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T
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Informa ffori)
SRI
LANKA BACKGROUND BRIEFING
40-YEARCE 1946
E DITOR S. Silvanayagam
 
 

For Private Circulation only
Monthly
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IRONOLOGY
1946-1965
A (MIRD) Publication

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пмтнорucтом
To Sri Lanka, an island nation of 15 million people which ha managed its affairs for 35 years of independence with neither glo nor ignominy, July 1983 came as an inglorious culmination. The ant Tamil violence, the venom and savagery that went on unchecke through that last black week of July brought the country into shar focus in the eyes of the international community. People spread ove five continents, many of whom who did not even know that Sri Lank existed, sat up and took notice of this blot in the Indian Ocear Governments, particularly the aid-giving ones, began to take a har look at the country, its performance and non-performance. In term. of image, Tourism, Tea Production, Foreign Investments, the damagi the country caused itself has yet to be repaired. Yet - anti-Tam violence and the shame and the brutality of it, were NO unprecedented as many foreign observers believe. That had a 27-yea history at that point of time three years ago. Physical attacks or Tamils began in 1956 even as the language rights of Tamils were being deprived by legislation on that fateful day of 5 June 1956; a fact which the Sinhalese would like to forget (and have forgotten), with only the Tamils, two generations of them, carrying the scars, An honest, authentic testament of what Tamils went through two years later, in 1958, is contained in a book written by a Sinhalese himself. (Tarzie Vittachi - Emergency'58 . The Story of the Ceylon Race Riots, Andre Deutsch London). Vittachi who was then Editor of the Ceylon Observer smuggled the manuscript out to London, and embittered and disillusioned with his own country and people went into self-exile abroad. He later flowered into Sri Lanka's best known journalist internationally. The Government of that day banned the book and it remains banned to this day.
The difference between the July’83 violence and the earlier ones was firstly one of degree and magnitude. Secondly there was a method behind the madness. Thirdly, it was not just a riot, it had all the characteristics of a State-aided pogrom. But what was most pertinent was the fact that for the first time, Colombo the metropolis saw widespread barbarism at close view. It become impossible to hide it from the world; the tourists were there, the Embassies and High Commissions were there, and so were international airlines; and President Jayewardene in his supine unwisdom allowed Tamil blood to flow and Tamil property to be ravaged, giving sufficient time for the world media to carry the eye-witness message to all corners of the globe. It took a lot of belated wisdom on the part of the Country's rulers to realise that they had been hoisted with their own petard!
One cannot blame the world for thinking it was the beginning of the Tamil tragedy. It was not. The Sordid story begins with the very door step of the island's entry into freedom; and even before. Unlike India which fought the might of the British empire and made supreme sacrifices to achieve freedom, including the surrender of a part of its territory to satisfy the whim of one man, Jinnah, Ceylon came to be independent through what amounted to a 'horse deal' - between the British colonialists and a Sinhala caucus led by D.S. Senanayake, which naturally took into account only the British and Sinhala interests. Unlike Jinnah, who did not want to place his trust on Hindu leaders, men of the calibre and stature of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, and demanded his Pakistan, even a 'motheaten' one if it came to that, Tamil leaders in Ceylon took D.S.Senanayake at his word. They placed their faith in the Sinhala majority. Urging the minorities in 1945 to accept the Soulbury Constitution D.S. Senanayaka gave this solemn assurance: "On behalf of the Congress (the Ceylon National Congress) and on my
2

own behalf, give the minority communities the sincere assurance that no harm need they fear at our hands in a free Lanka". Appealing specifically to the Tamils, he made this peroration: "Do you want to be governed from London or do you want, as Ceylonese, to help govern Ceylon ?"(State CouncilDebate on the Soulbury Constitution, 8 November 1945). Put like that, the Tamils accepted that expression of bona fides, little realising that what the waist-coat wearing future first Prime Minister meant was: 'Do you want to be governed from London, or do you want to be governed from Colombo ?"
The then correspondent for the Guardian and The Observer, in the Indian subcontinent Walter Schwarz wrote ten years ago: "Looking back, the Tamils also feel that it was "a pity' to have left so much on trust and many have now come to share the view of the United Front leader, Mr.S.J.V.Chelvanayakam, who told the present writer early in 1975: "Our fundamental mistake was not to ask for Independence when the British left'. (The Tamils of Sri Lanka - Minority Rights Group, London, 2nd Revised edition, September 1983, first published in September 1975).
Taking Sinhala leaders at their word, and then being taken for a ride, has been the regular fate of Tamil leadership for 40 years; and losing lives and property as a result, the cyclic fate of Tamils for 30 years. Well-meaning friends and peace-makers, Gandhian and nonGandhian, in India and elsewhere, who even to this day keep on tendering friendly advice to the newly emergent generation of Tamil leadership, the Liberation Tigers and other militant groups to accept Sinhala leaders at their word, should pause for a while, and listen to 'the inner voice' of the Sri Lankan historical process. The lack of sufficient knowledge about the long, chequered history of the Ceylon Tamil struggle for human rights remains colossal, even in next-door India. Where mercifully ignorance is relieved by knowledge, public memory remains short. Hence this publication. In Tamilnadu itself, there are yet people asking the question: "Tell us, you had gone to that country for a living; how can you ask for a separate state?"little knowing the man who is asked this question, and his forefathers had probably lived in that country the same thousands of years as the questioner and his forefathers had lived in India
The Sri Lanka Government, for its own propaganda benefit, will begin to tell the story with the one frightful word that you would find printed most in the State-managed Sri Lankan Press today - "Terrorism'. By that, they refer to the point of time in Ceylon's history when, trod and trod repeatedly for years and years, the Tamil worm finally turned; the point of time when having lost fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, and friends and kith and kin to Sinhala mob violence and then to Sinhala state violence, the Tamil youth decided that nothing short of guns could defend the lives and honour of their people and the chastity of their womenfolk. It is not a chicken and hen story as many believe. Mob violence against Tamils in the South began in 1956. Army violence against Tamils in the North and East began in 1961. It was not until the middle'70s that Tamil youths threw away their textbooks, forsook their homes, parents and future and took to guns.
We are too close to history to see recent events in Sri Lanka in perspective. Our hope is that this publication will help. The 40-year chronology that we present is a faithful narration of events in Sri Lanka, and is free of comment. This issue records the first 20 years from 1946. Our next issue of Background Briefing will bring up the record to contemporary times.
Background Briefing:October 1986

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1946 - 1986
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Background Briefing:October 1986
 

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
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1946 - 1986 A 40
G. G. Ponnambalam, O.C. who had his education at Cambridge University: a skilled debator and famous as a criminal lawyer, was one time undisputed leader of the Tamils until he joined the D.S. Senenayake Cabinet.
Ceylon which Crown Colony si ponsibility for al ew constitution,
Council, on the 1
On the recomme Commission whi December, 1944, Defence and Exte of Ceylon is to CO nate and a House Prime Minister an
responsibility to P.
by D.S.Senanayak
, ters, for the imm
Status, the British is, therefore, the h ernment that the
accepted by the pe
termination so to v
tively short space Status will be evol time occupied by must depend upo under the new Con Ceylon..."
A proposal of 't
1S
Ceylon has a population of 6,276,000 - according to the Bulletin of Statistics issued by the Statistical Office of the United Nations.
While the leader of the United National Party, D.S. Senanayake, and the war-time Civil Defence Commissioner Sir Oliver Goonetilleke continue to press for transfer of power from the British Government, working class agitation grows in intensity in May-June. D.S. Senanayake persuades the British to land British troops in Colombo at the time of the General Strike in May, and accordingly British troops do a route march through the streets of Colombo. On June 5, Tamil Trade Union activist S. Kandasamy is shot and killed by Police firing while he was walking at the head of a procession led by LSSP leader Dr. N.M. Perera, who it was believed was the actual target of the Police attack. Widespread protest follows.
The Governor, Sir Henry Monck-Mason
Moore in his addres Ceylon (18 June Constitutional char about before a nev was established Constitution. The "Agreement will th on a number of agreements have b
satisfactory to His
and to the Ceylon steps will be takent so asto Confer upor status within the B Nations..."
General Electior Constitution tO Representatives. (A total of 101 seats in held for 95, the ot Governor to give r groups, which W.
4.
 
 

YEAR CHRONOLOGY
94.6
had remained a British :e 1802, assumes full renternal affairs. Under the assed by the king in Privy th May, 1946, and based dations of the Soulbury h was sent to Ceylon in Britain retains control of hal Affairs. The Parliament sist of 2 Chambers, a Seof Representatives with a Cabinet having collective rliament. On the demand and the Board of Minis!diate grant of Dominion Government says:-.... It ope of His Majesty's Gov. new constitution will be ople of Ceylon with a deVork it that in a Comparaof time such Dominion ved. The actual length of this evolutionary process h the experience gained stitution by the people of
balanced representation"
VE
- that the Sinhalese should receive half the seats in the proposed House of Representatives and the minorities - indian Tamils, Ceylon Tamils, Muslims, Burghers and Europeans should control the other half, to prevent non-domination of one community over other, (which came to be known as "the Fifty - Fifty proposal")ably argued before the Commission by Tamil leader G.G. Ponnambalam, was however rejected on the ground that it would amount to communal representation.
The United National Party under the leadership of D.S.Senanayake is formed.
A Select Committee of the State Council.
appointed in 1945 to report on "the steps necessary to effect the transition from English to Sinhalese and Tamil as the official languages' recommends that English should be dropped as the language of administration in 10 years, that a Commissioner of National Languages should be appointed; a Dept. of National Languages be set up; a Translation Bureau and a Research Institute be established; and that the laws of the country be Codified in Sinhalese and Tamil.
)4.7
S to the State Council of announces that no ges could be brought government of Ceylon nder the the Soulbury announcement SayS: n have to be negotiated subjects. When such en concluded on terms Majesty's government (overnment, immediate amend the Constitution Ceylon fully responsible tish Commonwealth of
under the Soulbury
the House of g. 23 - Sept. 20). Of the he House, elections are ir 6 to be filled by the resentation to special ld go unrepresented
otherwise. The 95 electorates are carved out under a delimitation formula taking into account area as well as population. Thus, one seat assigned to a population of 75,000 and one seat for every 1,000 miles would, it was believed, give the Muslim and Tamil minorities living in the scattered communities of the Dry Zone a higher number of seats than thèy would receive on the basis of population alone.
The Soulbury Commissioners while accepting the essentials of the proposals put forward by the Ceylonese Ministers in 1944, in the framing of the Constitution, had added a Second Chamber - a Senate - to be filled by 15 members elected by the House of Representatives and 15 to be nominated by the Governor General.
Over 1,500,000 men and women go to the polls, which were peaceful. As anticipated by the British Government, the United National Party led by D.S. Senanayake,
Background Briefing October 1986

Page 5
1946 - 1986 A 40
obtains a working majority. The final results of the elections were:-
UNP - 42; Independents (unattached) - 21; Lanka Sama Samaja Party (Trotskyist) – 10; Ceylon Tamil congress - 7; Indian Tamil Congress - 6; Bolshevist-Leninist Party (also Totskyist) - 5; Communist (Stalinist) - 3; Labour Party - 1.
Leader of the UNP, Don Stephen Senanayake forms the government. Of the 14 Ministers in the cabinet, 11 are Sinhalese, 2 are Tamils, and 1 a Moslem. By religion, 10 are Buddhists, 2 are Hindus, 1 a Moslem and 1 a Christian. The two Tamil Ministers are C. Suntheralingam, ex-l.C.S., C.C.S. and retired Professor of Mathematics (Commerce) and C.Sittampalam (Posts), both elected as independents. A future Governor General and 3 future Prime Ministers are in the Cabinet: Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, (Home Affairs), J. R.Jayewardene, (Finance), Dudley Senanayake, the Prime Minister's Son (Agriculture) and S.W. R. D. Bandaranaiake (Health and Local Government).
The House of Representatives meet on Oct.14 and elects A.F. Molamure as Speaker and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike as Leader of the House.
On Nov. 11, the D.S. Senanayake Government signs three agreements with
the government of t Defence Agreemen Agreement and a Pu Article il of the Def the British the righ establishments as it days. The Article say Ceylon wil grant to United Kingdom all for the objects menti be mutually agreed include the use of n ports and military está of telecommunicatio of Service Courts ano such controll and juri of the said forces present."
The Public Affairs, to safeguard the righ who are in the "servi an obligation on the C for the payment of when necessary. Th does not make any the thousands of esta were also brought British rule.
Two days later, on
19
Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore, the present Governor would become the island's first Governor General on Feb.4, when Ceylon formally assumes Dominion Status, according to an announcement by the Colonial Office on Jan.21.
On Jan.27, Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake announces in the House of Representatives that the Union Jack would continue to be the national flag until the design of the latter is decided by a Parliamentary Select Committee; that when National Flag is agreed upon, it would be used together with the Union Jack; and that the Lion Flag of the former Sinhalese kings (the standard of the Kandyan dynasty which ended in 1815), would be flown at the Independence celebrations of Feb.4.
On Feb. 4, Ceylon officially becomes a Dominion of the British Commonwealth of
Nations. The Governor General Sir Henry Moore takes the oath of office in the presence of the Cabinet and the Under
Background Briefing October 1986
Secretary of the E Relations Office, representing the Bri broadcast, the Prime "whatever disagreem with the British in th for their goodwill at have culminatedin ou the hope that 'th renunciation which th into a stately tree of friendship'.
On Feb.10, the nev is opened by the representing the Br Speech from the Congratulates the p achieving "indeper responsible memb Commonwealth', anc satisfaction that Ce freedom by constit means in collabora Government. Among Ceremony was Lord S

