also fixed the 2d with the name of National five years to run from the date nstitution. The result was that d as M. P.S at the 1970 General egislative careers as MNAs in
was thus due in 1977. All parS for the Contest.
ies concentrated on reshaping liministrative machinery to suit in the process on Consolidating and the UNP under the new ne was busy reinforcing and n more forceful and aggressive likewise busied itself with f the Country, shedding their rliamentary politics. None of ngs seem to have been aware Duntry. In their obsession with vin, they do not appear to have e looming in the distance.
es first, they would not see the their own youth rose up in an rebellion was the result of the heir political leaderships of ed.
routh believed the blue-red
8

Page 321
alliance's promise of subsidized ment for the educated young a in power. For one whole year
witnessed the alliance leaders tional exercise but saw no sign that they had witnessed a gre five whole years in another e. no corresponding benefits to whether in terms of employm
Small wonder, then, that th that their leaders were only in not in them or the people or t resentment in open rebellion
Even then the Singhalese have learnt any lesson from t politics is too heady a wine to stands Confirmed by Singhales of the new republican constit
The first elections for Assembly were held in 1977. ties were all bundled Out in an UNP was installed in power wit Not a single LSSP or CP candida was elected. That House had (Sarath Muttettuwegama), but elected at a bye-election late tributable more to his endearin enlightened and liberal outloo his Party influence. Even then Bandaranaike's SLFP was redu that of the Tamil membership
Prime Minister J. R. Jayawa of power, lost no time in ensul no more be troubled and hi Perhaps the UNP had persua. there should be no possibility Perhaps they believed that th Majesty's Opposition" was a B. Ceylon's brand of republican they set about the task of roo
3

rice for the family and employ
nd laboured to put the alliance hey waited patiently and only hip bogged down in a constitus of rice or employment. Before 2n stewardship (UNP) spending cercise against Tamils but with he Singhalese educated youth, ent or any other propects.
e youth came to the conclusion terested in personal power and he country. They showed their and violence.
leadership does not appear to hat youth insurrection. Power abstain from. It is a truth which 2 politics after the inauguration ution.
the newly created National The SLFP-LSSP-CP alliance parlost humiliating defeat, and the h J. R. Jayawardene at its head. ate, including Colvin R. de Silva, a single Communist Member if my memory is right, he was r. His election is probably atng personal qualities and a more k on national problems than to hajor party of the alliance, Mrs uced to a number smaller than
rdene, Once installed in the seat ing that he and his UNP would arassed by opposition parties. ded themselves to believe that of any alternative government. e British institution of a "Her ritish Parliamentary luxury, and lemocracy had no use for it. So ing out all traces of opposition,
O9

Page 322
first among the Singhalese p dealt with later.
It is, indeed, a strange quir of the unlawful 1972 constitu poisonous fruits of their ow Government made use of the makers politically, J. R. Jaya rival, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Assembly, her civic rights take or standing as a candidate at political activities in any man appear before a commission C power which, she claimed (Oh legal basis. Her political part made powerless and ineffecti represented by the LSSP, the CE of which Colvin R. de Silva was was Crushed, and all labour st tivities were prohibited or br
None of these would have Constitution was in force a judiciary free from political in were ta inted with illegality ca. to grumble.
This UNP Government, of Cou in their pursuit of unchallenged po in power launch on a career of il first. One illegality leads to anoth without end. To perpetrate an ill group and not of another. One il another, When Mrs Bandaranaik ed on their illegality of a constitu vision of a Ceylon rid of the power perhaps it never occurred to them with a different vision to bring Ce types of opposition even from an the UNP Government did after il position forces.
They made use of the allie to have it replaced by another
3

olitical forces, Tamils. Could be
k of irony that the very makers tion were the first to taste the 'n Creation. The Jayawardene same-constitution to destroy its wardene had his only national :, expelled from the National naway, and banned from voting any election or taking part in ner - all because she refused tO of inquiry into alleged abuse of n, Mores Oh, Tempora), had no y, the SLFP, was splintered and ve. The socialist movement as , and the powerful trade unions, s a prominent front-rank leader, rikes and other trade union a Coken up.
been possible while the 1948 nd there was an independent fluence. But those whose hands nnot, of course, claim any right
urse, did not stop with these actions wer. It is axiomatic that when those legalities it does not stop with the er, and to another, and to another egality is not the privilege of one legality is as good - or as bad - as ke and her alliance leaders launchent assembly to give form to their of the Tamils and other minorities, that others might come after them 2ylon under an autocracy rid of all mong the Singhalese. That is what mmobilising the SLFP-LSSP-CP op
ance's illegal 1972 constitution brand-new and equally illegal
10

Page 323
constitution providing for a government under an executiv head of the state as well as the is the Constitution of 1978 whi the president unlimited powers first President, first as one of th transition from one Constitutic ed by popular vote in a preside 1982.
While all these developme Singhalese side, signs were no fear were building up in the against the entrenchment of Siu tuous disregard of all other C future of the Tamil-speaking pi called for a wise, dynamic, and ( Party was the single largest po support of the majority of th eminent position to provide su
There are many ways of in to play during this time. The mc that they were trying to org resistanCe mOVement tO SOlive sympathetic scrutiny of their p ly bear out even that.
Following their pull-out fro) Federal Party leaders busied th Tamil leadership. All their effor of the Federal Party and the All sibly with the view to putting Singhalese. They raised the sl
Understandably, unity was among the Tamils. For long the ty among the Tamils in being d gress and the Federal Party. Int believed that if only the two lea personalities of G. G. Pc Chelvanayakam could unite th Singhalese from riding rough-s. two leaders had lost their old fil
3.

totally different structure of represident who would be the head of the government. This ch is Currently in force giving . J. R. Jayawardene became the e interim arrangements for the in to another, and later endorsntial election held in October,
2nts were taking place on the t wanting that resentment and Tamil ProVinCes - resentiment hghalese dominion in contemp'ommunities, and fear for the eople in Ceylon. The situation jecisive leadership. The Federal litical force which enjoyed the 2 people. They were in a prech a leadership. But, did they?
terpreting the role they chose st Charitable would be to think anize a peaceful non-violent the Tamil problem. But even a politics at this time would hard
m the constituent assembly, the emselves with reorganizing the ts were to bring about a merger --Ceylon Tamil Congress, ostenup a united front against the ogan of unity,
a saleable and popular slogan people had deplored the disuniivided between the Tamil Conheir simple understanding they derships under the charismatic Dnnampalam and S. J. V. ey would be able to prevent the hod over the Tamils. Maybe the re, maybe their respective party
1

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hierarchieshad COme under C idea of unity, if only in theor people and the efforts to mer
The outcome was the forn tion Front (TULF). It was gree the people.
To heighten the popular merger did two things at the mass appeal:
(1) Chelvanayakam and Po C. leader S, Thondaman of th leadership-all three were ma
Ponnampalam was not pre Consent for the election was merger had his blessings, wi mark. He himself neither a CC never appeared on any TUL)
(2) Emulating the pioneeri chi Kazhakam, they declarec State.
It is a view among some pc that "The ability to steal gC quirements of successful pol. tion for this view it is, of Cou Even so, they never spelled O equivocation. They always re a meeting in Vaddukkoddai tive. That resolution was a which merely recited that th up the posture of a separatest ly making it the objective. T cient publicity machine whic that the TULF was working
Unity, indeed, is a most c necessary, Condition as a me or objective. But the difficul slogan to shield some dishon ple are easily misled. People se Leaders sometimes unite for til

other influences, but still the very y, caught the imagination of the ge became a very popular move.
nation of the Tamil United Libera2ted with a great acclamation by
enthusiasm the architects of the e very outset which had a great
Dnnampalam, as well as the C. W. e hill Country plantation workers de Joint Presidents of the TULF.
sent at the election. Whether his ever obtained, and whether the ill always remain a big question 'epted it nor disclaimed it. But he F platform to the end of his life.
ng example of the Tamilar Suyadl that they stood for a free Tamil
Dlitical Commentators in the West Dod ideas is one of the first reitics". Whatever be the justificarse, true in the case of the TULF. ut the TULF's objective without 2ferred to a resolution passed at as setting out the party's objecskilful piece of draftsmanship Le TULF might be driven to take ate, but stopped short of positiveney were in command of an effih, however, made people believe for a separate state.
lesirable, and sometimes a very ans tO aChieve SOme noble ideal ty is, it is sometimes an abused ourable expedient, and the peoaldom stop to ask: Unity for what? he achievement of some Common
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personal ambition. And leaders v. purpose of destroying something do individually, as in the case o Narain-Morarji-Charan Singh con dhi leadership in India. It is not i people to look behind a political II why and the wherefore. Disillusi late and they realize that they h
So it was with the TULF and of their propaganda machine, an the leaders, they impressed the and, more regrettably, they entice rallied round them believing th undergone a genuine change an the promised land. Even Colleges "traitor" at those who refused to ple failed to see the truth behind form rhetoric,
This is not to say that all tr merger manoeuvre. There were able to see the TULF for what it minority which got swept away ir the new-found unity.
This minority was able to see nothing more than a device to en sitting M. P.s belonging both to th Congress without any contest be only saw it as an opportunistic El sitting M. P.s of the Federal Party gress. These were the only two pa the principal Contestants at elect due in 1977. The sitting M. Ps ticular, had good cause to fear fac dismal showing on the Constitu after,
A part from this common inten was no Common political progra ween the two parties which coul the merger. Their respective vie
313

ery often unite for a negative J which they cannot hope to f the notorious Jayaprakash mbine to oust the Indira Ganin the nature of the Common manoeuvre and try to see the onment comes when it is too lave been taken for a ride.
he Tamil Youth. Making use d trading on the charisma of people with their new slogan ld the Tamil youth. The youth at the TULF leadership had .d was going to lead them to tudents were taught to shout ) line up with the TULF Peothe facade of slogan and plat
he Tamil people fell for the a discerning few who were really was, but they were a l the tide of mass hysteria for
that the TULF in reality was Sure the re-election of all the e Federal Party and the Tamil tween the two parties. They ectOral Allian Ce between the and those of the Tamil Conrties which have always been ion. The next elections were of the Federal Party, in paring the electorates after their ent assembly question and
'est of the sitting M. Ps, there amme or Common ideal betd have inspired or motivated NS On the Tamil problem and

