DIG Jingle Dissanayake’s Report on the JVP in Lanka, 4th November 1974

A NOTE from Michael Roberts, 27 November 2023

This file is among the documentary material under my name in the Special Collections, Barr Smith Library, Adelaide University and Samantha Farnsworth, its chief, sent me a pdf copy  I cannot recall how the original Mss came into my hands. Its pdf format has been converted to Word File by my friend KKS Perera in Lanka. The spacing is erratic and difficult to change. I have resisted the temptation to highlight important details because I do not have adequate background knowledge of the situation in 1972 to 1974 (even though I conducted one or two lectures to JVPers held in the prison camp at Katugastota …… including Gamini Keerawella …… one of my previous History Honours students).

The photographs are my insertions …. and perhaps hit ‘n miss in character .

Wijeweera in rousing flow on platform … & on way to court with his lawyer

 

JVP Leader Wijeweera on way to trial (?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JVP inmates in Vidyodaya University Prison Camp

SECRET

INSURGENCY

 INTRODUCTION

 After the abortive insurrection of April, 1971, and as a result of the encounter with the Security Forces, about 150 insurgents who could not be apprehended got scattered and retreated to the Jungles in Wilpattu, Kantalal and Polonnaruwa areas around September, 1971. These insurgents got together towards the early part of 1972 and started functioning in stabilised groups in the above areas under the leaderships of James Samaratunga, Ekanayake, Garusinghe and Nandana Marasinghe. Nandana Marasinghe was subsequently arrested in Colombo, but the group operates yet in the Jungle under the leadership of his Second-in-Command, Heen Banda.

2. These insurgents have been responsible for several robberies in the above areas. One group was responsible for the murder of S. I. Abeykoon, 0.I.C- Kahatagasdigiliya and a Police Sergeant in January, One group was responsible for organising the Jail break in Anuradhapura in September, 1972.
3. Although the first few robberies had been conducted by them to obtain funds for their existence, it is now quite clear from evidence that these funds are being used for reorganizing the
4. Some of the other absconders who were in urban areas to were in hiding and inactive, due to the vigilance of the Security Forces till the end of 1971, but, as vigilance relaxed and with complacency setting in, they started reorganisational activities.

SIGNS OF REVIVAL

In April, 1972 on information regarding some clandestine activity taking place in Pathma Hotel, Panadura, a raid was conducted by the local Police and investigations revealed that a room in this hotel had been rented out by U. R. Perera and that he had been occupying this room with Palitha Shamdas and H. B. Premapala (38th accused, C.J.C. Case No.1). This room had been used since December, 1971 as the clandestine Headquarters of the J.V.P. for the urban absconders and the new recruits. Among the documents traced at this place were copies of letters written by Rohana Wijeveera, Bopage Lionel (2nd accused, C.J.C. Case No.1), others who were on remand and those who were engaged in reorganisational activity outside. These letters had been copied into an Exercise Book for easy circulation and reading.

2. This was the first occasion where a Central Headquarters was located by the Police, after the former Central Headquarters at the house of Osmond Silva at Vanathamulla and was disbanded during the April, 1971 insurrection.
3. The 3 suspects named above would not be arrested at the time of the detection. They have since been arrested and are now in custody. Another factor worthy of note is that the cashier of this hotel was also a released
5. Consequent to this, vigilance was maintained regarding reorganisational activity and in November, 1972, within two days, the CID arrested 122 suspects, most of them around Colombo, these suspects consisted of several absconders, escapees from prisons, new recruits of the J.V.P and others who had willingly given support to the reorganisation of the J.P.V. Subsequent to this 44 other suspects whose names had transpired during the investigation and among whom were escapees from prison and absconders, were
6. Interrogation of these 166 suspects and subsequent investigations have revealed that the J.V. P was being reorganized from about January, 1972 and that in furtherance to this
   • Secret discussions had been held by the leaders of the reorganisational