- YEAR CHRONOLOGY
he United Kingdom - a t, an External Affairs blic Affairs Agreement. ence Agreement gives t to run their military was during the Colonial s: 'The Government of the Government of the the necessary facilities oned in Article as may | These facilities wil aval and air bases and ablishments and the use n facilities, and the right authorities to exercise Sdiction Over memberS
as they exercise at
Agreement is designed ts of the British officials ce of Ceylon' and casts eylon government even pensions and gratuities e Agreement however stipulations concerning ate Tamil labourers who into the island under
Nov. 13, in the British
House of Commons, Colonial Secretary Creech Jones presents the Ceylon Independence Bill conferring on Ceylon 'fully responsible status within the British Commonwealth of Nations'. The Bill also incorporates the three Agreements of Nov. 11. The Bill is passed unopposed in both Houses and is enacted on Dec. 10.
it is announced that February 4, 1948 will be the appointed day for the formal attainment by Ceylon of Dominion Status.
The debate on the Governor's speech delivered at the Parliament of Ceylon on Nov. 25, occasions Severe criticism of the Agreements signed on Nov. 11. One member goes to the extent of referring to D.S. Senanayake as "Asia's traitor No. 1'. H. Sri Nissanka, O.C., M. P. for Kurunegala argues that there was no need for Ceylon to enter into a defence agreement because she had no enemy to be afraid of and that the Defence Agreement was mostly in the interests of the British.
Ceylon and India exchange High Commissioners. Indian Representative in Colombo V.V.Giri (who 22 years later was to become President of India) is appointed Indian High Commissioner.
)48
British Commonwealth
Mr. Gordon Walker, tish Government. In a Minister declares that hents we may have had e past, we are grateful hd co-operation which rfreedom', expressing e seed of voluntary ey have Sown will grow mutual and perpetual
w Dominion Parliament
Duke of Gloucester itish monarch. In his
Throne, the Duke people of Ceylon for idence as a fully er of the British i expresses the King's ylon had gained her utional and peaceful tion with the U.K. those present at the Soulbury, who presided
over the Commission that led to the conferment of Dominion Status on Ceylon.
On March 24, Minister of Home Affairs Sir Oliver Goonetilleke and Minister of Finance J. R.Jayewardene begin prolonged talks in London covering a wide field including Ceylon's Sterling balances, the establishment of a Reserve Bank in Ceylon, the promotion of economic development and general monetary co-operation. Sir Oliver states on May 3, on his return to Colombo that a detailed agreement had been signed between the two governments on April 30, on the question of Ceylon's sterling and dollar balances. Mr.Jayewardene discloses that British had promised the necessary assistance for the early establishment of a Reserve Bank in Ceylon. Ceylon's sterling balances are estimated at about f50 million - E55 milion.
it was announced (April 27) by the U.S. State Department that Mr. Felix Cole, Minister in Addis Ababa would become the first U.S. Ambassador to Colombo.
5 ۔هر

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1946-1986
legislation D.S.Senanayak achievement C the words of 'a wholly at fundamental ri Country for a of whom were there all their anywhere else, - and who ha NM"bare" as Chief Guest at the Kokuvil Hindu College - contribution tO"ס Alumni Dinner, 1957 On left is Handy S. Perinpanayagan, the being themselv
Youth Congress leader of the late twenties and respected share of it'. (Pa educationist. in the centre is Alagu Subramaniyan, 'short provides two da
story writer in English acquire Ceylone Ceylon applies for membership of the or by registratio! United Nations. It was announced from U.N. a person bor headquarters in Lake Success that Prime September 21, 1 Minister Senanayake had made the that his father application on the grounds that Ceylon as a in Ceylon or Dominion of the British Commonwealth grandfather and possessed the same status as other were born in Cey Dominions which were already members of before the appoi the international organisation. that his father ar On Aug. 18, a proposal to admit Ceylon to were born in Ceyl the United Nations is defeated in the Security 21, 1948, he ( Council by a Soviet veto. The Soviet and citizenship if his fa Ukranian delegates question Ceylon's claim to full sovereignity and independence. Mr. C. Suntharall M. Malik (USSR) says that the Governor M.P. for Vavu General had power to convene, adjourn or Commerce, resig dismiss the Ceylonese Parliament and in protest against alleges that Ceylon's armed forces were is replaced under British control. The Ukranian delegate H.W.Amarasuriya, calls Ceylon a puppe. of Britain. The Soviet GO Nearly one million plantation Ceylons entre ; Tamils are deprived of their but Prime Ministe citizenship and nationality. (Dec.9) that the G The Citizenship Act No.18 (operative the offer, adding, September 21, 1948), the first major as being dangerou
The Plantations Tamils who 99" . "
Parliament. lt wa were rendered stateless last Ceylon Indian Cor
year are rendered voteless as these estate worl Well, by the Ceylon influence the ot (Parliamentary Elections) elections.
Amendment Act No. 48 of The Indian a 1949. Section 4(1) of the Act states: (citizenship) Act "No person shall be qualified to have his specifically define name entered or retained in any register of persons of Indian elections in any year if such a person is not become citizens b a citizen of Ceylon." The plantation Tamils have been in resi who had returned six M.P.s to the existing January 1, 1946 an Parliament at the 1947 elections are now prior to that for 1,
6 - - - OM - - - - - *vl*re
 

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
templated by the government soon after ndependence' comes, in ater-day British jurist, as ary deprivation of the to the citizenship of one's oup of people almost all orn there, who have lived s, who have never been i have no other allegiance, made an immence at Country's wealth while allotted only a derisory Sieghart: 1984). The Act s by which a person may e citizenship, by descent To acquire it by descent, in the island before 48 had to be able to prove efore him was also born that both his paternal laternal great grandfather on, if born outside Ceylon ted day, he had to prove d his paternal grandfather }n. If born after September ould receive Ceylonese ther was then a citizen.
ngam, Independent Tamil niya and Minister of nS from the Government the Citizenship Act. He n the Cabinet by
a Sinhalese.
vernment offers to buy ubber output for 1949, Senanayake announces vernment would decline If I consider any country to Ceylon, it is Russia'.
Philip Gunawardene, fiery 'Father of the Revolution' later descended into racism
Ceylon's application for U.N. membership is vetoed for the second time by the Soviet Union (Dec.15).
The Government follows up the citizenship Act No. 18 with the Indian and Pakistani Residents (Citizenship) Act No.3 - which becomes law in the following year. The introduction of the Bill in the House of Representatives in December, brings about a split in the Tamil Congress. Speaking on the Debate in Parliament (Hansard - December 10,) Mr. S.J.V. Chelvanayakam (who was to found the Federal Party the following year) says: Today, justice is being denied to the Indian Tamils. Some day in the future, when language becomes an issue, the same fate would befall the Ceylon Tamils. It is therefore necessary that we oppose this Bill unitedly. These words were to become prophetic 8 years later when the 'Sinhala Only' Act is passed.
A section of the Tamil Congress under the leadership of G.G. Ponnambalam joins the D.S.Senanayake government. G.G. Ponnambalam becomes Minister of Industries.
)49)
re representation in
also known that the ess which represented 's was in a position to Ome in 10-15 Other
Pakistani Residents O. 3 that followed, he terms under which Pakistani origin may 2gistration. They must Ce Continuously Since ave been in residence !ars in the case of an
unmarried person or 7 years in the case of married persons. Documentary proof of residence during these periods were required and special commissioners are to be appointed to investigate and pass upon the application that must be submitted. It was expected that in practice the administration of this Act would have the effect of seriously limiting the numbers who could qualify as citizens.
The split in the Ceylon Tamil leadership surfaces into the open on the voting on this Bill in Parliament, with S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, C. Vanniasingham and
Background Briefing-October 1986

Page 7
1946-1986
T. Sivapalan voting against it. The leader of the Tamil Congress G.G. Ponnambalam and two other M.P.S vote for it.
(Earlier, in 1948, before becoming a member of the D.S. Senanayake Cabinet, Mr. Ponnambalam had along with S.J.V. Chevanayakam voted against the Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948).
On February 13, the break-away group of the Tamil Congress inaugrates its campaign of non-cooperation with the government opposite the historic Hindu temple at Maviddapuram in Jaffna. The chief Priest of the temple, Srila Sri Thuraichchamy Kurukkal invites Mr. S.J.V. Chelvanayakam (a Christian) to preside over the meeting. Among the speakers are Dr. E.M.V. Naganathan (a Roman Catholic), C. Vanniasingham and A. Amirthalingam, then a law student and later to become an active leader in the Federal Party and the Tamil United Liberation Front.
Lord Soulbury's appointment as Governor General announced. Brigadier the Earl of Caithness to be the C-in-C of the Ceylon Army and Military Adviser to the Govt. of Ceylon.
It is announced in as first stage of fo Army and of taking duties, the training.( and coastal defence 1950. The strength be 70 officers and end of next year, a 3,000, whilst the Brit in Ceylon for the tir guests, with authorit themselves in speci
The Ceylon simultaneously with parity of 1 rupee = 1 The Ceylon Parlia separating the Ceylc rupee. Introducing til J. R. Jayewardene : devalued, Ceylon ha necessity of havingt. of the Indian gover that the value of the for the first time bee with the forthcomir own Reserve Bank, intended to Sever t
rupee.
19
Colombo Conference of Foreign Ministers of the British Commonwealth (Jan, 9 - 14) Leaders of delegations include: Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Ernest Bevin (U.K.), P.C. Spender (Australia), and Lester Pearson (Canada). Ceylon represented by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister D.S. Senanayake, Minister of Justice Dr. L.A. Rajapakse and Minister of Finance J.R.Jayewardene. Recommendations for the "furtherance of economic development in South and South-East Asia' presented by Mr. Spender at this Conference form the basis for the birth of the Colombo
Plan.
The Tea industry is India's Second large cording to the 1949 ri Tea Market Expansic summary issued by Committee gives Te Ceylon and India in 1 - 298,559,000 b. Inc
As a first step tow of a Central Bank of ( Board is set up on Exeter, formerly a m
19
Birth of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party as a democratic alternative to the U.N.P. S.W. R.D. Bandaranaike with a small group of his supporters crosses over to the Opposition (July) and in September founds the S.L.F.P. The party which elected 2 Tamils
as Vice-Presidents issues a manifesto,
Background Briefing October 1986
which includes the to ing of ʻʼNational Lar eSSentia that, Sin adopted as official so that the people of to be aliens in their C may be put to the i

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
colombo (Sept. 11) that rming the new Ceylon over the British Army's of indigenous land A.-A, forces would begin in of the new Army would 610 other ranks by the nd would ultimately be ish forces would remain me being as "welcome y for control only among fied areas'.
Rupee is devalued sterling, the existing |s.6d. being maintained. ment passes a Bill in rupee from the Indian he Bill, Finance Minister says that when Britain ad been faced with the o act without knowledge nment's intentions and Ceylon rupee had now in fixed in terms of gold; ng establishment of its Ceylon had in any case he link with the Indian
The Soviet Union vetoes for the third time (Sept. 13) Ceylon's application for U.N. membership. This is the second occasion on which Ceylon failed to gain admission because of conflict between the Soviets and the U.S. The previous occasion was when the U.S. vetoed a Soviet-sponsored proposal for admission of 13 states including Ceylon in August 1948.
The birth of the Federal Party. The break-away section of the Tamil Congress led by S.J.V. Chevanayakam, C. Vanniasingham, Dr. E.M.V. Naganathan and others form themselves into a new party - the lankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi (I.T.A.K.) which comes to be referred to as the Federal Party. The inaugural meeting is held in Colombo, at the Government Clerical Service Union hall at Maradana on December 18. The gathering endorses unanimously a resolution moved by S.J.V. Chelvanayakam to work unceasingly for the achievement of a Tamil state within the Federal framework of a united Ceylon, as the only way to ensure that the Tamil-speaking people in Ceylon could live with honour and self-respect.
p5o
S Ceylon's largest and 2st export industry' aCeport of the International on Board. The statistical f the International Tea a production figures in |949 as follows: Ceylon ia - 579,310,000 lb.
fards the establishment Deylon, a new Monetary July 1, headed by John hember of the Board of
Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, loaned by the U.S. government, to advise Ceylon on the creation of the new Central Bank, John Exeter designated to become its first Governor. On Aug. 28, the Central Bank of Ceylon officially comes into existence.
An agreement for American assistance to Ceylon under the "Point Four' programme signed at Colombo on Nov. 7 by Sir Kanthiah Vaithianathan, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Joseph C. Satterthwaite, U.S. Ambassador.
)51
illowing, under the headguages' :- "It is most haiese and Tamil be anguages immediately, this country may cease wn land, So that an end
nequity of condemning
those educated in Sinhalese and Tamil to OCcupy the lowliest walks of life, and above all that society may have the full benefit of the skills and talents of the people. The administration of the government must be carried on in Sinhalese and Tamil.'