Page 326
their approach to any solut That made it all the more
A number of Circumstar TULF as an opportunistic E. movement for a Tamil state
(1) G. G. Ponnampalam believed in the right of both to settle and live in any part palam never changed from t is in direct Contradiction tC Federal Party that the Nort traditional Tamil homeland Tamil-speaking people. Th Singhalese Colonization oft the merger the followers oft views on this fundamental about the Tamil's right of se
(2) One of Chelvanayaka dapuram in the Kankesant devoted and unselfish activ ception, asked Chelvanaya mistakably accepted by the in preference to others) ag Presidents of the TULF Ch replied, "What can I do in arranged everything and as at which Presidents were e. I am happy about this Front. of the Federal Party." It is po for SOme time before his last after my denunciation of Sin he chose a platform in Vavur that he would have no more was not alive for the 1977 ingam, after winning that negotiate for another pa Jayawardene.
(3) The moment TULF ar tion, its third Joint Presi dissociated himself in a publ.

ion were still as divergent as ever, Suspect.
ces confirmed this estimate Of the ectoral Alliance and not a serious , if Confirmation is needed at all:
and the Tamil Congress always the Singhalese and Tamil peoples of the whole of Ceylon. Ponnamhis belief to the end of his life. This the fundamental position of the hern and Eastern Provinces were and belonged exclusively to the ey have always been opposed to he two Tamil Provinces. Even after he two parties never changed their question, their election rhetorics lf-determination notwithstanding.
am's trusted followers from Mavidurai electorate, who had been a ist of the Federal Party from its inkam why he (who had been unfamil people as their trusted leader reed to be only one of three Coelvanayakam is reported to have my present state of health? They sked me to come (for the meeting lected), and I went. I am not sure
I don't know what will be the fate ssible he was in this frame of mind illness. In 1976, that is, eight years ghalese Tamil pacts in Parliament, niya to echo my words and declare pacts with Singhalese leaders. He General Election, but Amirthalt election, promptly started to Ct with Prime Minister J. R.
nnounced its Vaddukoddai resoludent, S. Thondaman, promptly iC statement and declared that the
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plantation districts Tamils would of a separate state. Rules of part stringently enforced on me, wer of Thondaman. Obviously, there objective before he could be acci no action was taken.
(4) G. G. Ponnampalam neve platform nor did he ever identify the time of his death. He was no and he probably knew what the 1 death his son, Kumar Ponnam nomination for the 1977 electio gress was then under his leaders be relied on to be an unquestion Tamil Congress still continues to under the leadership of G.G. Pon by which the son is known), and i tion with the TULF.
(5) The only Tamil Congress I leaving their leader were the thr persons who were assured of TU elections were the only others
(6) The Federal Party, on the and virtually closed. For some tim a haven for men with parliamenta all their working lives in secure ( ment age or in successful busine else they lacked, they had the tw parliamentary nomination which for, viz., financial strength to figl and willingness to give unques top leadership. By closing the Fed to be rid of the "troublesome" ele had taken the leadership's platfo
(7) The 1977 General Electi merger enterprise did pay off and to plan. All the sitting M. P.s of bo without exception. If one or two they had been dropped at the n
315

never subscribe to the idea y discipline, which were so e never invoked in the case
must first be a settled party ised of breaching any and so
r once appeared on a TULF himself with the TULF up to at a sitting M. P. at the time, 'ULF was really for. After his ipalam, was refused TULF ns although the Tamil Conship. Evidently, he could not ing follower. The All-Ceylon
play its role in Tamil politics nampalam (being a pet name t does so in direct confronta
nen who went into the TULF ee sitting M. P.s. One or two LF nomination for the 1977 vho went with them. other hand, was abandoned me before then, it had become ary ambitions after spending Government jobs until retireess or other fields. Whatever o essential qualifications for a the Party leadership looked at an election and win a seat, tioning subservience to the eral Party the TULF was able. ements of the old Party which rm professions too seriously. Lon results showed that the
fulfil the purpose according th the parties were re-elected
were missing it was because omination stage. One of the

Page 328
dropped M.P.s belonged to t. known to be a severe Critic
(8) After the election, the Joint Presidents, S. Thon Jayawardene's Government with a minor portfolio,
(9) While the president t TULF's general-secretary ar took the prestigious office C was an astounding step for a 1972 republican constitutio) the platform of a free and in paigning for à mandate fror constituent assembly to draft exercise of their right of self all this with the holding of a tance in the successful work. of 1972 is something which ding. What is more, a Tamilt Opposition, by implication C government to that of Prime Overwhelmingly Singhalese cumstances of Ceylon politi situation on an earlier occas ed to accept this office even opposition. The differences - a group of parliamentar
(10) There was an occasio Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike | and accused them of atten demanding a separate state, N. A. for Kopay, promptly i. is not we. It is V. Navaratnan Vavuniya." The date of the ] I write, but it was certainly af dai resolution. Later, hOWeve dent supporters of the idea, from grace in the TULF lei seriously. This leadership ne independent Tamil state as a the elections.

he defunct Federal Party and was
of the new leadership,
only survivor of the TULF's three daman, joined Prime Minister and became a Cabinet Minister
Ook Office as a Cabinet Minister, ld top leader, A. Amirthalingam, f Leader of the Opposition. This party which vowed to wreck the n. The TULF won the election on dependent Tamil State after camn the people to convene a Tamil a Constitution for the State in the -determination. HOW tO reCOn Cile n office of great functional imporing of the republican Constitution is beyond anybody's understanO hold the Office of Leader of the offering to provide an alternative Minister J. R. Jayawardene in an parliament, in the peculiar CirCS is a laughable idea. In a similar ion S. J.V. Chelvanayagam refuswhen pressed by other parties in showed the TULF for what it was y careerists and nothing more.
in in the National Assembly when pointed to the ranks of the TULF upting to divide the Country by
The late S. Kathiravelupillai, M. Interrupted to deny it: "No, no, it n of Kayts and Suntharalingam of Hansard is not available to me as ter the TULFS SO-Called VaddukOdær, he became One of the most ar
and was reported to have fallen adership for taking the idea too aver regarded the objective of an lnything more than a ploy to Win
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No people ever won freedom of lasting value, on the strength o that was struck between the M. the Tamil Congress. The Tamil p but it was left to the Tamil youth ly, almost a decade later. For the 1977 general election, however achieving the true purpose of th election of the sitting M. P.s of
317

1, or ever achieved anything of a spurious unity of the type
P.s of the Federal Party and people would not see it then,
to realize it, though belatede moment, on the eve of the , the TULF was well set for e unity exercise, viz., the reboth parties.

Page 330
CHA
A eylon has had seven
since the British hand
* Singhalese and quit Ce to bring some misfortune ol general election held in 1973 tion. While it did not fail to bi tunes, it has done a distin unintentionally. It has helped the long spell of hypnotic S.
They have never been politically active, since the t gress of the early 'thirties. I in politics. But, barring the gr Party's direct action moveme their politics had been confir participation in rallies, and ca not an organised force with influence politics. The event Election, before and after, ch galvanised the student com
The politically articulate belonged to a generation wh

PTER 22
f
parliamentary general elections ed over their ruling power to the ylon, and none of them ever failed - other to the Tamils. The eighth 7, however, is a left-handed excepring its quota of multiplied misforet service to the Tamils, though 1 to wake up the Tamil youth from lumber they had fallen into.
organized as a body, or been ime of the old Jaffna Youth ConNot that they showed no interest eat part they played in the Federal nts and Satyagraha campaigns, all ned to listening to speech-making, ampaigning at elecions. They were strength to act on their own or to its surrounding the 1977 General aanged that attitude radically and
munity into a spirited upsurge. youths of the 1977 election period aich had no first-hand knowledge
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of the politics and campaigns of either not born or were little ch: tively fighting the Singhalese witnessed the Party's activities Tamil-speaking people to the da will of national resistance, to freedom, and to work for an ide adulthood the only audible polit the grandiloquent platform speed precursor to the Tamil United I
By then the old idealism a Federal Party had been abai Tiruchelvam vintage. The youth see that the abandoning of the and its merger with the Tamil operation with the Singhalese in ly a ruse to get the sitting M. P. Parliament without contest.
Quite early in the Front's le of discontent began to be heard They clamoured for action as Sin pursuing their anti-Tamil meas Front's hollow protests and spe the 1961 Kachcheri Satyag Bandaranaike's Government to in the Northern and Eastern Pr opposition and resistance. They tion of the leaders since then systematically driven to the wa
One was able to see that they were beginning to appear in its fi ship. Some youth leaders were f time to have doubts about the
To recall some of the appar
Sometime in the early 'sever leader then in the Advanced Le Jaffna, organized a Senior Stude invited me and Amirthalingam i platform. In winding up the pro ched an attack on the Front poir
31

the Federal Party. They were ldren when the Party was acgovernments. They had not then it laboured to rouse the igers they faced, to forge the
make the people yearn for |al. When they reached early Cs they were exposed to were hes of the Tamil United Front, iberation Front. ad principled politics of the idoned for politics of the s were not mature enough to idealism of the Federal Party Congress which stood for coa unitary government was ons of both parties re-elected to
adership, however, rumblings from some youthful elements. ighalese governments kept on ures in utter concern of the eches. They pointed out that raha which brought Mrs a stand-still for three months Fovinces was the last show of y complained about the inacwhile the Tamils were being
11.
Touth was in a ferment. Cracks aith in the United Front leaderarsighted enough even at that professions of the Front. ent signs:
ties Maha Uttaman, a student vel class at St. John's College, nts,meeting at the College and paddress them from the same ceedings Maha Uttaman launting out the wide gap between