• Meetings and discussions between Jungle absconders, urban absconders and escapees had been held both in the suburbs of Colombo as well as in the Jungles.
• Insurgent classes had been held in the suburbs of Colombo.
• Insurgent classes and camps are being conducted in the Jungle areas and new recruits are being enlisted and trained, from villages close to
• Absconders and escapees were being employed in building sites around Colombo to provide hiding places for the absconders as well as to collect funds for the
• Absconders and escapees were organising and running farms close to Colombo to serve as hiding places and for collecting
• Insurgent suspects in Prisons and Camps are holding classes and training courses on
• Insurgents who are to be released from Prisons and Camps are, before their release, being allocated areas for them to carry on reorganizational
• District leaders for reorganization are being
• Attempts are being made to infiltrate the Trade Unions.
• Attempts are being made to infiltrate Government Departments, Corporations and large Private Sector Institutions, with a view to obtaining positions of
• On instruction of Rohana Wijeweera attempts were made to infiltrate a ‘weak’ Political party

Where the JVP members would appear in the name of the party, without exposing the true identity. This appears to have been achieved as is evident in the MEP.

• The support of sympathisers from various strata of society and positions is being wooed and received. Mr Gamini Gunawardene of Taos, Mr Indika Gunawardene, Mrs Kumari Jayawerdene and some doctors in the Government Service have been associating with JVP members who are engaged in reorganizational work and assistance in many forms has been already
• Plans were made to attack Anamaduwa Police Station in March, 1972, but this was not put into operation, as urban absconders were against
• Plans were made to hold up trains carrying large sums of money. One such incident was prevented by the arrest of an absconder who planned
• Plans were made to kidnap VVIPs. A suggestion was made to kidnap Mr Felix Dias Bandaranaike, or Mr Anura Bandaranaike and hold as hostages so that the government will be compelled to give into the demands of the insurgents. This was given up then, as the time was not
• Application for identity cards have been made by absconders under fictitious
• Houses and rooms have rented out in the suburbs in Colombo to hide urban absconders and to conduct reorganizational activities.
• A suggestion was made to assassinate Mr McNarama on his last visit to Sri This was not carried out as there was difference of opinion on this.
• Collection of funds for worthy causes.

Present Activities

Having learnt from the experience in 1971, the JVP has broad-based its policies pertaining to certain  matters viz wooing the support of masses, Trade Unions, Tamil and Indian Estate labourers.

2. Contact has been established in Prisons between leaders of JVP and leaders of Tamil United Liberation

Front and negotiations are taking place regarding the part each group has to play to assist the other. The Tamil United Front has launched a campaign to enlist the Tamil youth in all parts of the Island and has indicated to the JVP that arms and ammunition could be smuggled by them from India. In this context another interesting feature is that for the first time Tamil prints of ‘Thoughts of Mao Tse Tung’ have been received from abroad. At the same time JVP members in Prisons/Camps have started learning Tamil.

3. The other insurgent groups which existed prior to 1971 are again reported to be reactivating their groups and trying to reorganize at a faster rate than earlier, particularly with the intention of enlisting dissidents from the JVP who are at large, or who are being released. The principle that not only the youth but that the elders also should be indoctrinated in the line of a ‘Revolution’ is being followed now by most groups.
4. Since all these groups advocate a revolution and conduct their campaigns secretly, it may be prudent to believe that they would join hands or lend support to each other when the opportune time comes, so that their common aim of a ‘revolution’ would
5. information have been received that reorganizational activity, is being carried on in Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Kandy, Matale, Kuliyapitiya, Ambalangoda, Amparai and Ratnapura

THE FUTURE

The future plans of the JVP and other groups do not appear to have been formulated yet. From the information available they are very likely to commit the following in the near future:-