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1946-1986
Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake (68) dies in hospital on March 22, from injuries received the previous day after falling off a horse. The Governor General Lord Soulbury who was in London at that time, flies back and on March 26 calls on the dead Premier's son Dudley Sennayake, a bachelor and Minister of Agriculture in his father's Cabinet, to form the government. Dudley Senanayake, accepts the invitation after some hesitation and pledges himself to carry on the administration "so that everyone, whatever language he speaks, whatever religion he professes, and whatever race he belongs to, may live and move on terms of absolute equality." With Dudley Senanayake's assumption of office, Ceylon becomes the first Commonwealth country to have had a father and son as successive Prime Ministers. The late Prime Minister is Cremated with Buddhist rites in Independence Square, Colombo, on March 29.
Colombo Plan Exhibition organised by the Colombo Plan countries in Colombo from Feb.23-March 23.
Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake's calls a snap election. Parliament dissolved on April 8. General Elections, the first since Ceylon attained Dominion Status, held between May 24-30, results in a UNP victory. The results, announced in Colombo on June 1, were as
follows: UNP-5. Party - 1, Sri Lan Sama Samaja Pa Federal Party - , Viplawakari Sama Republican Party, Congress which Parliament had b protest against th of the 1950 elect leader S.J.V. Che turned.
Prime Minister nounces his cabin balam who was re tries and Fisheries inducted as Minis tion are the two Cabinet. J. R.Jaye Minister of Financ elected as Leader
The exclusion o Tamils of Indian O toral registers, lea campaign bythe C an interchange c Ceylonese and in gress volunteers, ir of Parliament, eng licly fasting (April 2
S
Population Census taken on March 20 shows that the population of Ceylon was 8, 103,648 as compared with 6,657,339 at the 1946 census, an increase of 21.7%. The population of the four largest towns was as follows: Colombo-424,816; Jaffna-76,664, Kandy-57,013; and Galle-55,825.
Finance Minister Jayawardene presenting his Budget, says: "We are faced with the collapse of the boom, heavy fall in our export prices, and rising import prices. A combination of all these factors could contribute to the downfall of the economy...I know the solution lay largely in the elimination of the overall deficit but it was not possible to take this step, without removing as well the subsidy on food'. In August the govt. abolishes the subsidy on rice, increases the price of sugar, abolishes the free mid-day meal to schoolchildren, increases railfares-measures which hurt the working and lower middle classes. The indignation explodes in a mass
agitation and the August 12, followec bances. A state of the army is called ir killed by army firing Senanayake, alread on October 12.
Sir John Kotelaw port and Works an called upon by Lor( ernment. J.R.Jaye portfolio of Financ Cabinets assigned Agriculture and Fo of the House. Sir ( over Finance. With iah Vaithianathan i Housing and Social as Minister of Post the retention of G are 3 Tamils in the within 4 days of th
8.

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
D52
famil CongreSS-4, Labour Freedom Party -9; Lanka - 9; Communist Party -3; Independents - 11, and amaja Party and People's he each. The Cevlon Indian ld 7 seats in the previous (Cotted the elections as a ir being held on the basis al registers. Federal Party 'anayakam fails to get re
Dudley Senanayake anton June 2. G. G. Ponnamlined as Minister of Indusand V. Nallah, who was er of PostS and Informaamils in the 14-member wardene Continues as e. S.W. R. D. Bandaranaike of Opposition.
the great majority of the rigin from the 1950 elecis to a civil disobedience eylon Indian Congress and )f Notes between the dian governments. Concluding former Members age in Satyagraha by pub8), outside the House of
Representatives, and the ottices of the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Justice, Home Affairs, and Food. Congress volunteers "squatting"outside the Indian High Commissioner's Office forcibly dispersed by the Police on June 9, five being taken to hospital with injuries.
J.R. Jayewardene, then Finance Minister, Speaking on May 4, blames the Ceylon Indian Congress leaders - whem he accused of acting under Communist influence - for the disenfranchisement of Indian Tamils. After having treated the offer of Ceylonese citizenship 'with contempt', he declared, "they suddenly decided to call off their boycott and to apply for citizenship. Applications began to pour on at a rate with which no Govt. Dept.
#
could cope....".
Ceylon enters into a Rubber-Rice Pact with Communist China. Prime Minister announces (Nov.13) that following a Trade Mission to China headed by Minister of Commerce and Trade R.G. Senanayake, a shortterm contract had been concluded for sup
ply by China to Ceylon of 80,000 metric tons
of Rice, and that the govt. had agreed in principle to proposals relating to trade in Ceylonese Rubber for Chinese Rice over the next 5 years. The 5-years trade agreement was subsequently signed (Dec. 18) in Peking.
D53
eneral protest strike of by country-wide, disturEmergency is declared, and a number of people Prime Minister Dudley in poor health, resigns,
a, (57) Minister of TransLeader of the House is Soulbury to form a govardene who held the in the three previous stead the Ministry of and becomes Leader ver Goonetilleke takes induction of Sir Kanththe new Ministry of ervices and S. Natesan and Broadcasting, and Ponnambalam, there -member Cabinet. But announcement of the
Cabinet, G.G. Ponnambalam and Minister of Justice Sir Lalita Rajapakse are dropped from the Cabinet. The Tamil Congress withdraws from the Govt.
While renewing the 5-year Rubber-Rice Trade agreement with China, Ceylon enters into a 4-year agreement with Burma for the purchase of Burmese rice. The rice subsidy is in the meantime restored.
The Ceylon Bank rate which was 2 1/2% since the Creation of the Centra Bank is raised to 3%.
An official directive issued on Oct.29 states that only the National Anthem of Ceylon (Namo Namo Matha) would now on be played on official functions and that only the national flag would be flown on these occasions; that since Oueen Elizabeth I had been proclaimed Oueen of Ceylon, there was no need for the use of the Union Jack or British National Anthem.
Background Briefing:October 1986

Page 9
1946-1986
19
Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sign an agreement in New Delhi on Jan 18, designed to terminate the long-standing Controversy between the two countries on the rights of citizenship of persons of Indian descent resident in Ceylon.
Oueen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive in Ceylon (April 11) on a 10-day visit. The Oueen opens a joint session of both Houses of Parliament at Independence Hall on April 12, which function was boycotted by the Opposition led by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Only one Opposition member, C. Suntharalingam, was present. The Oueen during her 10-day stay visits Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Peradeniya.
it was announced in Colombo Soon after the Oueen had left Ceylon that Her Majesty had approved the appointment of Sir Oliver Goonetilleke (61) Minister of Finance and Leader of the Senate, as the Governor General of Ceylon in succession to Lord Soulbury. Sir Oliver, the first Ceylonese Governor General, is to assume office on July 17.
Colombo Conference of South-East Asian
Prime Ministers oper tended for two more in Kandy. Leaders wh Nehru of India, Moha Sastroamidjojo of In Burma, and Sir John country. One of the
by Ceylon and suppor ing that international greatest potential dar East Asia, and recom ernments participati should reaffirm their take measures to pre ference in their affai Nehru as being incon icy of non-alignment a Sastroamidjojo, and i
Ceylon Indian Cong to Ceylon Democrati
Indian High Comm Desai expresses con cess of registration c dian and Pakistani Ci phasizes that perso are rejected canotb
19
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) changes its line on the language issue, and in its annual sessions in December formally advocates that Sinhalese alone should be the of ficial language and that Tamil be made the language of administration in Tamil areas. A Trotskyite group under Philip Gunawardene also comes out in favour of making Sinhalese the sole official language, while the main Left parties, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party continue to support the policy of parity of both languages.
Senator Cyril de Zoysa elected President of the Senate (Jan.24), in succession to Sir Nicholas Attygalle, who had resigned in order
to become Vice-Chan of Ceylon in Successic
Col. Anton Muttu comes the first Ceylo with the rank of Brigadier F.S. Reid. (J
Second 6-year Pla lopment introduced Representatives (July
Independent Tam C.Suntharalingam, ar he would voluntarily to force a by-electior criminatory treatmen
19
January All Tamil M.P.s resign from the ruling United National Party and the govt. Deputy Minister V. Kumaraswamy resigns on Jan.12. Minister of Posts S. Natesan, Mr. Kumaraswamy and 5 other Tamil-speaking
M.P.s resign from th the Committee appoi for the party confere resolutions on mino status for Tamil pre
Background Briefing:October 1986

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
54
s on April 28 and is ex
days on May 1 and 2 o met were Jawaharlal ned Ali of Pakistan, Dr. donesia, Thakin Nu of Kotelawala of the host resolutions, Sponsored ted by Pakistan, declarCommunism was the ger in South and Southmending that the govng at the conference faith in democracy and vent Communist interrs, is opposed by Mr. sistent with India's polind also opposed by Dr. S dropped.
ress changes its name c Congress.
issioner in Ceylon C.C. cern over the slow proif citizens under the Intizenship Act, and emns whose applications ecome Indian nationals
unless they satisfy Section 8 of the Indian constitution.
Sir John Kotelawala visits Jaffna, (September) a visit that was to prove costly to his political fortunes subsequently. In response to an appeal at a public function by the veteran nationalist and Principal of Kokuvil Hindu College, S.Handy Perinbanayagam, Sir John gives the assurance that the Consitution would be amended to provide for both Sinhalese and Tamil as official languages of the country. Although he asserted later that he had been misreported, campaigners for "Sinhala only' make an issue of it in the South.
Growing pressures from various SinhalaBuddhist groups to make Sinhalese as the only official language. The Tri Sinhala Peramuna engages in open anti-Tamil propaganda in the Kandyan district.
All Ceylon Buddhist Congress appoints a Buddhist Committee of Inquiry to "inquire into the present state of Buddhism in Ceylon and to report on the conditions necessary to improve and strengthen the position of Buddhism....'
)55
cellor of the University )nto Sir Ivor Jennings.
kumaru (a Tamil) benese Head of the Army Brigadier, succeeding an.31)
n for Economic Devein the House of ( 18).
il M.P. for Vavuniya, nounces (Aug. 17) that /acate his seat in order , because of the 'dis'which he alleged, had
been given by the Govt. to the Tamils.
A crowd of over 5,000 people attack a meeting at the Colombo Town Hall, arranged by the LSSP advocating the retention of equal status for Sinhalese and Tamil (Oct. 16). On Oct. 19, a motion for the amendment of Ceylon (Constitution) order-in-Council to give parity of status to Sinhalese and Tamil, introduced by the Sinhala LSSP leader Dr.N.M. Perera, is opposed in parliament by the Prime Minister.
Ceylon admitted to the United Nations (Dec. 15), after a 7-year wait, along with 15 other nations.
5●
2 UNP on Jan. 19, after hted to draft the agenda hCe decides to exclude ity rights and parity of sented by both these
M.P.s. On Jan. 20, Mr. Natesan resigns from the Cabinet. All 7 members who resigned, together with Tamil-speaking members of the Opposition, announce on Jan. 20 that they had formed a 'united front' to defend
9

Page 10
1946-1986
A devastating poster used in the 1956 election campaign against the UNP The cartoon shows Sir John Kotelawala on the elephant, Sir Oliver Goonetilleke as the mahout and J. R. Jayewardene clining to the
tail of the elephant.
Howard Wriggins makes the fo|- lowing reference to the poster in his book-CEYLON: DILEMMAS OFA NEW NATION (196O):-
... ''A statue of the Buddha sat under his Bo Tree at one end of the poster and the balance of the cartoon de
the Tamil language and Culture and to 'carry on the struggle for the creation of a Tamil state which will offer to federate with the Sinhalese state on terms of Complete equality, if acceptable to both nations, or elect to remain independent'.
Former Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake announces (Jan. 13) that he
picted a long Kotelawala of bO/ Of the UNI a Spear point Buddha Statu elephant sat many girl frie) followed som ing and drinki were waving newspapers S pay. In a Bu meat is abhor ful practice. lr poster came
would resign fror Party and retire fi present Parliame
February : uniya (Feb. 14), guage question, turned, polling 8, the UNP candida
10
 
 

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
parade led by Sir John an elephant, the symP. Sir John was holding 2d at the heart of the 9. Behind him on the one of his reputedly ds. In the parade that 2 were ballroom dancg champagne, others he country's principal id to be in the party's dhist country, to kil/ 2nt to eat it is doubthe foreground of the Cart, bearing the car
'the ruling United National n active politics when the is dissolved.
the by-election at Vavught largely on the lanSuntharalingam is revotes against 2,003 for
Cass of a dead Calf to remind the devout of the shocking irreverence
committed once by the Prime Minister who himself carved a barbecued calf in full public view. In the background, several Uncle Sams hold aloft dollar signs. The poster was entitled 'The fight against the forces of evil-2,500 years ago and now'. Underneath ran the caption: 'In this year of Buddha Jayanti, reSCue yOur Country, your race and your religion from the forces of evil'. The allusion was plain.....'
UNPAnnual Conference meets at Kelaniya (Feb. 16-18). The Conference unanimously approves a resolution recommending that Sinhalese should be recognised as the country's only official language, thereby introducing a fundamental change in the policy hitherto pursued by successive Ceylonese governments under which Sinhalese and Tamil had equal status as official languages
Background Briefing:October 1986

Page 11
1946-1986
~"}
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike (born 1899) a product of Oxford Univ first Communal organisation - the Sinhala Maha Sabha, in 1,
September 1959.
in place of English. In view of this policy change, the Governor General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke dissolves Parliament on Feb. 18 and orders general elections to be held between April 4 and 11 in order that the Govt. might obtain a mandate for the new language policy,
Buddhist Committee of Inquiry publishes its report (Feb. 4) calling for strong State support of various kinds to come to 'the rescue of Buddhism." Titled "Betrayal of Buddhism" it is an aggressive documentation of Buddhist grievances.
April : General Elections (April 5 - 10). UNP suffers severe defeat, losing 46 of the the 54 seats which it held in the previous Parliament. The SLFP-led Coalition - the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) wins an absolute majority. 8 members of the previous Cabinet lose their seats including J.R. Jayewardene.
Sir John retains h duced majority. MEI daranaike returned votes, the largest ev tion. In the North anc under the leadersh vanayakam wins 10 Contested For the fir constituency - Point Candidate. P. Kandi Party. The results, as were as follows :
M.E. P-51; L.S.S.F Communist PartyTami Resistance F dents-7.
On April 11, Sir J his resignation. S.L.F leader S.W.R.D. Ban to form a governmen daranaike announces
Background Briefing:October 1986
 