Page 332
its professions and its practic applauded in endorsement.
On another occasion Sidd davarodaya College, Chunn Dharmalingam, United Front dress the Senior Students of to work for the early establi State. Siddharthan would not ty but was highly Critical of i the father himself was very in tion in which the Front authoritarianism that had de would not carry his differenc
partу.
At the height of the Contro M. Ps, participation in Sirim assembly exercise c Muthukumaraswamy (friend friend retired District Judge and pleaded with me to gatec and persuade them not to at which, of course, I refused to the impracticality of his requ by his feeling and conviction ( at even the impossible in the happen to prevent the M. Ps an anti-Tamil exercise. His fat the Federal Party, was an im Front, though, perhaps, not wł
Muthukumaraswamy was number of times and tortured. his law studies assiduously a
One day young Sivakuma discussed at length my call fo independent Tamil State. It wa organizing the youth for a m some lanky youth not yet ou He had never handled a firear the foggiest idea of what a mi ly the fire of Tamil pride that
هم
ص

2 of politics, and the whole house
narthan, a student leader of Skanakam, and son of my friend V. M. P. for Uduvil, invited me to adhis College. I urged the students hment of an independent Tamil openly condemn his father's parts policies. I certainly know that nuch Concerned about the direc
was being taken and the reloped in the leadership, but he e to the point of a break with the
oversy over the issue of the Tamil avo Bandaranaike's Constituent nother student leader S Call him Kumar), son of my T. Thambidurai, approached me rash into a meeting of the M. Ps tend the Constituent assembly - do. Not that he was unaware of Lest, but he was so carried away On the issue that he would clutch I hope that some miracle would from participating in so blatant her, a long-time sympathiser of portant member of the United holly happy with its recent trend.
later arrested by the Police a Even while in prison he pursued nd became a lawyer.
ran of Urumpirai visited me and the establishment of a free and s then that I learned that he was ilitant struggle. He was a handof his teens and still in shortS. n in his life, nor did he have even litant struggle meant. It was onwas burning within him and the
20

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feeling of anger and resentmer which made him think of such
Not many months afterwards inexperienced lad was caugh Sivakumaran achieved martyrd those other immortals in the H Heroes who knew no fear in defe pitipola, the Singhalese chieftair the Tamil Chieftain of Adanka Pa KattabhOman, the Tamil Chiefta Tamil Country of South India.
There is a Common heroic pi unconquerable spirits defy se Cheated his Singhalese Captors pitipola hurled defiance at his Br. of any pleasure by nonchalantly Pandara Vanniyan fell to a cowa from behind a bush while he w troops with his sword, and Katta defiance telling his English cap as merchants and traders and t snatched the noose from the ha neck with his own hands.
Possibly it is Sivakumaran's daunted Spirit that inspiried SC hundreds of youngsters to take the militant movement. Some of Thangadurai of Valvettiturai, a in custody in later years. Their tion because of the Cruel mann death in prison. Fellow prisone be government jail guards in pr have indulged in a gruesome which they gouged the victim domens, drank the blood, and di around their necks. It is this Created the impression among iI Tamils in Ceylon are fighting a
Governments and leaders w and territory will do well to pay
32

t against Singhalese tyranny, 3. COUSe.
the inevitable happened. The and mericlessly tortured. om and joined the ranks of eaven specially reserved for Inding their motherland - Kepof Kandy, Pandara Vanniyan, itu (Vavuniya-Mullaitivu), and in of Panchalankurichi in the
ittern in the manner in which perior might. Sivakumaran by Swallowing Cyanide, Kep„tish CaptOrs and cheated them. placing his neck. On the block, ardly British Sniper's gunshot as fighting a gang of English bhomman spat contempt and tors that they had sneaked in urned into land-grabbers. He ang man and put it around his
infectious patriotism and unores of youthful leaders and up arms in the early days of them, such as Kuttimani and lso courted martyrdom while deaths attracted world attenær in which they were done to is, some of them suspected to isoners' dress, are reported to rgy of ceremonial killing in s' eyes, ripped open the abunced with the entrails draped horrible cannibalism which ternational Observers that the
Government of Savages.
ho Covet other people's lands heed to the lesson of history

Page 334
that none of the captors of t ceeded in holding on to the la Instead, their victims are now which they gave their blood
There were occasions w gatherings of activists at Va were campaigning for the Ti didate at the 1970 General E campaign, I exhorted them to dent Tamil State. I asked them tional skills of their ancestors laws, and to keep alive the se
Many of those in the audienc or mid teens. I still remember ing eyes burning with fire as ed to wonder if some of them Thangadurai and Velupillai P heroes of Vadamaradchy household words throughout
These, then, were welcom when the Tamils were facing It showed that the student wo dependent thinking on its ow cern and fear for the future round to my view that the fu through a free and independe them ready to differ even fro strike a revolutionary path.
Sometime before the 197 Suyadchi Kazhakam invited t gramme to fight the Singhales Constitution had been viola legitimate government was e Kazhakam's proposal was to 1 go to Parliament, but as a ple! the Tamil people for a separ would be required to give a elected they would not atten National Assembly in Colom
All that the Kazhakam go reply.

hese immortal heroes have sucnds which they stole from them. legendary heroes in the lands to
hen I addressed small compact Ivettiturai and Point Pedro who amilar Suyadchi Kazhakam canlection. As was my wont in that work ceaselessly for an indepento develop and foster the naviga, regardless of breaking revenue safaring tradition of their towns. ce were young lads in their early their young eager faces and shinthey listened. In later years I us
might have been Kuttimani and rabhakaran and the many other
whose names later became i Tamil Ceylon.
e signs of an awakening at a time an extremely critical situation. rld was beginning to do some inn and was being stirred by a con:. They appeared to be veering ture could only be made secure
nt Tamil State. I was happy to see om their parents and elders and
7 General Election the Tamilar he TULF to work on a joint proe usurpation of power. The lawful ited and renounced, and an ilxercising the power to rule. The nake use of the elections, not to biscite to obtain a mandate from ate Tamil State. The candidates solemn undertaking that when lor take their seats in the illegal .bo. t for its trouble was an arrogant
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After spurning the Kazhak averse to adopting the idea as paign. Its election manifesto a the right of self-determination of the Tamil-speaking people. elections on the promise of a the Tamils.
The Tamilar Suyadchi Kaz tions, not because it had any believed it to be of vital impor voice to warn the people agai fortunately peculiar trait with a person must be an M. P. if h views are to carry any influer
I had believed that Sirima assembly exercise, the renoun stitution which contained at lea for the Tamil people and othe of the illegal republican con responding safeguards of any k bungling display of its politica would have sent a message younger generation would ha to expect. Any other people in such a clear message only on 1 discontent which had been api and their disenchantment wit demonstrated in some positive tomorrow, and it is their futui
But I was wrong, perhaps much from the youths and the ed out, the vast majority of elements, were still addicted to orators of the Front. When sp "We would fight for our right e is our birth-right" or "We w separate state" they cheered. 1 feet. It did not matter that nei the haziest idea of what the ric The cliches and slogans wer Federal Party and the Tamil Cor

im's proposal,the TULF was not
a slogan for its election camsked for a mandate to exercise hrough a constituent assembly So the TULF in 1977 fought the separate independent state for
hakam also contested the elecinterest in Parliament, but it tance that there must be some nst TULF's politics. It is an unthe people in Tamil Ceylon that is voice is to be heard or if his ice. vo Bandaranaike's constituent cing of the country's legal Conist the semblance of a safeguard r minorities, the proclamation stitution in 1972 without corind whatsoever, and the TULF'S linanity in the entire business, to the Tamil people, that the ve been put on notice of what a the world would have ignored their peril. I had hoped that the parent among the Tamil youths h the TULF would hold and be e way. They were the citizens of re which was under a threat.
a little hasty in expecting too student community. As it turnthem, led by the more vocal hero-worship of the charismatic eakers boomed from platforms of self-determination" or "Elam Ell fight until we establish our "hey were simply swept off their ther they nor the speakers had =ht of self-determination meant. e good enough. Now that the agress have united in a Liberation
23

Page 336
Front, they in their innocen wisdom of the two parties wou promised.
So they worked as a bod did most of the house-to-ho
Wherever Suyadchi Kazhaka. ches of University and Techni them hot on their heel, enter tell the voters, "Navaratnam TULF because he is against a for the Suyadchi Kazhakam.' respect for truth take a back-s youngsters are wilfully brai truth and carry on false propa propaganda, it is an unmistak
There was yet another line "What Navaratnam says is no individual do? A single tree others who were votaries of th our unity on the demand for a the TULF as a team.".
On election day at the Ger all the Tamilar Suyadchi Kazh including myself. The TULF w abundantly clear that the peo leadership. My warnings to th
went unheeded. My pleading the TULF was adopting the St a free and independent Tamil purpose of winning the electi ed in it or intended to work
This is not to say that the ing men and women, who wer image posture of the TULF. In including a substantial section
were able to withstand the pot and empty election promises, é counted for nothing in the fa took hold of the Tamil electo
Ihad faced electoral defeat

ce believed that the combined ald win for them what the leaders
y for a total TULF victory. They puse canvassing for the Front.
m workers went canvassing, batcal College students would follow every home that they leave, and is a traitor. He will not join our
separate Tamil state. Don't vote = It may be true that ethics and eat in election politics. But when nwashed and tutored to distort aganda, and electors fall for such cable symptom of a sick society. e of propaganda by older people: doubt true, but what can a single does not make a woods". Some Le unity slogan said; "Let us show a separate Tamil state by sending
neral Election in 1977, therefore, Lakam candidates were defeated, as given a massive victory. It was pple preferred to trust the TULF se country not to trust the TULF
with the Tamil electorate - that Iyadchi Kazhakam's platform of State only as a slogan for the sole on and not because they believfor it - was not believed. ce were not saner people, thinke able to see through the doubledeed, many thousands of voters, n in my own electorate of Kayts, Hver of wealth, platform rhetorics and to oppose the TULF. But they ace of the TULF hysteria which erates.
Es in the past, and am no stranger 824

