…expresses shock over the Netherlands deploying bulldozer against Uni students

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka has questioned the deployment of a bulldozer by the Netherlands to break up pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Amsterdam on 09 May. Had that happened in Asia, Western diplomatic missions would have promptly issued statements condemning the relevant governments over the threats such actions posed to democracy and freedom of expression.

The former Minister was commenting on the reportage of the violent crackdown ordered by the Netherlands against growing student protest campaigns in the US, Europe and now extended to Japan. In the US, the government used force to break up relentless protest campaigns.

Addressing a gathering at the Mahaweli Centre auditorium on Thursday (09), the one-time JHU heavyweight and former Minister discussed his long standing political associate Bandula Chandrasekera’s memoirs ‘Asuwe Parapuren Sannadhawa’ against the backdrop of current developments here, overseas, and the challenge the student movement faced in the ’80s.

Referring to the unprecedented measures adopted by the then JRJ government, Colombo District lawmaker Ranawaka explained how student movements’ world over faced up to, what he called, the ‘deep state.’ In the ’80s, the ‘deep state’ here was led by none other than JRJ, MP Ranawaka alleged, recalling the authoritarian measures adopted by that UNP regime to suppress them.

Among those seated in the front row were several MPs, including one-time UNP Deputy Leader and ex-Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

Having proscribed student unions, the JRJ administration ordered all round restrictions, MP Ranawaka said, pointing out how law enforcement authorities were brought in to Universities, regardless of the widely held perception that the law of the land wasn’t relevant within university premises.

Chandrasekera addressing the Mahaweli Centre gathering

The former Minister explained the circumstances under which author Chandrasekera, who had been with him (PCR) throughout his political career, dealt with the ’80s crises and subsequent developments, taking into consideration the JRJ politics and military challenge posed by separatist terrorism in the North-East, and the second JVP inspired insurgency in the rest of the country.

At the onset of the two-hour programme, Chandrasekera briefly explained the circumstances over the past several decades leading to the launch of his memoirs. Former Royalist Chandrasekera, then an undergraduate of the Sri Jayewardenepura University, was among those who fled the country at the height of the bloody anti-insurgency campaign in the ’80s. Chandrasekera, as well as senior lecturer in political science Pradeep Karnasuriya, and lawmaker Ranawaka, paid a glowing tribute to the author’s wife Thamara and their two daughters Pambasara and Indiwari.

Recalling how the UNP government killed student leader Thrimawithana, way back in late Oct, 1988, lawmaker Ranawaka said that the late Maj. General Wijaya Wimalaratne (he held a lower rank at the time of the second JVP inspired insurgency) warned them of dire consequences in case students’ protest against Thrimawithana killing got out of hand. MP Ranawaka quoted the war veteran as having issued a chilling warning ‘Don’t compel us to open fire.’

Thrimawithana was abducted, along with two of his colleagues, at Ratnapura, on Oct 22, 1988. They were subsequently tortured and killed, the JVP alleged at the time. MP Ranawaka declared that though many called JRJ a liberal he was nothing but a dictator whose strategies failed at all levels.

MP Ranawaka claimed how the JVP sought to recruit him to its ranks during those violent days. Declaring that the JVP made its bid in the wake of a heavy defeat the party suffered at the 1982 presidential election, MP Ranawaka said that the JVPer who tried to convince him was none other than Saman Piyasiri Fernando aka Keerthi Wijebahu, the leader of its armed wing Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya. JRJ wouldn’t have even dreamt of a group of persons preparing to take up arms, thereby challenging his political superiority. MP Ranawaka said that Wimalaratne acknowledged that JRJ had lost control of the situation in the North and South. MP Ranawaka pointed out how the JVP protest against the government in 1985 within two-three years took an extremely violent turn.

Commenting on the forthcoming presidential poll, now scheduled during the Sept/Oct period this year, MP Ranawaka said that the electorate should decide whether the country would continue with the bankruptcy status tag for the next two decades or pave the way for tangible measures to overcome the daunting challenges.

EJP has declared MP Ranawaka’s willingness to contest the presidential poll. Having entered Parliament on the SJB ticket, MP Ranawaka quit the main Opposition party to register a political party of his own. Chandrasekera is the General Secretary of EPJ.

Referring to several countries, including Greece and Argentina that had experienced devastating consequences of economic mismanagement, MP Ranawaka emphasized the difficulties ahead as Sri Lanka struggled to overcome the developing political-economic-social crisis. Unless tangible but unpopular measures were taken and the issues at hand addressed in a systematic and rational way, Sri Lanka couldn’t overcome the economic crisis, MP Ranawaka warned.

Urging the country to be mindful of the economic challenges, the ex-Cabinet Minister stressed the responsibility on the part of all stakeholders to establish a new political system. MP Ranawaka discussed the continuing impact the Aragalaya was having on the population.

Senior lecturer Karnasuriya warned that the struggle would be renewed unless the JVP/Jathika Jana Balawegaya (Malimawa) achieved its political objectives at the first national election after Aragalaya. Karnasuriya, who had been with the Champika-Bandula camp for a long time, departed that grouping over a year ago and said that the JVP’s success is anticipated.

The gathering was told that the political storm that forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office in 2022 necessitated the electorate to understand what the country expected of it as the current dispensation struggled to cope up with the situation.