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
. .
ersity where he was secretary of the Oxford Union, formed the 937. He became Prime Minister in 1956 and was assasinated in
is seat with largely reP leader S.W.R.D. Banby a majority of 41,997 ter recorded in an elec| East, the Federal Party lip of S. J. V. Chel
out of the 14 seats it st and only time, a Tamil Pedro - returns a left ah of the Communist
announced on April 11,
-14: F.P/10; U.N.P./8; 3; Tamil Congress-1; ront-1; and Indepen
ohn Kotelawala tenders .P. and M.E.P. Coalition daranaike is called upon t. On the 12th, Mr. Bana 13-member Cabinet,
with no Tamil member in it. On April 18, R.G. Senanayake who contested 2 seats as an Independent and won both (defeating J. R.Jayewardene at Kelaniya) joins the Cabinet, announcing at the same time that he had joined the SLFP.
New Parliament opens on April 20. The Speech from the Throne outlining Govt. policy says legislation for adoption of Sinhala as the official language would be introduced as early as possible, but assures all religious, racial and other minorities that they need have no fear of injustice or discrimination in the carrying out of govt. policies.
May Buddha Jayanticelebrations, the anniversary marking 2,500 years of Buddhism, begin, the celebrations to continue for one year.
June : On June 5, the Official Language Bill declaring Sinhalese to be the sole
11

Page 12
1946-1986
Official language, is introduced in the House of Representatives by Prime Minister Bandaranaike; outside, on the Galle Face Green overlooking the Parliament building, over 200 Tamil volunteers led by 12 Members of Parliament who were staging a silent protest (Satyagraha) are set upon by a Sinhalese mob and stoned and assaulted, while the Police look on. It was later alleged that they were under Govt. orders not to interfere. Rioting spreads in the city with Tamils getting manhandled in buses, trains and on the streets. Among the victims were two Tamil lawyers, A.C.Nadaraja and S.Sharvananda, now Chief Justice of Sri Lanka (1986). They were pulled out of the car in which they were travelling and pummelled by a mob. Indian Tamil shops are attacked and looted. More serious disturbances occur in the Eastern Province, in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and in Gal Oya valley, where a large number of deaths are reported. În 10 days of
sporadic riotir are killed, the TamilS. ThiS | phase in the were subject
On June 15, by 66 votes to vote against th longing to the Party, practical join in opposing
The Federal F gard the Bill as test its validity soon after, the establishing an State within a F the only way of dom and ident people'. They a to learn Sinhale.
January Tension between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities following the passing of the Official Language Act and the mob attacks on Tamils become increasingly acute. The situation is worsened by a Govt. order introducing the Sinhala letter 'Sri" in the number plates of newly registered motor vehicles. The order is openly defied in the Tamil areas in North and East where the Tamil letter for Sri is substituted instead of the Sinhala letter. Govt. decides to overlook the offence.
February Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-lai visits Ceylon (Feb.3 - Feb.5) and attends the Independence Day rally on Feb. 4.
While Independence Day is celebrated among Sinhalese in the south, Tamils in the north and east observe it as a day of mourning. Demonstrations are organised at which copies of the Official Language Act are publicly burnt. In Trincomalee where there is a majority of Tamil-speaking population, the hoisting of the Sinhala Lion Flag in the market place leads to disorders in which one person
is killed. Troops sent to restore order.
April: Nearly one year after the original language legislation, Mr. Bandaranaike declares that steps would be taken to ensure the "reasonable use of Tamil' and to give it a proper place in the country's affairs. But
12
the Federal Party for the August Sa verbal assurance Prime Minister w sence of any con
May: Indian F Nehru visits Ceylc tion of Mr. Bandar Buddha Jayanti C
Japanese Prime its Ceylon (May ASian tour.
June: The Bi Comalee and the F to be formally October 15, 195, respectively, accc by the Ceylonese issued in ColombC of the establishm completed withir according to the a
On May 27, the ruling Sri Lanka f recruit a voluntee maintain order in party carrying out violent Satyagraha east in August. T

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
an estimated 150 persons ajority of the victims being rks the beginning of the ind's history when Tamils physical violence.
2 Sinhala Only Bill is adopted 3. WWhile all Tamil members Bill, the Left-wing M.P.s beSSP and the Communist all of whom are Sinhalese, the Bill.
rty announces that they reJnconstitutional and would the Courts. At a meeting
confirm their objective of autonomous Tamillinguistic !deral Union of Ceylon" as rotecting the "cultural freety of the Tamil-speaking so urge all Tamils to refuse 'e and to transact all their
business in Tamil, or if necessary in English.
August : The Federal Party holds its national convention in the naval port of Trin
comalee in the Eastern Province, and warns that unless the government took measures to constitute a Federal union in Ceylon within a year, the Federal Party would undertake a campaign of non-violent direct action (Satyagraha) to achieve its objectives in August 1957.
September : Ceylon to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with Soviet Russia and China, 'as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made", it is announced in Colombo.
December : UNP surprises by winning 18 out of the 31 seats at the Colombo Municipal Council elections and Secures an overall majority (Dec. 15).
957
Continues its preparations ityagraha, stating that such is hitherto given by the ere insufficient, in the abCrete action.
rime Minister Jawaharlal n (May 17-20) at the invitaanaike to participate at the lebrations.
Minister Nobosuke Kishi vis8-31) in the course of an
ish Naval base at TrinA. F. station at Katunayake ansferred to Ceylon on and November 1, 1957, ding to a joint statement and British governments in June 1. The withdrawal hts 'will be in the main a period of 3 years", YOUnCernent.
orking Committee of the edom party decides to orce of 100,000 to help e event of the Federal threat of starting a nonimpaign in the north and
move is strongly criti
cised by the Press and even by some members of the Govt.
Five Cabinet Ministers led by Finance Minister Stanley de Zoysa who were on a visit to Mannar are stoned (June 1).
On June 5, Mr. Bandaranalike statesata Press Conference:- "... I have already announced in Parliament three measures which should meet any reasonable demands of the minorities. These are the establishment of Regional Councils to decentralise the administration; the amendment of the Constitution to guarantee among other matters fundamental rights to all citizens, and steps to enable reasonable use of the Tamil language at official levels". In these circumstances he apealed to the Federal Party to abandon the "criminal folly' of its Satyagraha campaign, which vaslikely to result in "untold misery and sufferings for many thousands of people"
On June 13, new session of Parliament opens, and F.P. members withdraw in protest from the opening ceremony, because the Governor General Sir Oliver read the speech from the Throne in Sinhala and English, but not in Tamil.
On June 19, the Tamil Resistance Front M.P., C. Suntharalingam, who had boycotted Parli
Background Briefing-October 1986

Page 13
1946-1986
*్యభ 'ဖွံ့ဖြိုးမှူးဖို့
Tamil Leader S.J. W. Chelvanayakam, O.C.
ament at the time o! cial Language Act, fortnight when h Speaker's refusal tc the debate on the S On refusing to leave cibly removed by th fused to move from had been deposited station where he rer fusing either to go
food. The police the his home, but he sq highway refusing
Sinhalese Crowd b which point his famil forcibly carry him to
On June 26, with t campaign in August between Prime Mr Tamil leaders S.J C.Vanniasingham, w 'friendly and satisfa
July. The 1-mon Prime Minister and cludes on July 25 w ment which later co the Bandaranaike-C settlement envisage ognition of Tamilast minority of Ceylon v position of the Offic sion for Tamil as the tion in the Northern and the setting up O powers in agricultu tion of Candidates fo The Prime Minister ise to give 'early CC sion of the Citizens franchised Tamils in
On July 26, the UN to the B.-C. pact, c ment would disruptt
On July 28, the F emergency conven unanimously decide ment with the Prim adjustment" and rat off the proposed Sat guSt.
On July 29, Mr. Su Resistance Front h Batticaloa, denounc betrayal of Tamil rig an angry Crowd by
Background Briefing October 1986
 
 
 
 
 
 

A 40-YEAR CHRONOLOGY
the passing of the Offiis suspended for a e protested against allow him to speak in peech from the Throne. the Chamber he is forle police, and as he rethe pavement where he , he is taken to a police mained until June 24, rehome or to pay for his n forcibly remove him to uats in the Centre of the to move. A hostile egins to stone him, at y members and relatives
his house.
he threatened Satyagraha approaching, talkS begin hister Bandaranaike and .V. Chelvanayakam and thich were described as ctory'
th old talks between the the Federal Party conith a compromise settlemes to be referred to as helvanayakam pact. The 2d provision for the reche language of a national without infringing on the :ial Language Act, provi| language of administraand Eastern provinces, f Regional Councils with "e, education and selec)r Colonization Schemes. also registered his promInsideration" to the revihip Act that had disen
the Plantations.
Pcomes out in opposition eclaring that the agreehe unity of the country.
deral party meets at an tion in Batticaloa and 'S to accept the agreeMinister as an "interim fies the decision to cal yagraha campaign in Au
ntharalingam of the Tamil olds a meeting, also at ing the agreement as a nts, and is rescued from he police.
August Sinhala opinion builds up against the implementetion of the B.-C. pact. The two members of the Bandaranaike cabinet belonging to the Revolutionary Socialist Party - Philip Gunawardene and William de Silva - also object to what they call 'wide powers' which it was proposed to grant to the Regional Councils.
On August 4, a number of Sinhala Buddhist organisations led by Buddhist monks warn the Prime Minister that unless the agreement is repudiated by Oct.1, they would lanuch a civil disobedience movement in the Sinhala areas.
On Aug.12, Mr. Bandaranaike seeks to mollify Sinhala opinion by saying, Inter alia, that the Regional Councils would be controlled by parliament and would handle only minor colonisation Schemes, and that anyone corresponding with the govt. after 1960 would receive replies only in Sinhala.
On Aug. 13, the Federal Party General Secretary Dr.E.M.V.Naganathan commenting on the Prime Minister's interpretation, says that 'the policy of political agreement by negotiation appears to be futile because the govt. cannot be depended upon' and adds that ' the possibility of carrying on our freedom struggle through civil disobedience may be deemed necessary again".
On Aug. 15-16, there are further talks between the Prime Minister and Mr. Chejvanayakam resulting in a joint statement which says that "there were no substantial differences of opinion on the few points on which some misunderstanding has arisen'.
Minister of Education W. Dahanayake announces (Aug.22) that a 3-man Commission would inquire into the affairs of the University of Ceylon, the Commission to be headed by Professor Joseph Needham, F.R.S., and assisted by Chintaman Deshmukh, Chairman of the Indian University Grants Committee and formerly Minister of Finance. The third member who was to be a Ceylonese is not named.
September: Mrs. Kusuma Rajaratne, who along with her husband K.M.P. Rajaratne was known to be an anti-Tamil campaigner, is returned to Parliament at a by-election at Wellmada (Sept. 7), a predominantly Sinhala electorate.
it is announced in Jerusalem that Israel and
13.

Page 14
1946 - 1986
Ceylon had agreed to establish diplomatic relations. Ceylon is the 6th Asian country to enter into diplomatic relations with Israel the others being Burma, Loas, Japan, the Philippines and Siam.
A new 5-year trade and payments agreement between Ceylon and China is signed in Peking (Sept.19). It is also announced in Colombo that the Chinese govt. has offered to set up a textile factory in Ceylon at a cost of Rs.70 million (f5,250,000) as a gift to the Ceylonese govt. When this gift is made, China will become the Second largest donor of economic aid to Ceylon, the first being the U.S.A.
October ence campaig materialize, but teads a march the blessings ( his Campaign a vanayakam agr way, the marc S.D.Bandaranay blocks the wa breach of peac
Ceylon and Yu tic relations at L. in Colombo.
February: On Feb. 25, a gang of men lie across the rail track holding up an 'office train' to Colombo, and refusing to disperse until their friends who had been taken into custody for travelling in a first class compartment with 3rd class tickets are released. The Prime Minister orders the men to be released and rebukes the railway managreement for not providing sufficient 3rd class accommodation.
March. At the annual session of the ruling SLFP held at Kelaniya (March 1 and 2), the Prime Minister defends the B.-C. Pact as an "honourable solution' in keeping with the highest tenets of Buddhism.
Anti-Sinhala "Sri' campaign in north and east following govt. action in sending a fleet of new Govt. owned buses with the Sinhala symbol "Sri" on number plates. In the absence of the promised legislation to make Tamil the language of administration in the north and east, the Federal Party leaders launch a campaign opposing the use of the Sinhala letter. Volunteers stop buses, deface the Sinhala lettering and substitute the Tamil letter instead.
Sir John Kotelawala (61) the former Prime Minister announces on March 30 his resignation from the leadership of the United National Party which he helped to form in 1946 Dudley Senanayake who had earlier with drawn from politics but later agreed to reenter active politics, re-assumes the party leadership.
April Sinhala mobs begin to retaliate in Colombo and in Sinhala areas by smearing tar over Tamil letterings on road signs and on shops owned by Tamils, and in some cases smashing up Tamil-owned shops and
14
assaulting Tamil
are slow to restc ing they would re of past vehemer the police by cer
On April 2, Tam police station at E tation district, w fire and kill 2 pla origin. Their fune 80,000 plantation Tamils in the north (complete stoppa
ln Ratnapura, 6 Sinhala-Tamil clas injuries to several
April 8: Spe Bandaranaike stat and Regional Col only by the prepa the latter or the di the Councils and t use of the Sinhal even raised durir leaders. He says
ever allow what the way of just act although the posi more difficult and
April 9: Abr. Within 24 hours of that the govt. wo gional Councils le ter publicy abrog Buddhist monks a squat opposite t dence from 9 a.m. was away, return panied by some N