Page 337
to the vicissitudes of public li hard to take, not so much beca because of the likelihood of t political course which Tiruche there was not a single voice to ly troubled by the prospect of fi ple and their territory. Howet people's verdict with the same infinitely greater man a centul "If the good people in their w in the background, I have bee ments to be very much chagr
From then on there was not to sit in the grandstand and wa the arena. One may not know dressing rooms, but the specta place from where one can hav of the game and of the shrewd the players resort to.
1977 saw a rejuvenated le both the Federal Party and t eliminated by death or other led by a comparatively young youths and the student commu tribution to the election victo generation. So that the onus movement had passed on to an the people had a right to expect and more dynamic and virile
It was a unique opportunit leadership. For the first time i an unparalleled show of unity country was solidly behind a ple have given an unequivoca Tamil state. They have endorse convening of the Tamil constit TULF election manifesto and TULF meant business this was
* Abraham Lincoln in a speach on March

e. But this defeat in 1977 was use of me personally, as it was le TULF taking the disastrous vam had started in 1965. Now hallenge them. I was immenseurther damage to the Tamil peoer, I re 'onciled myself to the resignation as that of another y and a half ago when he said; isdom shall see fit to keep me i too familiar with disappointned."* hing much one could do except itch the game as it is played in
what goes on backstage or in tors' gallery affords a vantage re a good view of the progress tactics and manoeuvres which
adership. The older leaders of he Tamil Congress had been Enise and the TULF was being ger generation of leaders. The nity which made the most conry belonged to a still younger of leading the Tamil resistance ew and younger leadership, and - the TULF to provide a stronger leadership. y for the TULF to provide that n more than half a century, in and solidarity, the entire Tamil single political party. The peo1 mandate for an independent d in no ambiguous manner the uent assembly promised in the from election platforms. If the the time to put it into practice.
9. 1832.
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Page 338
If it was a moment of oppo its testing time. The situatio possibilities for a party with a a people's struggle for a Tamil : gle with no involvement of vi ed if we permit ourselves to academic speculation. Of co day, but it would be rather inte have happened if the TULF
wisdom to convene the promi of the M. P.s of the Northern at the 1977 General Election t Singhalese constituent asser General Election? What wou tuent assembly drafted a cons state, pitted it against Sirimavo stitution of 1972, and proclai independent Tamil State?
To be sure, the TULF would issued for the rounding up and peaceful Tamil freedom fight earnest. Some leaders would h still be languishing in prison Africa. Others would have fl tion committees or councils i joined the ranks of similar orga
National Congress, the Palesti Irish Republican Army, etc.)
might even have made a succe status in the United Nations O ed to the P. L. O.
Those who may be incline to know that but for the illegi the Army and defence forces tuent assembly would have be that of the Tamil constituent tor of the population had an ir ly enacted but British-given C an autochthonous constitutio herent right to give themselv in the exercise of their inher

ortunity for the TULF it was also -n was pregnant with immense
commitment to launch and lead state -- a perfectly peaceful strugiolence at all. We may be excus
indulge here in an exercise of urse, it is of no consequence toresting nonetheless. What would
had the guts and the political ised Tamil constituent assembly a and Eastern Provinces elected o match Sirimavo Bandaranaike's mbly in the wake of the 1970 ld have happened if this constistitution for the Tamil homeland D Bandaranaike's republican conmed it as the constitution of the
a have been outlawed, and orders darrest of the Tamil leaders. The
would then have started in real Lave been arrested, and, perhaps, 3 like Nelson Mandela of South ed the country to set up liberan exile in foreign countries and nizations in exile like the African ine Liberation Organization, the The Tamil organization in exile !ssful attempt to obtain observer 'rganization like the one accord
ed to talk law may be interested itimate government's control of Sirimavo Bandaranaike's consti:en in no different position from assembly. If the Singhalese seciherent right to disown a lawfulonstitution and give themselves n, the Tamils had an equally ines a self-governing constitution ent right of self-determination. 26

Page 339
If Sirimavo Bandaranaike's rep claims to validity, so would har claimed by the Tamil constituent state. If the constitution of the T equally illegal is her republicar time of the constituent assen daranaike and her constitutiona legality and validity accrued to from the revolution they had o doubt the attempt and the obje says that their attempt succeede an end with their declaring a de The Tamil position is that it did n ed rebellion of 1971, J. R. Jayaw tion of yet another revamped another revolutionary change ir ing a presidential form of govern daranaike who started the revo Parliament and of her civic righ Tamil youths in 1983, the gove mob violence against the Tamil the mass killings and destructio revolutionists, these are all but in the ongoing continuation of still more significant is that that into a fullscale civil war. The res there is no legitimate governm there any legally valid institutio daranaike started her revolution ments accorded recognition Government and the success Jayawardene and have dealings
way or the other on their legitin illegitimate so long as the revolu which has escalated into a civil to an end until and unless the inc ed, and is recognized as such.
No doubt, these are legalis relevancy now, and they do no remind ourselves what a chance 'have been of use to hold up to credentials of the so-called govern
32

Iblican constitution had any e been the constitution proassembly for their homeland imils would have been illegal,
constitution of 1972. At the ibly exercise Sirimavo Banl affairs minister claimed that their iepublican constitution arried out. Precisely. It is no ct of the revolution. But who :d and the revolution came to Icument to be a constitution? ot. The Singhalese youth armardene's purported proclamaconstitution in 1978, making 1 the state system by introduc
ment, stripping Sirimavo Banllution of her membership in its, the armed uprising of the rnment instigated Singhalese Is in Black July-August 1983, n of property of the Tamils by different stages and incidents that same revolution. What is revolution has now developed sulting situation is that in law ent in Ceylon today, nor are ans of state since Sirimavo Ban. The fact that foreign governto Srimavo Bandaranaike's or government under J. R. with them has no bearing one nacy. They will continue to be tion lasts. And that revolution war is not likely ever to come Lependent Tamil State is found
cic arguments which have no t take us anywhere except to the TULF missed. They would international judgement the ments of Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Page 340
and J. R. Jayawardene when t
"seperatists". They would har to be champions of democracy
In the ultimate reckoning S. A. de Smith concluded, m
This principle of might be ty we see when we look arou be claimed to be in keeping v and fairplay which are supp distinguishing characteristics denied to a people might ge
It is this challenge that i African National Congress un President P. W. Botha's gover ple in South Africa, in the f Organisation under Yasser A the unwanted peoples of Euro permanent inhabitants of Pa Republican Army in exile ag clinging on to a bit of Ireland piece of land on a shrinkin organization in exile had bee struggle to fight the Singhale would have joined this brave the problem of the Tamils of to all these other unresolve bedevil international politics these problems are going to be cases the challengers are an resilience to survive the vicis: would have willingly waited
All these great possibiliti when the Tamilar Suyadchi K the general election to discus the Kazhakam was rebuffe manifesto promised the plai would have led to a realizatio it not pursued?
Had they been true to thei ly honoured their promises a

hey talked about "terrorists" and ve helped to debunk their claims y and upholders of the rule of law. f the bottom line is, as Professor ight becomes the law.
coming law may reflect the realind in the world. But it can hardly vith the equality, liberty, justice, Dosed to be the most cherished sin a democracy. When these are nerates challenges. we see today in the fight of the ider Oliver Tambo in exile against 'nment by a white minority peoight of the Palestine Liberation cafat in exile against Israel where ppe were dumped driving out the lestine, in the fight of the Irish gainst England which persists in as if that bit is the last remaining ng planet. If a Tamil liberation en set up as part of the TULF-led ese government in Ceylon, they and distinguished company, and
Ceylon would have been added ed problems which continue to s and world peace. Some day all e solved, for in every one of these cient peoples who have had the situdes of history. And the Tamils for that day. es were inherent in the proposal azhakam invited the TULF before s a joint plan of action. Although d, at least the TULF election a for a course of action which n of these possibilities. Why was
ir election manifesto and faithfulnd pledges,there is every reason 328

Page 341
to think that the Tamil Youths ar ed to anger and resort to arms. W to war. We need not have saCr. Tamil lives, or suffered colossal ing question why they ignored t mised in the manifesto once th the largest single party after th and why they chose instead to p will always remain unanswered terpretations. We need not go i
At the general election the SI which had made the Country are stitution, was trounced to third J. R. Jayawardene who led the Minister, an office he had been p A. Amirthalingam who led the unexpected position of the S. legislature was elected to the p. the Opposition.
In the euphoria and celebrat ly follow election victories, developments passed unnoticed appeared to be unconcerned. signs of having realized the On Parliamentary office. Even so sc matters like Professor A. Jayara ty of New Brunswick, Canada, w shortly afterwards, would not a out to him the incongruity and Constitutional Office Of Leader C role which the TULF had taken ed the people. It was a Clear por but very few people were prep.
And then when the euphoriz to recede, and after a friendly lo Napoleon Bonaparte and Nels Prime Minister and the Leader C talks. They called it Singhalese. at these early meetings that t ground for the all too familiar str have more than half a century c
32

a not likely to have been rouse need not have had recourse ficed thousands of innocent loss of property. The intriguhe program so explicitly pro2 election results made them e ruling party in Parliament, ursue a totally different path, and open to all manner of innto them here.
LFP of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, public and givenita new Conplace in the new legislature. JNP to victory became Prime atiently waiting for all his life.
TULF to victory and to the econd largest party in the restigious office of Leader of
ions and fanfare which usual
the implications of these . The Tamil people in general The Tamil youths showed no ninous significance of taking und a judge Of COnstitutional tnam VVilson of the Universitho happened to be in Ceylon gree with me when I pointed inconsistency of holding the f the Opposition vis-a-vis the upon itself to play and promistent of things to come, which ared to admit.
and fanfare of victory began ng-distance repartee in which on figured prominently, the if the Opposition sat down for amil dialogue. It was perhaps he two leaders prepared the ategy of parleying. The Tamils f intimate experience with it.