• Attacks on isolated Police Stations.
• Destruction of Identity Cards of people in jungle areas to prevent insurgents being identified as only they will not have ID
• Infiltration into any type of village level organization, whether it be cultural, religious or social, with a view to gain popularity and power. Instructions are being given even to infiltrate village level Kantha Samithis, Rural Development societies
• Assassination of VVIPs and highly placed public servants with a view to demoralizing the public and causing concern to
• Planned robberies of banks, temples and other places where large amounts of money are
• Individual acts of violence and terrorism.
• Hold-ups of trains carrying
• Hold-ups of transport carrying food-stuffs and attacks on food stores, MPCS and Co-op stores, where the support of members of the public is also likely to be

2. The general trend appears to be that by creating incidents of this type, people would be made to lose confidence in the security offered by the government and thereby made to feel that it would be better to support the insurgents, their aim, at the moment appearing to be more to create ‘chaos’ than to overthrow government.

INSURGENCY

I refer to my report dated 10th Sep 1973, and indicate below evidence that had been gathered with  regard to the matters referred to therein.

2. The building of an emergency situation could be assessed only by various factors which acts as indicators of insurgency. Some of these factors have been proved to be indicators of insurgency in our country as was seen from the incidents that occurred from 1969 to 1971, culminating in the insurrection of April,
3. Although prior to 1971 there were occasions where large groups of youth were arrested whilst holding secret discussion, the insurgents themselves had learnt a lesson from this and they now have discussions only with very small groups, on most occasions the discussions being limited to two persons at a time. We also have to appreciate the fact that some of those who did not have a chance of going through all the lectures and discussions prior to April, 1971, have had a tailor-made opportunity given to them during their stay in prison in the last two years or so. Indoctrination classes and detailed theoretical discussions have taken place inside the prisons and the rehabilitation camps

During their period of detention. These classes and discussions go on even now. In view of this, it is very unlikely that large groups would meet again to hold classes or discussions. If at all they meet, it may be only to decide how and when they should conduct a revolution.

4. The situation as it is today indicates that the groups that were in the jungle after they were scattered in the early part of 1972, have been successful in their theory of having camps in the jungle as their base and committing acts of violence and terrorism in the villages close to the jungles.by various robberies committed by them, they have collected enough money for themselves as well as for some of their comrades who are in the urban and village
5. The reorganizational activities of the insurgents could be broadly summarized under two categories :- (a) Reorganisartion inside the Prisons, and

(b) Reorganisation outside the Prisons. Reorganisartion inside the Prisons:

Indoctrination classes, theoretical classes, karate classes and even classes in the use of firearms with dummy weapons have been held inside the prisons and rehabilitation camps and are still being held. Hammon Heil Prison where most of the hardcore insurgents were held has turned out to be the present headquarters of the JVP. A Polit Bureau [PB] has been stared in this camp to show that the policies of th JVP are now decided by the PB, and not by Wijeweera himself as was done earlier, but it is clear from the documents traced in Prisons that this PB is merely a front and that Wijeweera will continue to lead the JVP on all important matters.

2. The PB also appears to be the answer to the allegation that the JVP was being run by Wijeweera and that he was being building up a personality cult. After the PB at Hammon Heil was established, PB in the other camps and prisons have been organized and at Ridiyagama camp and Anuradhapura Prison the presence of PB has come to our notice.
3. At Hammon Heil camp which is now considered university of the JVP, examinations on theoretical aspects of the JVP are reported to be held. There are reports of such examinations having been held at Ridiyagama and Senapura camps
4. The journal of the JVP which is hand-written has been started at Hammon Heil camp, and the information is that copies had been sent to other camps too.

A vast quantity of literature on insurgent activities is available in the camp. Although no outsiders are allowed to see prisoners at Hammon Heil camp, there is evidence of at least one case where a new recruit to the JVP had met a suspect at Hammon Heil on a visit card obtained under a false name.