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
e threatened civil disobediy Buddhist monks fails to R.Jayewardene of the UNP Kandy (Oct.4) "to invoke he 'devas' (the gods)" for nst the Bandaranaike-Chelment. At Imbullgoda on the is thwarted by SLFP M.P. who with his supporters and the Police fearing a stop the march.
oslavia to establish diplomajation level, it is announced
November: The R.A.F. base at Katunayake, 20 miles north of Colombo, is formally transferred to Ceylonese control (Nov. 1). December: The year ends with a major disaster. Ceylon's worst floods for many years (Dec.21 - 31) causes 288 deaths and renders over 300,000 people homeless in the Northern, North Central, North Western and Eastern provinces. The floods are estimated to have inundated over 650,000 acres of paddy land, destroying 400,000 tons of rice (three-quarters of Ceylon's total rice crop) and causing damage amounting to f25,000,000.
958
Police take no action and e order unsure of the back:eive from the govt., in view t criticism directed against ain cabinet ministers.
il demonstrators Stone the Bogawantalawa in the planhereupon the police open antation workers of Indian ral is attended by nearly workers and on April 5, h and east observe 'hartal' ge of work) in sympathy.
0 miles from Colombo, a results in two deaths and
king in Parliament, Mr. is that the Tamil language ncils Bills were delayed ation of the schedule to sions of powers between e Government. As for the symbol 'Sri" it was not discussions by the FP e govt. would not how'd happened to stand in n towards the minorities, n had been made much mbarassing.
ation of the BC pact. Sindication in Parliament go through with the Relation, the Prime Minisis the Pact. About 200 )mpanied by 300 others Prime Minister's reSihe Prime Minister who the afternoon accomsters and listens to the
denunciation of the monks. Aftera quick consultation with his colleagues, Mr. Bandaranaike announces that the pact would be abrogated. But on the monks' insisting on a written pledge, Mr. Bandaranaike goes into the house and Minister of Health Mrs. Vimala Wijewardene returns bringing the Prime Minister's written pledge.
The same night, the Prime Minister in a broadcast to the nation, says that the Federalists' illegal act in defacing the Sinhala Sri Symbol in state-owned buses has 'created a new situation'. He continued:- "While assuring the Tamil people that the Government will do what it always intended to do in justice to them, I must say that this recent action on the part of the Federal Party has not made it possible to proceed with the implementation of the agreement as contemplated, in view of the feeling created in the country by the Federal Party's action....."
UNP leader Dudley Senanayake supports the abrogation of the Pact.
April 10: The Federal Party issues a statement calling upon all Tamil Speaking people to embark on a non-violent civil disobedience movement. It accuses the Govt. of surrendering to pressure from the Buddhist monks and failure to prevent or control Sinhala hooliganism. It declares that the only alternatives before the Tamils were to "fight back for sheer survival or to be for ever content to remain a Subject race'.
April 10-14: About 100 Tamils, including Mr. Chelvanayakam, 7 other M.P.S., a Senator and the wives of 2 M.P.s are arrested for defacing the number plates of buses and violating the Motor Traffic Act, but are subsequently released on bail. The call for a civil
Background Briefing:October 1986

Page 15
1946 - 1986
disobedience movement is not supported however by the Ceylon Workers' Congress and the Democratic Workers' Congress which together represent about 1,000,000 Tamil plantation workers.
At Padaviya, where the govt. had set up a Sinhala colony, the colonists threaten violence against the proposed settling of 400 Tamil families who had been displaced by the closure of the Royal Navy dockyards in Trincomalee. In the face of this threat, the Ministry of Lands and Land Development cancels the settlement plans.
In Colombo, thugs believed to have Govt. Support, beat up strikers of the Communistled Public Service Workers' Trade Union Federation.
Following a rally at Hyde Park, Colombo, organised by the Left parties, a mob goes berserk Smashing up shop windows, stoning passing cars and setting fire to parked vehicles. Police arrive at the scene after 40 minutes and restore order.
May: Anti-Tamil riots break out, on a scale unparalleled (until then) in the island's history.
The disorders begin on May 22, when a Sinhalese mob stops a train taking delegates to the Federal Party Convention (May 23-25) at Vavuniya (160 miles north of Colombo.), murders four of them, assaults and robs the rest. Another train believed to be carrying delegates is derailed on May 23 as a result of sabotage, two policemen and a railway worker being killed (2 of them later discovered to be Sinhalese-Police Sergeant Appuhamy and porter Victor Fernando)-and 15 passengers seriously injured. Tamils in Eastern province retaliate by assaulting passing Sinhala motorists and migrant Sinhala fisherrhen.
During the next few days the riots spread to many parts of the North Central and Eastern provinces, and on May 25 the police admit that in some places the situation is 'completely out of hand". Bands of Sinhalese colonists from irrigation and land development schemes, armed with guns and Swords, attack Tamil villages and set fire to houses. Police and army with limited weapons and resources confront mobs, in some areas more than 1,000 strong. Some of the worst excesses occur in Polonnaruwa and Hingurakgoda, where Tamils are cut down with home-made swords, grass-cutting knives or clubbed to death or burnt alive. Nearly a 100 believed killed in Polonnaruwa alone on the night of May 25.
On May 26, the ombo. Tamils are times stripped nake Tamil-owned shops fire. The evidence of the riots is particula The rioting in each a gans from other pa Carried to and fro fr and private cars wit carefully marked bef The Army and Polic strict instruction not powerless to restor
The same day (M Bandaranaike make broadcast which has the situation. He say ation has arisen res. Sion. Certain incider trict where some pe cluding Mr.D.A.Sene of Nuwara Eliya, hav of violence and lawl for example, Polon stituting the effect f more violence in
aeaS.
On May 27, riots : island. At Panadura, mob attacks a Hindu the officiating Brah on him, and burns | Colombo, the rioting appeals by foreign e tion of leading citize Left-wing Nava Lan to call on the people the Govt. at last stir a State of Emergenc A curfew is impose armed forces are Ca sorship is announce main Tamil Party, w uniya had decided of disobedience campa clared illegal, and a S sation-Jatika V" likewise prohibited.
On May 28, the Oliver Goonetilleke, tional head of the charge of affairs. Bl Navy opening fire ir violence continues, On May 30, a major organised by a la Padaviya, is avertec Army, Police and civ 29, all persons poss
Background Briefing:October 1986

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
rioting spreads to Colbeaten, robbed, SOmed in the streets, while and houses are set on planned organization of ly strong in Colombo. ea is carried on by hoolits of the city, who are om the scene in lorries Tamil-owned buildings Drehand for destruction. :e, which had received to fire on the rioters, are
Order.
lay 26), Prime Minister a 'Call to the Nation' the effect of worsening S: "An unfortunate situulting in Communal tents in the Batticaloa dishople lost their lives, inviratne, a former Mayor 2 resulted in various acts essness in other areas - naruwa.....' This 'subor the cause' results in hitherto non-disturbed
spread to all parts of the a suburb of Colombo, a | Sivan Temple, pulls out min priest, pours petrol him alive. Elsewhere in gets worse. Following mbassies and a deputains, and a threat by the ka Sama Samaja Party to defend themselves, s to action, and declares |y throughout the island. i from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., lled in, and a Press cend. The Federal Party, the nose Convention at VavMay 25 to launch a civil ign from Aug. 20, is deinhala communal organimukti Peramuna-1 is
Governo General Sir although only a ConstituState, assumes direct tradespite the army and Several instances, mob on May 29 and May 30. rioting at Anuradhapura, ge abour force from
in time by committed |administrators. On May essing fire arms in Bat
ticaloa district (a Tamil majority area) are ordered to surrender the guns to the Police. A similar order is issued in the Jaffna peninsula on June 2, following attacks on govt. property. A permanent Army unit is stationed in Jaffna, under the Command of Col.F.C.de Saram.
June: On June 2, the govt. requisitions five British ships and a French ship to take 9,426 Tamil refugees from Colombo to Jaffna, Out of an estimated 12,000 men, women and children herded in temporary refugee camps. The operation, directed by the Ceylon Navy, is carried out in two stages during the nights of June 2-3 and 5-6, under conditions of complete secrecy. About 2,100 Sinhalese are similarly transferred by Sea from Jaffna to Colombo on June 3 in a requisitioned Japanese ship, despite the fact that no attempt was made to do bodily harm to Sinhalese in Jaffna, the govt. claiming that it ws a precautionary measure. With order being gradually restored by June 3, the Govt. Parliamentary group meets that day, and Prime Minister faces hostile criticism by party backbenchers, with some of them demanding the arrest of Tamil leaders.
On June 4, the House of Representatives meets at emergency session. The Prime Minister reviewing the riots, apportions a good share of the blame on the Federal Party leaders. He also says that in parts of the Northern and Eastern provinces there appeared to be a "movement against the State and the Government". The House adjourns around 10 p.m. and the same night, several Tamil M.P.s including Federal Party leader Chelvanayakam are placed under house arrest. Between June 5-9, nearly 150 Party leaders at District levels, including some Muslims, are detained under emergency regulations. One Sinhalese, K.M.P. Rajaratne, also detained.
By June 9, normalcy is restored, despite underlying Communal tensions, but the State of emergency continues.
On June 24, a joint session of Parliament is held, without participation by F.P. M.P.s who are in detention. The Speech from the Throne promises 'early legislation for the reasonable use of Tamil language'. C.Suntharalingam of the Tamil Resistance Front moves an amendment calling for the formation of a Tamil state as a separate Dominion within the British Commonwealth. He asserts that "the de facto separation of Ceylon has now taken place and should be given de jure recognition' and adding that partition was the only logical, historical, cultural and
15

Page 16
1946 - 1986
economic way out of the problem of TamilSinhala conflict. His amendment is ruled out of order by the Speaker.
July. On July 4, the Prime Minister says that emergency powers could now be eased but not completely lifted. He says there was no question of releasing the Federal Party leaders at that stage.
On July 17, Mr. Bandaranaike introduces the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Bill in the House after he had submitted it to a conference of Buddhist priests for approval. A request by Opposition Leader Dr.N.M. Perera that all F.P. M.P.s be released to enable them to participate in the proceedings is turned down. Mr. Bandaranaike's offer to permit the M.P.S to attend the debate under Police escort is turned down by Mr.Chelvanayakam who says that would be an affront to the dignity of the House.
August. On August 5, when the Second Reading of the Bill is taken up, all Opposition M.P.s walk out, except two-S.D. Bandaranayake and Mrs. K.M.P. Rajaratne. Deal
ing with the daranaike en of an 'offici guage was ' acts' - i.e. in similar docur cial language a Court woul guage, thoug for purposes regulations to cerning corre. under the Of quo would be after that date to corresponc though the po cial language Tamil could be for his conven Tamil version would be attac of Tamil for Ce in the Northe Mr. Bandaranaik the ground tha
1.
January. The House of Representatives by 78 votes to 7, approves (Jan.8), a Govt. sponsored Constitution Amendment Bill, which among other things, provides for the abolition of the system of separate electoral lists and representation for registered Ceylonese citizens of Indian origin in Parliament. Negative votes are cast by the Federal Party members and Independent M.P. C.Suntharalingam, who fear that under the proposed re-delimitation the proportion of representation for the Tamil community as a whole might be reduced.
Yugoslav President Marshal Tito, accompanied by his wife pays an official visit (Jan.21-25) in the course of a 3-month tour of Asian and African states.
On Jan.22, the State of Emergency imposed in May 1958 to quell race riots is extended for the 8th time. Under the Constitution, an emergency decree has to be renewed monthly.
February A swing to the right in the ruling S.L.F. P. The Party's Executive meets on Feb.1 and decides not to have any truck with "Leftist' political parties. For the first time since the party was elected to power 21/2 years ago, 'Right wingers' who were
noted anti-Comr ροstS.
On Feb. 3, Gov into an alleged d’etat . Deputy Sidney de Zoysa was made by FC dene, resumes
While the Cou niversary of linde impressive mili Tamils in the no day of mourning
On Feb. 12, ar disorder, the adopts a Bill to Act arming the C powers to deal v the Opposition SSPM.P.S. are suspends the Hc to enable the pol M.P.S.Dr. Perera the Opposition to the House. The M.P.s walk out depleted House
16

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
Ovisiohs of the Bill, Mr. Banasized that the only meaning anguage" was that that lanognised for necessary official le course official records and nts would be kept in the offd documents recognised by also have to be in that lan
there might be a translation
convenience. As regards the pe made under the Bill Conondence, he points out that ial Language Act the status reserved until Dec.31, 1960; ny Tamil would have the right in the Tamil language, altion of Sinhalese as the offi'ould be preserved. Thus, a sent a reply in Sinhalese, but ence a Tamil translation or a the substance of the reply hed. With regard to the use tain administrative purposes n and Eastern provinces, e defends the concession on t there were a very large
number of Tamil citizens living in those areas. The Bill is passed by 46 votes to 3.
Meanwhile the state of emergency is extended for a further monthly period from Aug.27.
September 58 Federal Party leaders who had been under house detention from early June are released on Sept. 5 along with K.M.P. Rajaratne.
On Sept. 3, the Senate passes the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Bill.
On Sept. 27, the state of emergency extended for a further unspecified period, and the ban on the Federal Party remains.
China to give Ceylon a loan of Rs.50 million in 4 annual instalments, to be effected through delivery of industrial equipment, materials etc., according to an agreement signed in Colombo on Sept. 17.
December: Ceylon's first Paper
factory at Valaichchenai in the Eastern Province goes into production.
959)
munists are elected to all key
t. decides to drop the inquiry attempt to organise a coup Inspector General of Police against whom the allegation bd Minister Philip Gunawaruties.
try celebrated the 11thanendence on Feb. 4 with an ry parade in Colombo, h and east observe it as a
dst tension and scenes of use of Representatives mend the Public Security vt. with greater executive h civil disorder. Leader of N.M. Perara and 8 other ibly ejected. The Speaker e 12 times within 3 hours to remove the protesting comes the first Leader of named or removed from ... and Communist Party the Bill is passed by a 51 votes to 3.
Ceylon to set up her first Iron and Steel mill with Soviet aid, it is reported from Coombo on Feb. 12.
March One-day token strike (March 3) to protest against the recent amendment to the Public Security Act. The strike called by the Trotskyite L.S.S.P. involves 12 major Trade Unions including those of plantation workers and white collar workers.
The House of Representatives adopts (March 12) a Govt. bill seeking among other things, to lower the age of eligibility for voting from 21 to 18.
On March 13, the 10-month old State of Emergency is lifted.
May: Crisis in the Cabinet. On May 6, Right wing Ministers write to the Prime Minister asking for the expulsion of Food Minister Philip Gunawardene. They announce that they would abstain from attending Cabinet meetings as long as Mr.Gunawardene remained a Minister. The Cabinet meeting scheduled for that day (May 6) is hurriedly cancelled.
On May 15, Mr. Bandaranaike announces re-allocation of Ministerial duties under
Background Briefing:October 1986