Page 342
Whenever Tamil polit Singhalese governments,"ta they used to sober. down a leadership. Likewise on the straw which Tamil leadersh political inanity and bankruj lulled into a mood of expecta danger of trouble fizzles ou weapon to blunt the momen
The eagerness with whic down for talks with the Prim were in no mood to listen to all the past history of Tamil-S ist. Else they could not have the lessons from that history than half a century. That me been repeated over and over i ment was made and then rep ting from Sir Ponnampalam Ceylon National Congress, Pact, then Sir Ponnampalam trust the Singhalese leaders went into the making and Chelvanayakam Pact an Chelvanayakam Pact, to my line of Pacts and their repudi trust the Singhalese leaders a of a free and independent Ta for the Tamils, down to Chel would have no more Pacts. In ning, and with the ruling U
Minister J. R. Jayawardenet behind the repudiation an Chelvanayakam and Dudley and who were always again rights to the Tamil, it is unin the Tamil people with any sir of responsibility would want set by the very same people
No rational explanation promises are ignored or bypa

ics threatened the peace of ks" have always been the hotline vocally sword-brandishing Tamil Tamil side "talks" have been the ips clutched at to cover up their ptcy. When talks go on people are ncy and hope, and the immediate i. It is an effective psychological atum of brewing trouble. Eh the TULF leaders rushed to sit e Minister made it clear that they - the counsel of history. To them Singhalese politics just did not exfailed to hear the message which u imparted over a period of more ssage was loud and clear, and had again every time some rapproachpudiated by the Singhalese - star
Arunachalam's ouster from the the disowning of the Mahendra Ramanathan's warning never to through all the exercise which breaking of the Bandaranaiked the Dudley Senanayake. recounting the history of a long .ation and my call never again to .nd to work for the establishment
mil State as the only alternative vanayakam's declaration that he the face of all this record of warnited National Party and Prime being the very people who were 1 failure of the BandaranaikeSenanyake-Chelvanayakam Pacts st parting with any meaningful naginable that any leadership of Icerity of purpose and any sense to walk into the trap of parleying
·
ould be thought of why election Ssed in parliamentary politics or. 330

Page 343
why leaders go through the sam pacts despite negative experien to explain such situations that tl the Sower and of the Seed tead there are people who are to be ground upon which some s
message(seeds) and receive it gli into them, they believe only for testing comes they fall away - 0
which some of the seeds fell -- th cares of this world and the deceit of other things entering in, chol unfruitful". (Mark,4:19)
And so, the "talks" went on the new 1978 constitution was b J. R. Jayawardene was elected Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on exercise.
Talks about what? Nobody k kept a closely guarded secret d not even the Tamil people were ly after the presidential ele Jayawardene announced a prop an all-party parliamentary comm surprise of many political obser about its enthusiasm for the Pre correspondent reported to his p "The Opposition Leader and '
A. Amirthalingam, is said to for an all-party committee as but added that it was for the TULF to decide on the matte "Will the TULF collaborate in a the leadership of J. R. Jayawa being debated in political ci leadership's indirect support tial election campaign in noti him or campaigning again. negotiation it has had with campaign, lend credence to t.
331

ne old motions of negotiating ce and warnings. Perhaps it is he New Testament Parable of ches us that among mankind e likened either to the stony eeds fell - they hear the adly, but it does not sink deep
a while, but when the time of r to the thorn bushes among aey hear the message but "the Efulness of riches and the lusts ke the word, and it becometh
ceaselessly during all the time
eing forged and enacted, and President of the Democratic October 20, 1982-a five-year
nows, because the talks were uring all the five long years, taken into confidence. Shortection, however, President psal to set up what was called mittee for national unity. To the vers the TULF made no bones esident's proposal. A political paper in London:
TULF General Secretary, Mr. have described the proposal one worthy of consideration, e Working Committee of the er. a 'national government' under ardene?is the question that is
cles in Sri Lanka. The TULF to J. R. during the Presidenputting up a candidate against st him, and the protracted the government prior to the he speculation that the TULF,

Page 344
at least at leadership lev national government wit
At last the cat was out o I had feared and repeatedly had worked for the election tantly looking forward to th Tamil State being carried o nothing of the kind. Instead, negotiations with J. R. Jayawa government' - a la Tiruchel follow Tiruchelvam's examp history and past experience
This could not have fail Tamil youth circles. Realizati the first time that the leaders at one time and who had roi from platforms have indeed u shoulders. They had refused better experience told them themselves personally lived deceit, it must have delivere this disillusionment and frus cians and the lack of faith n methods of political action them to take up arms and to a freedom struggle themselve
The armed struggle really the youths are reported to h convoy in Jaffna, but they w themselves as early as 198 sporadic incidents in which a have early intelligence abou negotiations and of any pos the Prime Minister to suppo presidential form of govern the office of president and th government? Possibly they h of the Tamil Times had suf report quoted above, it is cert
* TAMIL, TIMES London January 1983

el, might view the proposal for a :h favour." * f the bag. This is precisely what warned against. While those who victory of the TULF were expecceir mandate for an independent it, the TULF leaders were doing they had been carrying on secret ardene to participate in a 'national ivam. Evidently they decided to le in preference to the lessons of
ed to cause consternation in the on must have dawned on them for
whom they had hero-worshipped ised them with stirring speeches .sed them to ride to power on their to listen when someone else with not to trust. Now that they have through the bitter experience of da rude shock. It is possible that tration with parliamentary politiatural to youth in the traditional which have proved useless drove assume the leadership of the Tamil
- surfaced only in July 1983 when ave attacked a government army Fould appear to have been arming -2 or even 1981, for there were rms were involved. Did they, then, at the nature of the TULF's secret sible deal or understanding with rt J. R. Jayawardene's plans for a ment as well as his candidature for
en for the TULF to join a national Lad. If the political correspondent ficient information to make his ain that the Tamil youths had, too.
· page 1.
332

Page 345
Moreover, a few weeks befo in what turned out to be a self-i 1982, the late Dr. S. Rajasundar, the Welikade Jail massacre the by his co-worker S. A. David oft meat my home in Jaffna and CO one of the top militant youth le out and Organize the people aga of full and united support from body. It showed what an about-f ing all the while the TULF was ca with the government. It was the Tamil youths have begun to act take up in real earnest the call earlier in 1968 to work and str State. I appreciated the assuranc and I welcomed it, but unfortun Had this support been given to my mind that events and history Course. However, that is typicall character, Tamils have always tunities and then become Wise unfortunate history.
Despite these early signs of d and the youths getting restive, from the path of negotiating wi pursued their "talks" with a det prising. Perhaps they were enc beginnings of the militant move fortunate confusion, the youths groups, some of which apparen They were so desperately addic Would not disengage themselv 'national government' even wh five years for which they were e J. R. Jayawardene had legislation sitting in Parliament except on Government's armed forces tur occupied territory and the Tamil were subjected to the killings a August 1983.
33

re I left Ceylon to live abroad mposed exile, in the spring of ann, who was done to death in following year, accompanied he Gandhi Ashram, called on nveyed a message to me from aders. It was to ask me to get inst the TULF and assuring me the entire youth and student ace the youths have been takarrying on secret negotiations first indication to me that the cept my views and decided to ll I had made fourteen years ive for an independent Tamil ce of Support now being made ately it was five years too late. me in 1977 have no doubt in I would have taken a different y in keeping with our national been prone to let slip opporwhen it is too late. That is our
isen Chantment with the TULF its leaders were not deflected th the government. They still termination that is rather Sur'ouraged by the fact that the ement were marked by an uns being splintered into several tly supporting the TULF still. cted to negotiations that they "es nor stop talking about a en the parliamentary term of alected expired, or even when passed prohibiting them from conditions, or even when the ned the Tamil Provinces into is in Colombo and its environs nd violence of the Black July

Page 346
It was not until they saw si of the militant movement have TULF realized they have lost t youth. Then they made belate In a surprisingly naive but s after the September 30, 1984 ference in Colombo the TUL "From our mandate for an i Union of States. The Presi cils. Though it may not ful Tamil people, we were will ple subject to the unit being sisting of the Northern devolved legislative and e listed subjects, including t. and order in the Region, the and economic developme policy. "The present proposals are
Councils as the unit and ordination and collaborati ty. There is no provision t ecutive power to this co indication that this unit members of this unit are n people. The attempt to 1: chamber is only calculat devolution........ "I must also refer to the d Tamils and settling Singh Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and
But the youths were not ta have surely seen in it an ill famous words:
"Oh, what a tangled web w
when first we practise to The statement is woven in the a thirty-year old long-forgot relating to regional autonom
.

gnals that the dominant groups e turned hostile to them that the ne loyalty and confidence of the d attempts to mollify the youth. anctimonious statement issued -, meeting of the all-party con
F said, among other things,: ndependent State, we agreed to dent suggested Regional CounLly satisfy the aspirations of the ing to recommend it to our peog the Tamil linguistic region conand Eastern Provinces, with xecutive powers over specified he maintenance of internal law e administration of justice, social ent, cultural matters and land
based on District Development - only permit inter-district coon in defined spheres of activio devolve any legislative or ex-ordinating unit. There is no
will be a legal person. The ot to be directly elected by the ink devolution to the second ed to defeat the objective of
eliberate policy of driving out alese that is being pursued in Trincomalee".
ken in, fortunately. They must ustration of Sir Walter Scott's
e weave leceive". web of a jargon that resurrected ten and long-buried exercise y and the old Federal Party's
34