5. The attitude of suspects at Hammon Heil towards the government could be well judged from the incident where they refused the CID and the Navy authorities to search this camp
6. The present trend appears to be that those who have attended the 5 classes inside the prisons pass on the notes of the 5 classes to a new recruit so that the need of having several persons meeting together would not arise.
7. There appears to be no control of letters being sent out or by suspects who are in most prisons. There is evidence available that a prisoner could sent out letters from the prisons without being censored by the prison
8. The suspects who are anti-JVP have been harassed and even assaulted in order to force them to continue with the AT Weerawila camp one suspect was murdered on this issue.
9. There is also evidence that wanted suspects have sometimes visited prisoners under false A wanted suspect has visited the prison to meet Wijeweera in the guise of a lawyer accompanied by an advocate.

Reorganisartion outside the Prisons:

Educational camps have been held at Muthur in March/April this year, where jungle groups, released insurgents and new recruites had participated.

2. The “Pahara” newspaper of the MEP [Breakaway group of Advocate Ratnayake] is being used as an organ of the JVP and members of the JVP are contributing articles to
3. Posters and wall slogans have appeared in several areas during the last four months with wordings similar to those used by JVP prior to 1971, although no authorship has been
4. Explosives have been stolen from at least three places recently:-

• 11 pounds blasting powder and safety fuse stolen from E.E’s office, Polgahawela on 11.

73.

• 100 pounds gelignite and 485 detonators stolen from E.E’s office, Diyatalawa between 4. 10. 73 and 9/10/73
• 500 detonators stolen from E’s office, Badulla between 28/11/73 and 20/12/73.

5. Theft of medicines also have been reported recently. This is significant as medicines had been found at a jungle camp in Pallekelle that was raided by the Army

• Medicines stolen from Trincomalee Base Hospital on 11.73.—valued Rs. 1524/-
• Medicines stolen from Hope Estate, Hanguranketa on 8/12/73 –Valued at […?]

6. Farms, Chenas, and boutiques had been started at various places by insurgents in order that members who are hiding from the authorities could be in a safe place and these places could also be used as transit bases for those on the move as well as for meetings and
7. Several released insurgents had been involved in robberies and thefts recently and they have been
8. The jungle groups had also committed several robberies of guns, some of which have not been
9. Stage plays have been made use of to collect funds for insurgent activities.
10. The jungle groups have their base headquarters in the jungles and they have been in touch with other jungle groups, absconders and released insurgents who are in the urban and village areas. Members of the jungle groups have also been visiting
11. There are instances where released insurgents had joined jungle groups. Thulhiriya Ariyadasa was one suspect who immediately joined the jungle group after his
12. the type of person who is now being recruited to JVP appears to be intelligent, educated and employed person as is seen from the recruitment of Tennakone from Anuradhapura who is a teacher and who had been used as a contact man between the suspects in prison, jungle groups and
13. In addition to the JVP there are other groups including the one led by Gamini Yapa who is still absconding, which appear to be active in recruiting new members. There appears to be an effort on their part to recruit members who are breaking away from JVP due to various
14. Several people in influential positions have been associating themselves with the insurgent groups since
15. Overtures have been made by some members of the JVP to suspects held in custody in connection with T.U.F., activities, with the idea of lending support to each other to achieve their ends. JVP members have also been learning Tamil inside the prisons. Dharmasekara himself had been in Jaffna at the time when he was absconding and very recently he had made a request that he be given a Tamil books to study. This is significant as the JVP lecture on Indian Expansionism has been lectured after 1971 to obtain the support of the Tamils and the Indian Estate

Future Trends:

As indicated by me in my last report several temple robberies had taken place where insurgents including those released have taken part.

2. Infiltration into village level organization is already taking In some instances released insurgents have been have been able to infiltrate into local branches of political parties.
3. The last lecture of the JVP on “How to conduct the Revolution” has since being amended. With the experience gained by the jungle groups up to now, it is very likely that although they may not launch a revolution within a short period from now, acts of violence, robberies etc., may increase within the next few months and there may even be isolated attacks on Police

January 4, 1974.