Page 17
1946 - 1986
which Mr. Philip Gunawardene would cease to be in charge of Food and Co-operative Development, and assigned the portfolio of Agriculture and Fisheries. Mr.Gunawardene conveys his objection.
On May 18, Mr.Gunawardene resigns, along with the second Marxist member of the Cabinet P. H.W. de Silva, Minister of Industries.
On May 19, 7 Members of Mr. Bandaranaike's own party, S.L.F.P., including 3 Parliamentary Secretaries, resign from the party, reducing the party's strength in the House to 45 in a House of 101.
On May 23, the Governor General issues a proclamation proroguing Parliament up to June 30.
vulne: The Ceylon Communist Party withdraws (June 1) its policy of "critical support' that it had till then pursued in relation to the 3-year old Bandaranaike govt.
An enlarged and re-shuffled one-party Cabinet is sworn in, on June 9.
Ceylon renews its 7-year old Rubber-Rice barter agreement with China. (June 13).
Indian President Dr.Rajendra Prasad pays a goodwill visit to Ceylon (June 16-22). On June 17 he inaugurates the Vidyalankara University for higher Buddhistic ecclesiastical studies at Kelaniya, 8 miles from Colombo, and on the same day lays the foundation stone of a building to house the International Cultural Institute of Ramakrishna Mission Centre at Wellawatte.
On June 24, the Governor General promulgates an Order raising the number of elective seats in the House of Representatives from 101 to 151.
July An Opposition move to censure the govt. (July 8) fails. The govt. manages to muster its full strength of 50 in the 101member House, as against the combined Opposition's 41.
August A new organisation to prevent entry of illegal immigrants into Ceylon from South India to be set up with headquarters in Jaffna in the Tamil-speaking northern province. The decision is taken at a high-level conference in Colombo (Aug 4) attended among others by Chiefs of the Armed Services and the Police.
On Aug. 6, the Prime Minister announces in the House of Representatives that the country would shortly add 12 jet bombers of
the latest type, arm defence forces. The to be delivered by Se 2 frigates were exp mine-sweepers that Navy. Fast motor
bought, and tenders
September of the Prime Minister Mr. Solom Bandaranaike (60) di injuries inflicted on previous day. The as Buddhist monk, Som in the College of In an 'eye specialist' v at close range at the brief meeting with dence. After a 5-hou after the shooting, N his sleep. Following nor General Sir Oliver State of Emergency.
On Sept. 26, the Mr. Wijayananda Dah Prime Minister. Mea nation aroused by number of acts of he monks who appeal to
On Sept. 27, Mrs to the people to allow take part in the fune
After lying in State House, where near past the bier, Mr. taken on Sept. 30 te Horogalla, 20 milesf red in the presence
October. De posed. It is announ Cabinet had decided sion of the Death Pe late S.W. R.D. Bandas
Govt. imposes ce with effect from th Gazette notifications jects covered by th "matters relating to vestigation conducte death of the la daranaike."
On Oct. 8, as a pro censorship, all daily with their leading arti
On Oct. 14, the Hi Buddhist temple, Bu
Background Briefing:October 1986

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
d with rockets, to her planes were expected ot.30. He also says that ected to join the two were already in the boats would also be had been called.
Assassination Winister The Prime n West Ridgway Dias es on Sept.26 of bullet him by an assassin the sassin is identified as a arama Thera, a lecturer ligenous Medicine and who had fired four shots ; Prime Minister after a nim at his private resioperation and 22 hours Mr. Bandaranaike dies in he shooting, the GoverGoonetilleke declares a
Minister of Education anayake is sworn in as nwhile the public indigthe murder leads to a pstility against Buddhist the govt. for protection.
. Bandaranaike appeals v the Buddhist clergy to ral rites.
for 2 days in Parliament y 1,000,000 people file Bandaranaike's body is his ancestral home at "om Colombo, and interof a vast crowd.
ath Penalty to be re-imced on Oct. 3 that the to repeal the Suspennalty Act passed by the anaike's govt. in 1956.
nsorship on the Press e midnight of Oct.6. A ays that among the Suba censorship would be any proceedings or ind in Connexion with the e Mr.S.W.R.D. Ban
est against the rigorous newspaperS Come out xle Columns left blank.
gh Priest of the Kelaniya idharakkhita Thero, H.P.
Jayawardene, a publisher, and A.A. Carolis Amerasinghe, a physician, all three prominent members of the S.L.F.P., are arrested in connexion with the killing of the late Prime Minister.
On Oct. 20, Minister of Local Govt. and Housing Mrs. Vimala Wijewardene is removed from office after she had refused to resign; this follows her known association with the three men who were arrested.
On Oct. 21, a Police officer, Inspector W.A. Newton Perera is arrested on a charge of supplying the revolver used in the killing to Somarama Thero.
On Oct. 28-29, allegations that Prime Minister W. Dahanayake and Minister of Finance Stanley de Zoysa themselves were involved in the conspiracy to murder the late Prime Minister, are made by Opposition members in the House of Representatiyes, and are vehemently denied by both.
On Oct. 30, a motion of no-Confidence on the govt. introduced by Leader of the Opposition Dr. N.M. Perera, is narrowly defeated by 48 votes to 43, with the help of 6 Nominated members.
November. On Nov. 2, Deputy inspector General of Police Sidney de Zoysa, a brother of Finance Minister Stanley de Zoysa, issues a Press statement denying that he had sought to influence officers investigating Mr. Bandaranaike's murder, and declares there was no evidence to jusitfy the arrest of Mrs. Vimala Wijewardene.
On Nov. 4, the Cabinet forbids the attendance of Mr. Sidney de Zoysa at any police conference about the investigation.
On Nov. 19, Mrs. Vimala Wijewardene and Richard de Zoysa are arrested after statement made by Somarama Thero are placed before the Cabinet.
On Nov. 21, Finance Minister Stanley de Zoysa resigns from the Cabinet.
On Nov. 26, the Govt. Parliamentary Group unanimously adopts a motion asking that D.I.G. Sidney de Zoysa be compulsorily retired.
On Nov. 27, it is announced that the Public Service Commission had decided to Send Mr. de Zoysa on leave with immediate effect, and to retire him as from March 1, 1960.
December. On the Prime Minister's advice, the Governor General dissolves Parliament on Dec. 5, and orders General Elections for March 19, 1960.
17

Page 18
1946 - 1986
GLCCL LLHCH CCLkOT TMCS TCCCHCCCCOLkLSC CCCLCCCSSS zS
Minisfer Mrs. Indra Gardhi,
Ori DÉC. W. Mr. Da haria yake announcias that he had resigned from the Sri Lanka Freeda FTI Partw Fis woLld forrm a party to con tost the coming General Elections
On DeC, 8, 1 hic Working Cortimit Tee of the S.L.F.P., refuses to accept Mr. Dahanayake's resignation and expels him from the party, togethef with 13 Others, After Mrs, Srimavo Banda tanke decies to accep rie presi dency of the Päft, thè working Cornmittee elects Mr. C. P. de Silva, the Minister of Ag ficultu Te anci Laffids, as party of Csident The split in the S.L.F.P., was followed later the same day by the dismissa o 6 Ministers and
or e Parld Tij II Da hans yake's g Stanley de Zoy: Home Affairs.
On Dec. 13 M The Cabiret,
On Dec., 4
da safar. Ca5. Magistrale, Col der HTE CD ME Jay G Wat def" E,
MECİT M. F. Wow hi
18
 
 

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
-
HTKSKHCLLLLL CCLL CS LCM MHCCCHHC CCaLaaCCCCCCS CLCCL CTMM CTCHa
hry Secretary FťOT M* yt and the Fard | Of Mr
Si Minister of HG3|| IF i Tri
C.P. de Silva Esgris fron
the hентігg of the Baгі opens before the Chief TDC TTE 7 åCCLSC Luf TLrTacy to L. Tide are - lijћarakkhita Thero, H. P. Anura de Silva a motor h3d ACET AF TE SIG CIT
aLS KS tLLLK LeeLLGGLCLLC ttLLL LLLLaLLLLSSS for Newton Perge H. Mrs Wimala WEF war. dare and A.A Carols Amerasinghe Na charges were referred against Richard de 'Oys: Who was released
The U.N.P. wins a sweeping victory at the Colombo Municipal elections Det 19, HMuLLL S uuL S uuKLKLLLL S L LL LLLLLS S TLLLLS Senama yake, bl.a. Ting 23 of the 37 seats, TTT S SSS0S L L SS LL LLKLLS L SS L SS Mu LSSS LLLLK KCSH HHuu LuLLLKKYuuuLK CHCH K LL Mariajama Eksat hy Peran Tuma. Ved by Mr Philip Gunawardene contests 8 seats but fails to үлп апү
Background Briefing:October 1986

Page 19
1946 - 1986
1S
January Major General H.W.G.Wijeyekoon assumes command of the Army, (Jan.1), succeeding Major General Anton Muttukumaru, who has been appointed Ceylon's High Commissioner in Pakistan.
Five Ministers belonging to the SLFP are dismissed (Jan.5) from the 'care-taker government' of Prime Minister W. Dahanayake. Their places are filled by five others who had filed their nominations to contest the forthcoming General Elections under the banner of the Prime Minister's newly formed Lanka Prajathanthravadi Pakshya (LPP).
On Jan.20, the creation of a new Ministry of Internal Security is announced. Mr. Sidney de Aoysa, Deputy inspector General of Police (on leave preparatory to retirement) is appointed Permanent Secretary to the Ministry.
March General Elections on March 19, for the first time held on a single day, and for an enlarged Parliament of 151, excluding 6 Nominated members. The UNP, led by exPremier Dudley Senanayake emerges as the Fargest single party with 50 seats, closely followed by the SLFP with 46 seats. The Tamil Federal Party emerges as the third largest party with 15 seats and appears to hold the balance. Other party results are:- LSSP, led by the Leader of the Opposition Dr.N.M. Perera - 10; MEP, led by Mr. Philip Gunavardene - 10; LPP, led by care-taker Prime Minister W. Dahanayake - 4; Communist Party - 3; Independents and others - 13. In the virtual rout of the newly formed LPP, Mr. Dahanayake is defeated in his own constituency of Galle which he had represented since 1944. Among others who lost their seats are two former Tamil Ministers - G.G. Ponnambalam and C.Suntharalingam.
On March 20, Mr.W. Dahanayake tenders his resignation and Governor General Sir Oliver Goonetilleka holds consultations with Mr. Dudley Senanayake and the new leader of the SLFP, Mr. C.P. de Silva on the formation of a new Ministry.
On March 21, Mr. Dudley Senanayake is called upon to form a government; having previously stated that he would go into opposition than form a coalition, he accepts the task after some hesitation. At 48, he is being elevated to Prime Ministerial office for the Second time.
On March 22, an 8-member Cabinet, the
smallest so far, is J.R. Jayawardene g nance, Broadcastir Local Government
day the Federal Part not support Mr.S would vote againsti
On March 30, the first defeat when th the Speakership, M wing Independent, date Sir Albert Per| 1956) by 83 votes
April: The annu Bank, made public Ceylon had registe of Rs.251 million import bill was unpr were valued at Rs.2 at Rs. 1,754 million. the drop in external ion to RS.689 millio
Delaring open th Parliament on April outlines the policy Dudley Senanayak steps announced ir discussions with r prove the estrange Sinhalese and Tam
On April 22, exa sworn in, the govel House of Represer tion amendment t tion on the Addres the Government di dence of the Hou votes to 61, with a eral Party votes wi
On April 23, on vice, Governor Ger leke dissolves Par eral Elections to be
May Mrs. Siri elected President ( the resignation for Silva.
On May 24, she a accept the Premie a majority; she wo a seat on the grou to be "just the Le
Background Briefing:October 1986