Page 347
persistent Opposition to Singhale traditional homeland. Apparent young generation which the TUI norant of that exercise, or of the Development Councils over whi or of its role in the Creation of t constituency of Seruwawila in the Condoning state-aided Singhales motivated division of Vavuniya torates of Mullaitivu and Vavril Singhalese Colonization. Its hypO does not seem to have fooled the tant movement who are far bet liking.
The destiny of a nation is so earth can deflect from its inexora Some people in their vanity imagi ting they could manipulate event If history has any lessons to tea them by the wayside and rolls on may be rugged and rough, there may be snakes under the grass ir never be arrested.
The Tamil nation in Ceylon prehistoric times. It has experien tunes, it has survived many a Cr preserved its distinct identity and cumstances and European Col foreign occupation for over thre had resumed its onward march. I destiny of this nation is to rise a and sovereign State, and that it v distant future.
It is a sign of this destiny that the leadership of the people re. taken charge of the freedom str movement fighting a civil war. gathering momentum, and the strength to strength. It is a happ Tamil race in Ceylon that the T solidly and firmly behind this l
335

e Colonization of the Tamils' y it was intended to dazzle a F wishfully assumed to be igULF's acceptance of District ch. TULF chairmen presided, ie Singhalese parliamentary middle of Tamil Trincomalee 2 colonization, or of its own into the two weakened elecuniya making it easier for crisy is so transparent that it youthful leaders of the militer informed of the TULF's
mething which no power on ble direction and destination. ne that by scheming and plots to suit particular ambitions, ch, it is that destiny throws in its onward march. Its path may be many pitfalls, there its path, but its advance can
has been in existence from ced ups and downs in its forisis, but through it all it has individuality. Fortuitous cironialism made it go under e hundred years. But today it et there be no doubt that the gain as a free, independent, rill be a reality in the not too
the Tamil youths have seized ecting the TULF. They have uggle and made it a militant Their Conduct of the war is movement is growing from augury for the future of the amil people in general stand eadership.

Page 348
Armed warfare is a novel Their fathers, and their fathe never seen let alone handle have traditionally been a pe provoked violence has never their manhood. What then, m
The reason is not far to see ments have been mullishly ir violent methods of political a the British liberal type of civi method of Campaigning for p possession of an Army is all t ment. The Jayawardene Gove: tle. It Setup Violent mobsand the Tamil population and dest ed the Tamil ProvinCes intO forces invaded schools and m their classrooms, thus forcing books and schools and univer ment in their thOuSands. Chile to have defied even their pare peoples in the World, simila react? No wonder, then, the T language which oppressors language of the gun.
Two hundred years ago, a tion, Thomas Paine in a forth Wrote:
"...the strength of governm Within itself, but in the att terest which the people fe lost, government is but a the old government of Fral a while, it but facilitates i
It is the misfortune of Ceylont been just what Paine said the Sonal power, and never the we people, has always been, and st ments. Witness the Singhales
* Thomas Paine in RIGHTS OF MAN, Pe
3

experience for the Tamil People. er's fathers for generations, had d, a gun. The Tamils by nature aceloving people to whom unbeen a characteristic display of hade the youngsters take to arms?
ek. Successive Singhalese governnpervious to peaceful and nongitation. They never understood lized reaction to the Satyagraha eople's rights. They believe that hat matters in the art of gOvernrnment's Contribution is not a litgoondas to Commit genocide of ruction of Tamil property. It turnan occupied Country. Its armed Olested and harassed children in boys and girls to abandon their Sities and join the militant movedren in their teens would appear hts to take up arms. How do other rly oppressed and tyrannized, amil youths resorted to the only and tyrants understand - the
t the time of the French Revoluright defence of the Revolution
ent does not Consist in anything achment of a nation, and the inel in supporting it. When this is child in power; and though, like nce, it may harass individuals for ts own fall."
hat its governments have always y should not be. Pursuit of perell-being and Contentment of the illis, the driving force of governa youth rebellion in 1971 which
'lican Books, England, 1976 p. 210.
36

Page 349
proclaimed in no uncertain mar porting the government. And anti-Tamil misrule, what reasons interest in Supporting Singhale
The Singhalese gOvernmen uprising and withdrawal of Sup tional Observers, however, see i nist in Canada put it, "a battle" of terrorists attacking police po with army patrols. "The civil wrote: "New Civil Wars show longevity got under way in Sri L calls it an uprising of an Oppre tinuation of a revolution, or a Civ War of Independence. It is a W. been driven to the necessity C liberate their homeland from Si tinue to be waged no matter ho dependence.
Having resolved to be free, a to revive the former independe was lost to the European Colon of preserving and perpetuating ships of the Tamil people, whet youths who are Conducting the those who may succeed them in is of paramount importance. It dependence without flinching, fa obstacles may have to be enco
A note of warning Will be mc It has become a fashion in the are in power, and therefore in liberty, to advise others who a regaining of freedom and libert differences by dialogue and net power it never occurs to them t had to carry on a fight for thei to time in the Course of the si
* THE TORONTO STAR, Canada, Januar ** THE GAZETTE, Montreal, December 27,
33

liner its lack of interest in supnow, after almost 40 years of do the Tamils have to feel any se governments?
t insists on calling the Tamil port as "terrorism". Internain iul, as one newspaper columno longer between a handful sts and engaging in shootouts war label applies". Another ing considerable promise of anka and ... " ** Whether One ssed people, a rebellion, Convil war, it is in reality the Tamil ar that the Tamil people have lf having to wage in Order to nghalese rule, and it will Conow long it takes to achieve in
and formed the determination nt sovereign statehood which ial powers as the Only means their distinct identity, leaderher it be the present militant Tamil War of Independence or the future, have a duty which is to carry on the War of Inaltering, or wavering, whatever untered in the course of it.
ost appropriate in this Context. modern WOrld for those who enjoyment of the benefits of re struggling and fighting for y to stop fighting and to settle gotiation. Because they are in hat they too at One time have r Own freedom, So, from time Iruggle Tamil leaderships are
27, 1985.
1984.
7

Page 350
likely to be subjected to treme foes alike, both domestic and i and settle by negotiation. The of will to resist any such atte It is hard to imagine what the about. Have not the Tamils t aginable solution? Have they i mula for co-existence which concern for the political unity are not needed any more, for t is not something for the Singh negotiating table.
Far too many innocent live altar of Singhalese ambition fo too great is the flood of Tamil and widows and orphaned ch number of Tamils who have t and hearths to roam and wan country to country in search is now idle to talk of fede autonomy, regional councils, d cond chamber, and such-like a become irrelevant.
Seventy-five years of fruitl about every one of these devic tain manner the farsighted Ramanathan's prophetic ac Singhalese leaders". With pol: purse-strings firmly in the ha no makeshift device could ever has not yet devised any machin that power will not be used ag ny and oppression, and even g ly on assurances of third coun and friendly they may be. And be foolish enough to come fo behaviour of Singhalese gove
Yet another danger is the te has been said before to show of office, the thirst to become of the Opposition, or a Speake

ndous pressure from friends and International, to sit down to talks leaders must have the strength mpts with the utmost firmness. ere remains to talk or negotiate alked enough about every imnot agreed to every possible foraccommodated the Singhalese of the island country? Now talks he sovereign State of Tamil Elam alese government to give at the
es have been slaughtered at the or dominion over the Tamils, far tears shed by grieving mothers ildren, far too numerous is the been driven out of their homes der throughout the world from of asylum to cling to life, that it eralism, devolution of power, istrict development councils, seabsurdities. All these have now
ess discussions and agreements ces have vindicated in no uncer
wisdom of Sir Ponnampalam Imonition "Never trust the itical power and control of the nds of Jayawardenepura Kotte, be a solution. Human ingenuity .ery which could make sure that ain to repeat Singhalese tyranenocide. Nor can the Tamils retries, however well-intentioned
no country in the world would rward to underwrite the good rnments.
mptation of high office. Enough that it is this curse of the lure a Cabinet Minister, or a Leader r, or other office or position of
38

Page 351
power, which has been the ba ruinous to the Tamil people. C leadership of the youths falling are, of course, very remote anc beyond the cunning and ingen make attempts to exploit this we leaderships.
The survival of the Tamil therefore, that every Tamil lead always make it absolutely clea halfway devices, no offices un would ever be acceptable, and sovereign State of Tamil Elam is
CulmStan Ces.
INDE
Adanka Pattu, 321
Adiapatham, 200
Adigar Keppitipola, 343
Africa, 251
African National Congress, 326,
328
Alakeswara, 27
Alampil, 118
Alexander A V, 195
Ali Aruna Asaf, 195
Allai Kullam, 76
All Ceylon Tamil Congress, 78, 84, 89, 91, 228, 230, 232, 237, 268, 271, 311, 314, 315, 317, 325
Amirthalingam A, 63, 79, 89, 104,
108, 132, 147, 161, 221, 306, 316, 319, 329, 331
Anarchy, 189
Angles, 2
Anuradhapura, 23, 27, 239
Anytus, 3
Arappor Munnani, 116
Arasanga Eluthuvinaignar Sankam,
AES, 198, 200, 201
Arianayakam, 116 B
Army Cantonment, 180
Arulampalam C, 89
Arunachalam, 89
Arunachalam Sir Ponnampalam,
109, 198, 277

ne of every leadership and 'hances of the present new prey to any such temptation unimaginable, but it is not lity of Singhalese leaders to all-proven weakness of Tamil
race in Ceylon demands, 2rship, present or future, will r that no "settlements", no der Singhalese governments | that the independent and not negotiable under any cir
d
Aryans, 7, 23 Asirvatham A R, 198 Asoka, 23 Attlee, Clement, 185 Attenborough Sir Richard, 192 Australia, 66, 71 vissawela, 111 Azad Moulana Abul Kalam, 195 Aziz Abdul, 215, 221, 226 C Pact, ii, 144, 155, 156, 161, 176,
218, 223, 224, 229, 233,238, 279 alasubramaniam R, 145, 200 alasundaram M, 175 ambalapitiya, 105 andaranaike Felix Dias, 130, 206,
218, 316 andaranaike Maha Mudaliyar Sir,
andaranaike SD, 133, 270
andaranaike Sirimavo, 9, 10, 130, 155, 161, 181, 189, 206, 223, 247, 279, 290, 291, 298, 301, 320, 323, 326, 327, 329
andaranalike S. W. R. D., ii, 35, 38,
65, 69, 78, 92,93, 101, 104, 125, 130, 133, 135, 136, 140, 143, 145, 149, 151, 152, 157, 199, 210, 217, 224, 234, 238, 248, 251, 279, 299

Page 352
Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact,
131, 330 Basnayake Justice, 45 Basques, 22 Batticaloa, 67, 74, 76, 80, 86, 99,
139, 146 BBC, 50 Ben Gurion, 234 Beschi Father, 21 Bhasma Asura, 297, 298 Bihar, 23, 111 Bose Subhas Chandra, 194 Boycott, 231 Brahui, 22 Britain, 5, 11, 12 British Commonwealth, 185 British Labour Movement, 213 Buckingham Palace, 40 Buddhism, 23 Burghers, 9, 42, 66 Burma, 5, 30 Caldwell Bishop Robert, 21 Canada, ii, 2, 64, 67, 71, 193, 334 Canagarayer T, 57 Ceylon Army, 178 Ceylon Citizenship Act, 17, 47, 56,
158, 248 Ceylon Civil Service, 171 Ceylon Daily News, 179 Ceylon Government Railway, 69 Ceylon Indian Congress, 58 Ceylon Law College, 63 Ceylon National Congress, 13, 93,
198, 277, 278, 330 Ceylon Parliamentary Elections
Order in Council Ammendment
Act, 56, 248 Ceylon Transport Board, 69 Ceylon Workers Congress, 60, 214,
258, Chamberlain Neville, 136, 227 Chauvin Nicholas, 3 Chelvanakayam SJ V, 35, 39, 40,
42, 48, 55, 56, 62, 63, 88, 89, 93 94, 102, 104, 115, 123, 124, 125, 129, 131, 137, 140, 154, 202, 215, 227, 231, 266, 311, 312, 314,
316 Choksy, 125 Churchill Winston, 185, 195 Civil Disobedience, 175 Cockburn Alexander, 193 Colebrook, 28, 289, 294 Colombo Fort, 106 Conservative Party, 236 Constituent Assembly, 269, 300,
304 Constitution, 8, 56, 188, 201, 204,

206, 207, 250, 286, 291, 293, 294,
295, 296, 300, 301, 304, 310, 326 Coomaraswamy Sir Ananda Kentish,
109
Cripps Sir Stafford, 195 Cronin A J, 213 Culavamsa, 25, 136, 184, 185
CWC, 181, 312 Cyprus, 5 Czechoslovakia, 191 Dandi March, 114 David SA, 333 Delimitation Commission, 81, 82,
83, 85 Desai Morarji, 111, 312 Dharmalingam V, 320 Dias N Q, 193, 194 Dissanaike Gamini, 191 District Councils, 262, 276, 280 District Court, 203 District Development Councils, 334 Dominion, 10, 278 Donoughmore Constitution, 13, 31 Dounghmore Commission's Report,
14, 281 Dravidians, 6, 22 DS-C Pact, ii, 233, 238, 241, 245,
261, 264, 267, 268, 274, 277,
280, 284, 307 Duval, 22 Dudley Senanayake-Chelvanayakam
Pact, 330 Duraiappah Alfred T, 171 Durairajah Ts, 172 Duttugemunu, 25, 239 Dyer General Harry, 193 Egyptians, 22 Ellala Singhan, 239 England, 38 European Russia, 2 Fareed Sir Pazik, 158 Federal Party, ii, 78, 83, 89, 90, 95,
96, 97, 102, 105, 114, 126, 137, 139, 141, 146, 152, 154, 155, 156, 160, 164, 169, 171, 179, 183, 189, 192, 214, 215, 218, 220, 224, 225, 226, 227, 230, 235, 237, 242, 246, 249, 264, 267, 270, 273, 283, 284, 286, 289, 304, 305, 306, 307, 311,
312, 314, 315, 318, 319 Fernando Terrence, 148, 149 Fiji, 30, 251 Finance Act, 159, 186 Gajabahu, 24, 74 Galle Face Green, 106, 111, 113, 229 Galle Face Hotel, 98, 108 Gal Oya, 75, 76

Page 353
Gampola. 27 Gandhi Ashram, 333 Gandhi Indira, 71, 259, 313 Gandhi Mahatma, 33, 115, 185, 191, | 192, 194, 195, 196, 251
Gantalawa, 76 GCSU, 198, 199, 200, 201, 207, 208 General Election, ii, 159, 209, 220,
234, 298, 308, 322 Germany, 40 Gibraltar, 22 Gladstone, 115 Goonasinghe A E,13, 109
Goonetilleke Sir Oliver, 115, 145 .Goonewardene Leslie & Kusuma,
210 Government Clerical Servants
Union, 63, 197 Grandpass, 145 Greece, 3 Gunawardene Phillip, 105, 111, 129,
131, 210 Gunawardane Teja, 125 Hadorn Urs, 272 Hamid S A, 159 Hess Pete, 272 Hindu The, 254 Hitler Adolf, 136, 191, 192 Horowapotana, 117 House of Representatives, 11 Hulftsdorp, 63, 144, 145 Identity Cards, 264, 270, 271 Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi,, 55, 63 Ilangaratne T B, 198 Indian Muslim League, 38 Indian National Congress, 38, 58 Indian National Movement, 115 Indian and Pakistani Residents
Citizenship Act, 48, 60, 248 Indo-Ceylon Agreement, 254, 256,
260, 263 Inginiyagala, 76 Irish Republican Army, 328 Israel, 69 Italians, 22 Jaffnapatnam, 73 Jaffna Public Library, ii Jaffna Youth Congress, 318 Jallianwalla Bagh, 193 Jayaprakash Narain, 111, 195, 313 Jayatilleke Sir Baron, 109 Jayawardene JR, 9, 41, 92, 94, 133,
188, 223, 224, 225, 229, 258, 272, 280, 298, 301, 308, 309, 310, 314, 316, 327, 328, 329,
331, 332 Jayawardenepura Kotte, 27 Jennings Sir Ivor, 15, 16, 50

Jesus Christ, 196 Jewish State, 234 Jinnah Mohamed Ali, 282 Judicial Service Commission, 292 Jutes, 2 Kalkudah, 86 Kalugale PB G, 217 Kanagaratnam K, 89 Kanagasooriam Muhandiram, 120 Kanagendran M K, 222 Kanchipuram, 24 Kandiah V A, 104, 125, 146, 150,
153, 158, 169, 177 Kandy, 28, 74, 75, 321 Kandyan Singhalese, 14 Kankesanthurai, 69, 70, 89, 98, 104,
105, 116, 117, 282 Kannada, 22, 26 Kantalai, 73, 76 Karens, 5 Kariappar Mudaliyar M M, 104 Kathiravelupillai S, 106, 170, 316 Kathirgamar SN, 90 Kattabhomman Veerapandya, 321 Katznelson Berl, 234 Kautilya, 2 Kayts, 89, 101, 158, 222, 267, 282,
316 Kegalle, 57 Kilinochchi, 86 Kodakanpillai, 56, 57 Kodeeswaran Chelliais, 78, 200,
203, 205, 207, 208 Komathy Vanniasingham, 154 Kopay, 89, 152 Kotelawala Sir John, 26, 41, 88, 91,
93, 251 Kotte Kingdom, 27, 28 Kulamani, 243, 284 Kulasingham A V, 45 Kumaraswamy V, 42, 55, 90, 95,
103, 202 Kumar Ponnampalam, 271, 272,
315 Kuttimani, 321, 322 Labour Party, 212, 236 Lafayette, 2 Lake House, 218 Language of the Courts Act, 186 Lankapura General Dandanayaka,
26 Lanka Sama Samaja Party, 105, 210 Layton Admiral, 33 Legislative Council, 13, 14 Liberal Party, 236 Lincoln Abraham, 2 Listener, 50 Liyanage, 205, 294

Page 354
Lord Linlithgow, 195 Lord Louis Mountbatten, 33, 185 Lord Pethick Lawrence, 195 Lord Soulbury, 10, 15, 16, 33, 41,
43, 202 Lord Wavell, 33, 195 Low Country Sinhalese, 14 LSSP, 211, 213, 214 Lycon, 3 MacEachen Allan, 67, 86 Machiavelli, 2 Maduru Oya, 75, 86 Mahadeva Arunachalam, 34, 35,
40 Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, 105
151 Mahanama, 25 Maharagama, 180 Maha Uttaman, 319 Mahavamsa, 25, 32, 136, 184, 23
273 Mahaveli Developinment Board, 6 MahaveliGanga, 75, 86 Mahendra Pact, 278, 330 Malay, 9, 42 Malayalam, 22 Malaysia, 30, 71, 181 Malakam, 105, Manickam M, 255 Manikkavacakar Saint, 267 Manipur, 194 Mannar, 169 Mannar Bar, 103 Manoharan, 107 Maradana, 63, 144 Mark 4:19, 331 Mauritius, 30, 181 Mendis GC, 27 Mediterranean, 6, 22 Molamure A F, 38 Moneragala, 259 Montreal, 22, 186, 193 Moral Re-Armament Congress, 1 Motha George R, 58, 59 Mount Lavinia, 148 Mudannayake, 57 Mullaitivu, 83, 84, 321, 334, 335 Munich, 136 Murugupilai, 168, 174 Mustapha M M, 104, 105, 122 Muthaiyan Kaddu Kulam, 77 Muthukumaraswamy T 320 Muthunayagam Britto, 127 Muthusamy Thevar, 144 Mutur, 81, 82, 83, 84 Nadarajah A C, 128 Nadarajah K V, 56 Nadarajah S, 105, 118, 122, 176