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
)(6O
worn in, which includes ven responsibility for Fig and Information and and Housing. The same /announces that it would enanayake's govt. and at the first opportunity.
Government suffers its 2 Opposition nominee for r.T.B.Subasinghe, a Leftdefeats the UNP candies (Speaker from 1952O 60 on a Secret ballot.
al report of the Central
on April 1, shows that ed a record trade deficit n 1959. The rise in the ecedented. Total imports 2,005 million and exports The deficit accounted for assets from Rs.883 mill
.
le newly-elected (fourth) 6, the Governor General and programme of the e government. Among the Address was "early minority leaders" to im'd relations between the il Communities.
ctly a month after being nment is defeated in the statives when an Opposi) the Government's mos of Thanks, stating that not command the Confise, was adopted by 86 ew abstentions. The Fedth the Opposition.
the Prime Minister's adera Sir Oliver Goonetil
ament, and orders Genheld on July 20.
mavo Bandaranaike is if the SLFP (May 7) after health reasons of C.P..de
nnounces that she would ship if the party secures uld not, however contest hd that she did not want ader of the Opposition'.
(Under the Constitution, she would lose her Premiership only if she fails to get elected to Parliament within 4 months).
it was announced in New Delhi (May 25) that India's next High Commissioner to Ceylon would be Mr. B. K. Kapur; the present High Commissioner Mr.Y. Gundevia is transferred to the External Affairs Ministry where he would be Special Secretary.
June. The Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake in his electoral campaign accuses the SLFP of having entered into a secret agreement with the Tamil Federal Party. In reply, Mrs. Bandaranaike denies the charge and accuses Mr. Senanayake of trying to win the election by arousing communal ill-feeling between the Sinhalese and Tamils.
VJuly. For the second time in 4 months, the country goes to the polls on July 20. The SLFP, led by Mrs. Bandaranaike, secures 75 of the 151 seats, leaving the UNP a poor second with 30 seats. In terms of votes however, the UNP secures 1,143,290 as against the SLFP's 1,022,154. A feature of the elections was the greatly reduced number of candidatures, as compared with the previous elections held 4 months earlier. Whereas in March there had been 898 candidates, in July there were only 393. The reduction was partly due to a no-contest agreement between the SLFP, the LSSP and the Communists.
The Federal Party which fielded 19 candidates at the March elections and won 15, wins 16 seats having fielded 21 this time. Others returned are:- LSSP-12; Communist Party-4; MEP-3; LPP-2; JVP-2; Tamil Congress-1; and Independents-6.
Mr.W. Dahanayake and Dr.Colvin R.de Silva, deputy leader of the LSSP, who lost their seats in the March elections, are returned to Parliament.
On July 21, Mr. Dudley Senanayake resigns, and the Governor General invites Mrs.Sirimavo Bandaranaike (44) to form a new government. She is sworn in the same day, to become the world's first woman Prime Minister.
On July 23, the new Cabinet is sworn in. in the 11-member Cabinet, Mr. Felix Dias Bandaranaike becomes Minister of Finance, and the sole minority community member,
19

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Page 22
1946 - 1986
Mr. Badiuddin Mahmud, a Muslim, is given charge of Education and Broadcasting.
August: Mrs. Bandaranaike takes her oaths as a member of the Senate (Aug. 5)- the Upper House. This is the first time that a Prime Minister sits in the Upper House. On Aug. 4, the Govt. also announces the choice of Mr.Shondaman, the leader of the Ceylon Workers' Congress, as one of the 6 Nominated members in the House of Representatives. His appointment gives plantation workers of Indian origin representation in Parliament for the first time in nearly a decade, after Indian settlers were disenfranchised.
The Speech from the Throne read by the Governor General at the opening of the new Parliament (Aug. 12) announces a number of important measures, including the proposed taking-over of the two large newspaper groups; the take-over of Assisted Schools, and the nationalization of Life insurance business. It was also announced that the government would implement the legislation of 1956 and 1958 so as to make Sinhalese the official language by Dec.31, 1960. Steps would be taken to ensure that Buddhism, "the religion of the majority of the people' was given 'due recognition and its proper place'.
On the same day (Aug. 12), Finance Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike announces a number of drastic measures to preserve the dwindling exchange reserves, including the ban on the importation of several items and increase in import duties on a wide range of goods.
On Aug.23, in a broadcast, Mrs. Ban
daranaike repli over of both the lower graded a tions to the for national Press wealth Press U assisted Schoc among the Rom Country.
On Aug.27, Governor Gene ment is passec abstentions. S. bate, Dr.E.M.V Party says it is Settler's "statel nationals under they should be since they had withdraw of CC going to Mr. Nel citizens of U.K Elizabeth'.
The Minister Mahmud annol would be paid taken over. The Schools.
Septembe Roman Catholic the country opp Assisted Schoo
October: the lankai Tha Party) meets in the presidents dents, Mr.M.M. intensive mem
January. On Jan. 1, Sinhala becomes, de facto, the sole official and administrative language of Ceylon, under the terms of the Official Language Act of 1956.
On Jan. 2, a hartal (complete stoppage of work) organised by the Federal Party takes place throughout the northern and eastern provinces in protest against the manner in which the government had sought to implement the language policy, which Tamilleader S.J.V.Chelvanayakam characterises as a "betrayal of assurances' given by the late Premier S.W. R.D. Bandaranaike.
On Jan. 22, the Federal Party at its party
convention, ado Tamil populatio launch a direct a Govt. offices, re ficials conductir resisting the te in Tamil areas.
in Madras, on Subra maniam ac Assembly that th a small islet off f between India at it would be sett ween the two When asked abc
22

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
es to Criticisms of the takeleading newspapers and the ssisted schools. Strong objecmer were made by the InterInstitute and the Commonnion, and the take-over of the ls aroused many protests han Catholic community in the
he Motion of Thanks of the tral for his Address to Parlia| by 99 votes to 31, with 19 peaking during the 4-day de.Naganathan of the Federal wrong to call any Indian Tamil ess'. If they were not Indian the Indian Constitution, then regarded as British subjects
been in Ceylon before the blonial rule. "There is no use nru for a settlement. They are ... You should go to Oueen
of Education, Mr. Baduiddin Jnces that no compensation when assisted Schools are take-over would cover 2,653
r: Protest meetings of the is are held in various parts of posing the Govt. take-over of ls.
The Working Committee of mil AraSU Kadchchi (Federal Colombo on Oct. 1-2, under hip of one of its Vice-Presianikkam, and decides on 'an bership drive before the next
annual sessions in December, at which the Party will decide on its programme of action to achieve its objectives'.
On Oct. 28, an official Bill is passed vesting in the government the control and management of over 2,000 Govt.-aided schools.
November: Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Royce de Mel and six other Naval officers interdicted from service (Nov. 16) pending investigation of an allegation that two naval vessels had smuggled contraband liquor into the island.
December. On Dec. 1, Government assumes control of about 2,500 aided Schools. Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic agitation against the take-over continues along the coastal belt, with parents and the Catholic public moving into about 60 school premises to resist the take-over.
On Dec.29, the House of Representatives adopts an official motion making Sinhalese the language of the House, with arrangements for members who did not understand Sinhalese. It was announced meanwhile that public servants over 50 years of age could opt to retire without compensation before December 31, 1961, and those who do not exercise the option would be required to pass a proficiency test in Sinhala within 3 years.
Prime Minister Mrs. Bandaranaike arrives in New Delhi on Dec.29, on what she described as a "pilgrimage" to India. Her 17-day tour had actually begun on Dec.20 when she arrived in Bangalore from Ceylon, accompanied by her two daughters, Sunethra and Chandrika.
961
ots a resolution calling on the h of the two provinces to ction campaign by picketing Fusing to co-operate with ofg business in Sinhala, and Iching of Sinhala in Schools
Jan. 23, Finance Minister C. mits in the State Legislative e ownership of Kachchativu, ameswaram was in dispute Id Ceylon, and that he hoped led when other issues betCountries are also Settled. ut reports of harassment of
Indian fishermen at the hands of the Ceylon Police, he confirms the reports, and says that the State government had taken "proper steps" in the matter through the Government of India.
On Jan. 30, the Federal Party campaign begins, with volunteers distributing leaflets appealing to Govt. employees not to co-operate in the implementation of the Official Language Act.
February: The first English-language tabloid newspaper, 'Ceylon Daily Mirror", is launched in Colombo (Feb. 1), published by the Times of Ceylon Ltd. and edited by Fred de Silva.
Background Briefing:October 1986


Page 23
1946 - 1986
5+1:11
Satyagrafia Scarles: Warner7 valunteers outsideo the gares of
20th February: Satyagraha campaign begins in Tami area S. The Second phase of the mor, -yirlent agitation begins - very soon to encompass the entire population in the North 3rd Eä51, nClLJCding Muslimis, änd in SOrñB Isstances even Sinhalese wing in these areas, The Satyagraha proper is li Tits to approwed ELLLCaCLLLLL LL LLLLL LLLCCL CLLLk GLLLLLLL CCC SLLLLSL TLTTLLLLLLL CLHHL GHLGL LL LLL LLLLLC LLLLLLLLS LS S S LaaaCL a LLLLLaLLLLL S SLLKKLaaL LLLLLL qrawe provocation.: DLL t trid tferrieri l-Luss erithusiasm generated by this resistancertoveTerit iam Crug all S2Cliams of the pe:pale, gives it the impression of a popular up fising, resuling in an Initial Sharp reactiOr from tha gaygfTiment. []n the ITU TÍng dĩ thL: 20th a17,30 a.m. when the FP leader S.J.W. CFI. wanayakart, along with about 200 volunteers, 5quat opposite all entrances to the Jaffra Kachcheri the rowincial secretariat, a huge Cr3w i gjithĖS filling Lup) the 5treets, playeTil Earı 13 af all pup} f(3) ChĖS.
In order to clear a path for the GoverriTent Agent M. Sri Kanthal, the police tra Tiple In the wallumitEEr 5 With their boicots, pulu|| thiệT Eyy their has a feet, lift some of ther arid hurl the IT away, while attacking them with LatLaaL0LSLEEL CLLKCLCLDu LLGL0HaL La aLaLaLLLL rush to the gates and replace the dislodged Satyagrahis, Scre others, enraged by the Police wiolence hurlstones at the police jeeps arid truck S. Th3 police Lhū ri u séu Lear gas tio dispers the crowd, which falls. Eack for a
while, but keeps surgi keting of the secretaria wolunteers pouring in swelling rurTběrš, po terTipt to Create a pat dges mot furction, Art" injured and bruised. E.M.W. Nagariathan . dan Firl breaks, and F piece), W.A. Kandiah W. DharmalingarT and
[]r1 thẹ: 21st, thẹ: 58' raha led by Amithal Waddukoddai. Although resert as T1:... With Sh Tes, the is Tark behaviour
םB Pחז החלל B חז חו_ retariat at dawn amid tal t: prevent volunteers f: är ICE-5, but a party of 3 M. P. for Kays. W.A. despite the brandishing haft Cd us f fori:E: sharp criticism by Opp. 3 Tigro ir Whi: lhe Pi day. The Times of Ceyl Im its Editorial Comment sit-in headed by philos the entrance to the D of dori along with 6,000 : rTi erħis : ''It is rabta rwol and Federal Party's w destrators, but the
Background Briefing: October 1986
 

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
he id Jaffra Secretarar,
mig forward agairi Pit:- t Critirihlug with Tore in the face of the li: E3d thEIT 3. thway. The Kachchari Orig scores of people arg - 5 M. P.s - Dr a Police at use
e holds Lup a biroker A. Amirt halingarm, K. THILJr är är Ti.
cond day, the satyagingam, ther M.P. for there is a Police party IEld5. Bat Iris, Ard folEJ rgSträint In Theil
lice arrive at the secke lupi positiraris trying Orlocking the entry Oluf TEFS Eard Eli'y
Kandiah Tiqwe ug: of batons and a half I lobo tre 3 5iti o 5 ra ylI:ä ä:ted On the first Ciri the Evening daily) adverts to thesis Tilar c:Lh Er Earl Fussel at CTC Ministry in LCTSupportifs, arıcı : or TIthy that Earl Russel's 'ETE ԷյԼյtՒl rlՇri-աIւյlt: ht significant difier crico
was that while Russel and his followers had tr: deäl With the discipli med Licit dari Pali:ɛ. the Federal Party had to reckon with Ceylon Poulis-E"
On the 23rd, the 4th clay, worTien plunge In Orne mQvLrñEirit Out of FisJC Satyagrähis |EJ y the MP for Chlawakär:hr:Istri, LLSLuHLHGLLHaHLLS KLaaL a00 Ma LaHLLCL HLS take up positions at the па г. Епtrance, led Mrs. Pjā: pat Armahalam, Presder of thiệ Federal Pärty WorTem's From t. (Ti th1= 5HT1E day, it is decided IC, Ccurrwer: the FP Towerment into an all party orie, The Scale Tamil Congre 55 M.P., M.Sivasit har TiLLLLLCLL CLCL HL LLCuLLLLLL LL LLLLLLLH LLL LLL Tamil United Literatio. Front. LSSP tictwists, the Mayor of Jaffna, T. S. Curairajah and leading Muslits meet and decide to throw their weight with the Towerment.
Or the 24th, the compaigri spreads 1: Mul|altiwi, Mannar and the Eastern Province, Or, the 25th, a large procession Di Mugl'irris le: by Muslirt lawyers and businessmen join the satyagra mis in Jaffra
Om the 2ÉStri, ħlitan Tiirma taxi M P., S. Thordaman warris against suppression of the F... P Campaigr arid #lear 1 s la ritation Tamils to storie food a či Ercivision 5 tor 3 months should a struggle for Tamil rights he. {:tarттез пне85згү
Om the 27th, Satyagraha artid picketing is | Juri:F1E2Cd Iri Batticala, The Capital of the East
3.


Page 24
1946 - 1986
*%
non-violent protest. erri Province, and administratior is torought to a standstill in both north & east.
On the 28th, an Opposition suggestion in the House of Representatives in Colombo, to initiate talks for a settlement of the protoems that had procked the Federal Party agitatior, i telected 31 marily by Fin3TIC: Minister Felix Días Bändärariälk - Wh) 53y:: the gyfrif TIE: n t was mot repared to negotiate under pressure.
March: On March 1, troops and naval persor'ırıbel Commanlığı Fed by Simrah.3lğa Sea offic. erS. aresertto Jaffra ärid Balticalga, where they parade through the streets with fixed tuayore13. I a massive show o strength, This measure which is deeply resentact by the Tamil population, is followed by an inten sification of the anti-government Campaign. At --Jaffna, trūCaps and Ilir:= blockadeth :it:- kets outside the secretariat to prevent food and water from reaching them, a large crowd LL LLLLLLLaaHGLLaaaLKS LaaaLKKKLLKS LL LaLaLLS the troops, culting them off from outside LaaaCLS LLLH a LLL00KLaaaLCS aHa LkLLL0 tMlL to lift their blockade after 48 hours.
Ciri March 2, a hartal is city served throughOut Jaffna am tra T13 3T 18ld up ty abOut 100 yolurit Eers W, *1: la y ddwyr om the railway lines. Jafra gets an acting G. N. Nissarika Wijeyeratrie. 33 trilialese, Wht) 15 qu{xt:J in t"14: Tewspar:#f5 TF1C 14:Xt đay (1883ỵIng: "The Satyagrahis are very well ba'lawed gentle rren" ir Balti algā, Muslim MP Kā rural, M.C. Aharted exhorts Muslims to in the Civil disoedience Car Tpaign.
On March 3, postal services in Jaffna LLLCLLLCLL LLLL SS LLLLC LL LLaaLut LLuuLLLLLLLLSLSL LL
24
Satyagraha scenes. School girls friarchin
їп processioп b
Batticaloa, tho MP for Battir: pate in the car Sar Tie day, all firrorTi I d f tria ar Trade - mi Cri : PrirTe Ministër Satyagrahis.
Or March Triri :ormale ea, li N. R. Rajavarot TÅ. Ehampår = 5eriously injur Ea
 
 
 
 

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
*fore paгтѓсірагілg in thв
|Sands of Muslims led by 2nd al:2, Marc:1ri Markar, partit:|- mpaign. In the evening of the awal per5On nel +T+ wythdraw, T1 Il Batti CalO3. In Colomb0, 9 Jrganisations protest to the against the use of troops or
A. picketing is launched at 3d y M. P. for Tricomalee, haoyart and M. P, for th, Mutur, Ti, the lattet amorg those d by police baton-charging.
Some highlights: some highlights of the campaign during the first fortnight WE『E -
The cortiplete identification of the Muslim Comrtunity with the Satyagraha movement, Ebith in the riarth and gäst;
The large-scale participation of worthen, who in many instances, slipped Of troke through army and police Cordons when men wolunt. Eers were por Eventad from approachIng trië: SEC fetariat in Jaffna,
The Jaffna Gwerrimern Agarit M. Sri Kantha going on 1 month's leave after reportedly pleading with the Govt. and the transfer of the Batticaloa G.A. B.R. Devarajan who was suspicted by the Govt. of having show oper sympathy with the satyagrahis and his replacement toy a Sirahat dese (G. A. D. Lyarıaցք:
The Incident Opposte the Jaffna sexretariat on the 2nd March, involving the Senior Asst. Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, N.O. Dias, which brought a touch of Comic relief to the thousands of volunters and onlookers: troops and police personnel in their anxiety to help Mr. Dia 5 galim access into the secretariat compound carry him high in an undgrified position, stumble against the Satyagrahis, some of their standing with uporaised hans. and circo him heavily with a thud on the Irrier side of the wall, tearing his Clothes In tha proce53.
Womer vonfers - āroffer procession.
Background Briefing:October 1986


Page 25
1946 - 1986
LLLLaaE LLaLaLaLS LELS LLaaLLaLLaaLaaLLLY LaLKHL0 | March 4 | for th: CCITTITTY, Gilth PriftiT: LLLLLaL SS LLLLLLaaaaa LLaaLLLLSSSS Y aCOLOL hCurs befor har departu TE, Esha TakES a broadcast appeal to the Federal Part to call off its civil disobedicnce Campaign, While accusing the satyagrahis of violence. She 5Fays: "It is said that T11-VII ola: T:Ę IS THE E5sence of Hry satyagraha TowerTerit B.It the so-called Satyagraha rowerment carried or by the Firil Pärt'y is y TI FTIEHS riCiri-yi::- lernt, Last Thursday, a Federal Party Mer Tiber []f FarliarTent and hi5 a55aCiaté5 hard Hot := rT - led by use of force she was referring to the N.O. Dias inciderth – to prawerta highly placed Government official entering the Kachcheripremises. Last night. I saw for mys LL aaK LaLL aLLaLaK0 aL LLLL L LL YSS
Frort March 11, the Govt, adopts a policy of Tefsiring try issue ErIrTits T II wholesale dealers to Huy Gravt, - distributed Hrid 5ubsided rations of rice and flour except through th: pit:kEted 5E Cretariats, with thig gSut thät food distributiQn in Tig Tamil prowiritB5 break 5 titl" rl. This is tL SԼյrriԸ Ք*tgrii Cum tara Ciled by local purch 3525 by thig CCoperative societies which were supporting the campaign, and by the assistance of The peasantry who bring stocks of food into the էtյկArրE
On March 14, the Govt.'s policy is strongly ELaaOHkLLL L aa L aL0LL aL LaLaaaaLa KK K LLLLLCLLL DLLCLLa LLL SKLuLHLOLOK a LLaaS aHa Tamils, especially in view of the fact that Other perTits vere berg i55uE Cutside the Sačrgitariats.
Appeals for a Compromise settlement are made during Mrs Bandararaike's absence bow a nur Inter of pronTiirment public Figures, imcluding leading Growt, suggcriters. After wisitIng Jaffra 1r see the situHtion of the spot, S.C. Bardafarayake, a Gowl, MP who had previously been Strongly Critical of this: Ta Til claims, states (March 12. "... It is the duty of patriotic Sinhala.50 people to grant the tLtaaLL L H HC GGa0LLLLL aaL LLLLaLLLLLLLaLLLLLCCL LLLLLL rightful plaCe in the Lu5e of the Tarrır:| larguage"; after Cornmenting on the pgarsful 'wa'y in which the CHTF33 igi Was boging cariducted. Hrid Ciri thë Car Tiplete unity of the TarTill :Kap LlatiLJri i TrES IF::tiwĘ of party or class, he gives warning that "the only alterLLLCCLOa LaL0LLLaaaaLLL LLLLOLLLLL LL LLLLLL aaLLS Try like What F138 happer Edir Korea, Wietnam and the Congo"
The agitation Teanwhile continues to Spread, and in SOThe drea 5 picketing is ex
tended to excise warehouses (a develop
Background Briefing: October 1986
ment which acting he de Silva describes as : deprise the govt. off offices and law Court:
PickeLing of the ser gims Ciri March 20, y*y To","y Council. : hic gress and the Muslim
() ni March 23. Primr this Islamig atter är ab: two days later she aga leaders to call of the \"JaffIIIIg lFlat th+: [3 [] THIS" I TEST TE OTI 5:ys that ther WS"r as to wistler certain ir the curt H1, Hild Eas deavouririg til PHralyst these places with a sepularällä sitte", The clared 1:d acted wit S. fairl" whilst the Sir <h Colwr i "'r 12 mi:Jirkable | arce', SFe Concludos Tent be contpelled to by other meams at its di of the satyagraha Tion r:: rigibility for thË must "ECESSārily follo
Commeming om t broadcast. President S P.M., Rasatları: kati 5 quis List of withdrawir
 

A 40 - YEAR CHRONOLOGY
Cad of the Goyt, CP, a dceliberate at te Tippt to Y CITLE} E (3. her Goyt.
S.
:re li:Iria 1 3 t Mar1"13r bogith this: support of the
yli: 'Wirkers’ Ciri| population
12 Minister ritur": In SICE I 1E day 3, är rid is deals to the Tartill
r CarTբaign, and gives wt might use "other ET. M5 E3 dirirlike ՉՃm for grave concern political organisations gt 3 te rol in factorE: E di I || 5 trati i rew to establishing a Gower i Tant, she dCH "to" I FT er dæble rehalese population had patience and for tear"Shi Juli 1. HE GJựETTITi25 tri la "Wo ai nd order ISOSal, the Sugarters E Et St Lake fu : C5E. Leices that |'''-
he PrTE Ministros of the Federal Party, as that there was r1. lg the Satyagraha Cam
Třre paľíce ge:firg ready for actfor,
paign which had been launched only as a last resort after exploring every possibility for a peaceful settlement. He says that Mrs. Badaranaike's speech seemed to encourag= 5xtrem ist SinhaleSE Element5. and observes that Sir Tilar urguard Ed Words by the late Mr. Bandaranaike had unleashed the first corrurial riots in 1956. The Tamil people, HE 3ds, are: "'TIL), preparted for amy more disCCaLlHLLLGLLLLLLLS LLLLL LGLLLLLLL LLLLL LGLLLLCLLLLLLLa ti di: "SCrimething CriCrę tę" before they withdrew the campaigri.
Replying the Prime Minister in 26th March, Mr. Chelvanaya kam says: "At mo time did we Lunder-rate the might of the PrirThe Minister's government. We are quite aware that she has powers enough to Lirr her armed forces against 15, We were arid are aware Lihat whErr the Prif TIE: Minister's forcegs; Lur their guns against us, we would be as helple SS agiris I her är TTIE: killers as her late husband was powerless when he faced the gurishots of his assassin on that fateful day in 000 HHuL LLHHLHHL ELaaaLLL Laa LLLLL S LLLLLLLLS speech touching or the Satyagraha. That speech is more the fitting an imporial dictator Speaking 10 fils Su[]|[3[:l$ rather tham a speech made by a democratic leader to her people, In fact the Tänner ärld Criritérts of her Speech CCTCC:t l'y dapat Cits Th 2 t Tua Status of the Tamil-Speaking PEOpe in Ceylan, The rule Over them is Isleed a Colonial Imperialism. It is 1: ['w rhy I HH1 the Primi Minister's speeches touching on the struggle for freedorm of the Tamil-speaking people ever,
25


Page 26
Satyagraha sceres: (sef y Dacfar E. M. W. Magi nā har stands bofc LH kLLLC L TMMLL LLL LLTTLLLGLTTCCaCCCTS TLLALLt kuTTTO
HOCHLHk C LkLLLLLL LGLLCCCk Ta Mea LLOMMTLS aC CMTCT CCT LCL
adopt the cheap to chniqugs of Tipria list1, in her radio speech just 35 fore LLLLLC S LLLCCCCT LH S Taa SS S ammLMSS uLL Tada an appeal to thoSE vihon site Caled LLLCLLLLLLL SLtLtLu a LuaLLLL La CLLaaL S LLLL HluLLMSSLLLLaLLS Hu S S LT L CLLKLS alists, This is exactly how tie British imperialists repliect to the Struggle TOT freekkLaL LLLL LLLL LLLTL LLCLaumL L LCLLLL LLLLLLLLS tion is that there is no section of the Tarispeaking peoplc, certainly in the Northern LL LCLCLLCLLL CCCCLLLLLSS SLOLuuu uLaaLLLL LLL fewertly support the Satyagrahi move Tent
April: Goyt, deputes Minister of Justice Sam, P.C. Fernardo to hay "informal" Talks with Federal Party leaders. Negotiations bitween the Govt. and Mr. Chelwanayakart begin on April 5, but break down two clays ller, M. CriesväTayaka Ti proposed thal LLS KuLHuLLLLL L LL LLLLLLa uu L uuuLLLLLLCLLCL purposes and in the Courts in the Northern 3rd Easterm Drovinces, and al 50 r714de representations regarding the setting up of Regional Councils, the position of Tartill public speaking persons outside the North and East. LL LLaaLLLLLLL LLLCTLKL C LLLLLCLLLLL LLOL proposals (in the ground that they conflicted with the Official Language ACT
Following this di Eādiccik, 1h E FEderal Farty decides to strengthen the movement. Pres|dirigive a má55 fally Httle Jaffa esplaride, an April 12, Mr, Chelwaria yak3IrT; Says: ANS THE political parties in south Ceylor treat the Tarn ugstion as a Sultatile issue to play up the rotins of the Simhalose võtet: and enthrone themselves or the seats of CCLLCS LLLCLC LCCLLLLLLL LLLL LL LLLLLLLOLCL0 LLLLS
26
fius C. J. F are u Table IIC, E
ETEE.
April 14: The Fede Civil disati EdiапСа сатра for Ti af Coperily defying CCLft affest, It †Auguf C 200 stīs, velopes and 3,400 Post LD laye agen soli Out
af H. CUF, IT IS, 5 O FLITTI, was plifi Tintig till för TTT i artid tak, Č. J'yĖr CryWT l. Jr Torg FridliĀS 5 PE:35äärit pagri, Tim passenger: uLs Service Tefuse TDI people are arrested for ticalia on April 17 Or parastal ser WFCE, 15 čxter1.de
April 17: on the n Hiē Minister šį mieset Hit " |Prime Minister's, Offici: Tiboj, afiţi di GCL 555, F11 = 5 gri and Easter prwin uran irrity in the Cabine pose a slate of CITIerge FIFiai:E ific FariärtéT" Minist of Daffice a Faix, DiH 5 EartidAfrika ferences. Wit at Ty, I: in the Ea",/’Grir'ng, thLI (G
। GrTiergency throughOut
pcwers to Tiritain :S: Collit Caill DāTTIES, TIL ITTI ship. The Federal Party fic Teleti ig5 and IrOCE5 :uri lil ESTICI r 1 of Wi fil ICES
 

ess the Justic of Cur
fail Party las Lutch 5 a aign which takes the T H C I'W I I J F d T LO ates ils rwn Postal 2,500 star TE: His | Cards + f2 TE TtHd i II i ti e Tirë t'RTI Jurid : Fiat the party 1: , TI PIE: FfCF
di FO Strutti S. As if of the Cami Jr. EHC 1:1 Tirill:üli Lurchase tickets, 55 th,5; HfThCE I TI. B. TIi tina sa Tie ay the HTKirk. El 53ritur,
horring of the 17th, "Terriglia Triales". :hr: li rilassilia TiC ir ilLua II. TITIT THE FACT thiCes Despite lack of E... It I & dj ocidiĝi: tÕ iri"- ricy, The Minister of a Secretary to the rid External Affairs, holds a series of Corvy 10 olice Colleti. тутувепут (3ргызга 51г. Cilaims 2 State of Cyl f” al ISS LITT E5 ՀԸritill ger"ritԸՑ է: rl | DEE i Press Crisurs prošСТ ljeti, ali putiSi JISTI TENE PITIT the fiini + or Laidir. Hi Td =