Nadesan S, 57 Nagalingam C, 98 Naganathan E M V, 39, 42, 55, 63,
89, 102, 104, 125, 145, 153, 169, 222, 224 Nagarajah S, 306 Nallathamby MC, 198 Nalliah G, 147 Napoleon Bonaparte, 329 Natesa Iyer, 58, 59 Natesapilai S, 35, 38, 39, 40, 41, 89,
94, 102, 104, 202 National Assembly, 300, 301, 308 National Government, 210, 236 Navarangahala, 300, 301, 305 Navaratnam T. 132 Navaratnam V, 316, 324 Navaratnam V N, 90, 103, 108, 132,
147, 169, 178,217 Navaratnarajah P. 124, 125, 128,
129, 234 Nawalapitiya, 49 Neela Panikkan Kulam, 119 Neela Panikkan Malai, 1 19 Nehru Pandit Jawaharlal, 58, 195,
250 Nelliah H, 58, 59 Nelson, 329 New Brunswick, 127, 329 New Delhi, 250, 256 New Testament, 331 New Zealand, 71 Nilaveli, 121 Nintavur, 81 Nithiyanantha KC, 198 Normans, 2 Official Language Act, 112, 201,
202, 203, 244, 295 Official Language, 275 Official Language Bill, 105, 108 Oliver Goonetilleke, 41 Oliver Tambo, 328 Padaviya, 77, 121 Paduvil Kulam, 77, 121 Paine Thomas, 336 Pakistan, 185 Palestine, 234 Palestine Liberation Organization,
326, 328 Panagoda, 180, 214 Pandara Vannian, 290, 321 Parakramabahu, 24, 25, 26, 74 Paramanathan, 164 Paramanayagam V K Dr, 55 Passara, 259 Pathmanathan, 243, 284 Pattinappalai, 75 Pattipalai Aru, 75, 82

Page 355
Peiris M VP Dr, 222 Pereira FX, 58, 59 Perera A A, 117, 121 Perera Captain, 182 Perera N M, 126, 148, 199, 210, 211,
226 Peri Sundaram, 58, 59 Perinpanayagam Handy, 39 Periyavar, 228 Point Pedro, 200, 322 Polonnaruva, 24, 25, 27, 73 Ponnampalam G G, 34, 35, 36, 38.
40, 42, 48, 52, 53, 54, 77, 89, 91, 95, 96, 99, 102, 104, 133, 137, 202, 220, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 265, 268, 272, 311, 312,
314, 315 Pope Rev GU, 21 Port Cargo Corporation, 79, 80, Portugese, 74 Premadasa R, 188 Privy Council, 58, 60, 201, 202,
|203, 205, 290, 293, 294, 297 Pyreness, 5 Quebec, 5 Rajadurai C, 104, 105, 116, 147, 153 Rajagopalachari C, 195 Rajalingam, 56, 60 Rajasundaram S Dr, 333 Rajavarothiam NR, 90, 91, 96, 105,
116, 122, 125, 147, 153 Rajendra Prasad, 195 Ramanathan College, 13 Ramanathan Sir Ponnampalam, 13,
109, 278, 281, 338 Ramanujam, 56, 60 Ranasinghe vs Bribery
Commissioner, 209, 294, 297 Rasamanickam S M, 95, 222, 281 Reagan Ronald, 192 Regional Council, 128 Renganathan Q C, 204 Rose Sir Allan, 57 Royal College, 68 Sabaratnam T M, 120 Salt Satyagraha, 114 Samarakkody Edmund, 147, 148,
149, 210 Sandberg Carl, 86 Saraswathy Hall, 68 Saravanamuttu Manikkam, 181 Saxons, 2 Scott Sir Walter, 334 Sellathambu X M, 120 Selvanayagam Rajan, 171 Senanayake DS, 15, 17, 33, 34, 38.
39, 40, 41, 43, 46, 49, 52, 53, 54, 75, 76, 77, 78, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 101, 109, 110, 126, 229, 231, 232, 251, 279

Senanayake Dudley, 41, 78, 89, 91,
94, 110, 111, 155, 199, 210, 223, 224, 225, 227, 228, 229, 237,
249, 252, 280 Senanayake F R, 109 Senanayake R G, 121 Senanayake Samudra, 76 Seruwawila, 84, 85, 86, 117, 121,
335 Shastri Lal Bahadur, 250, 251 Siddharthan D, 320 Silva Colvin R de, 189, 218, 300, | 302, 307 Silva CP de, 75, 77, 130, 210, 217,
218, 219 Silva L M de, 80 Silva William de, 105, 210 Silva William W H, 129 Singapore, 71, 194 Singha Regiment, 180 Singhala Maha Sabha, 93 Singhala Only Official Language
Act, 112, 133, 197, 241, 281 Singhala SRI, 135 Singhalisization, 78, 187, 242 Sinnadurai S, 171, 176 Sinnathamby A Dr, 182 Sirimavo-Shastri Pact, 216, 231, 231,
253, 257, 260 Sittampalam C, 94 Sivagnanasundaram N, 57 Sivakumaran, 320, 321 Sivanandasundaram K, 200, 222 Sivanayagam ST, 132, 176 Sivapalan, 55, 90 Sivasithamparam M, 171, 177, 182. | 237, 282 Sivasithamparan T, 120, 171 Siyan Korale, 111 Skandavarodaya College, 320 SLFP, 155, 156, 157, 171, 186, 187,
188, 189, 329 SLFP-LSSP-CP Alliance, 189, 206,
220, 230, 236, 261, 276, 279, 290, 295, 296, 297, 298, 301,
306, 307, 308 Smith S A de, 303, 328 Socrates, 3 Somasundaram T, 200 Soulbury Commissioners, 293 Soulbury Constitution, 32, 45, 150,
269 South Africa, 2 Soyza Bernard, 210 Spaniards, 5 Spring Howard, 213 Sri Kantha M, 166, 169 Sri Lanka Freedom Party, 93

Page 356
Sri Lanka News, 258 Sri Lanka Shipping Corporation, 70 Stanley de Soyza, 124, 128 Stanmore Crescent, 147 State Council, 39 St. John's College, 319 St. Joseph's College, 117 Subasinghe T B, 2100 Subbiah S N, 56, 60 Sugathadasa V A, 2236837. I i Sundaralingam C, 42, 43, 77, 95,
104, 105, 107, 139, 231, 279,
282, 304, 305, 306, 316 Supreme Court, 46, 292, 304, 305 Surendranathan, 243, 284 Sutantiran, 59, 115, 116, 146, 176 Switzerland, 64, 272 Sydney de Soyza, 119, 122 Tambimuttu Sam, 116 Tamil Arasu Police Force, 179 Tamil Arasu Postage Stamps, ii, 176 Tamil Arasu Postal Service, 177 Tamilar Suyadchi Kazhakam, 286,
312, 322, 323, 324, 328 Tamil Times. 332 Tamil United Front, 319 Tamil United Liberation Front, 82,
282, 319 Telugu, 22, 26 Tennakoon Mudiyanse, 285 Terrence, de Zylva, 210 Thambiaiyah A L, 45, 46, 91, 94,
102 Thambidurai T, 320 Thambimuttu, 116 Thangadurai, 321, 322 Thaninayagam Xavier, 108 Tharmakulasingham C, 200 Thiagarajah Jeganathan, 38, 40 o 7 : Thiagarajah Keerthanai, 115 Thondaman S, 54, 56, 57, 60, 181,
214, 215, 259, 307, 314, 316 Tiruchelvam M, 79, 154, 160, 171,
202, 214, 215, 220, 283, 289,
319, 325, 332 Tiruchelvam Period, 152 Tiruketheesvaram, 171 Tirukkovil, 114 Tirunavukarasu S, 106 Tiruvacakam, 267 Trevelyan G M, 7 Trincomalee, 69, 71, 73, 77, 78, 79,
80, 83, 84, 86, 90, 96, 114, 115, 116, 117, 122, 124, 138, 146, 153
283, 334 Trincomalee Harbour, 245, 252

Trincomalee Resolution 1956, ii TULF, 266, 312, 313, 314, 317, 322,
323, 324, 325, 326, 329, 330,
331, 332, 333, 334, 335 Tulu, 22 Turks, 5 Udugama Major, 178, 180 Udupiddy, 320 Uduvil, 320 Union of States, 334 United Kingdom, 11 United National Party, 330 United Nations Organization, 326 United States of America, 2, 280 UNP, 44, 200, 206, 218, 220, 222,
226, 229, 230, 234, 236, 237, 241, 245, 248, 267, 269, 273,
284, 298, 307, 308, 329 UNP-FP Government, 206, 267, 268,
299 Vadamaradchi, 282 Vaddukkoddai, 89, 312 Vaikunthavasan K, 198 Vaithianathan Sir Kanthiah, 170,
171 Valvettiturai, 321, 322 Vanniasingham C, 42, 55, 64, 81,
89, 98, 116, 122, 125, 147, 152,
153 Vaseeharan, 107 Vavuniya, 83, 84, 139, 142, 334,
335 Vellayan, 60 Velupillai C V, 55, 60 Victoria Park, 239 Victoria Queen, 239 Vihara Maha Devi, 239, 290, 307 Vijayabahu, 24, 25 Vincent J M, 120 Virakesari,, 59
Walloopillai Dr, 182 Weermantry, 205 Welikade Jail, 333 Wells H G, 22 Wesley College, 115 West Germany, 71 o 7 3 West Indies, 30 Westminster, 127, 286, 292 Wheare K C, 64 Whitehall, 11, 15, 33 White Paper, 274, 275 Wickremasinghe Esmond, 220, 221,
223, 225, 226, 275 Wijaya HMCys, 282 Wilfred M, 132 Wilson Jeyaratnam A, 127, 329 Zahira College, 35

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