The Army: The Operation In Jaffna; July 1979

By Rajan Hoole –April 25, 2015

Dr. Rajan Hoole

Law Enforcement and the Security Services: Politicisation and Demoralisation – 10

The Army was not used in combatting the Tamil insurgency until July 1979, following the passage of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Its manner of entry was most unpropitious, and set a precedent for the use of the security forces in what their actions rendered increasingly a ‘bloody impasse’. The President then bypassed the Army Commander, Maj. General Denis Perera, and gave a written brief to his kinsman Brigadier Tissa Weeratunga, ‘to wipe out terrorism in all its forms from the Jaffna District’ by the end of the year, placing at his disposal, ‘all the resources of the State’.

Another army officer, Maj. Gen. H.V. Athukorale, reflected later (Sunday Times, 10.9.95), “This period in Jaffna witnessed the climate being created for the launching of state terrorism… There were many things that were achieved in this ‘operation’. The Army was politicised and political commissars emerged. The Army Commander’s powers were usurped by those political commissars to carry out acts of state terrorism and torture against innocent civilians.”

General Tissa Indraka “Bull” Weeratunga

Conscientious officers who had a high sense of civic responsibility and thought of the long- term interests of the Army were disturbed. Among them was Colonel Jayaratne, who was deeply upset and communicated this to the Army Commander. General Denis Perera, who had been bypassed in the whole affair sympathised with Jayaratne, and told him that if he was unhappy he should not stay there, and Jayaratne was removed from Jaffna. Jayaratne was an officer for whom his colleagues had the highest respect. What exactly was so wrong with the ‘operation’?

There was a law and order problem in the North. Banks were being robbed and policemen and so-called ‘traitors’ were being killed. But it had a political dimension in the grievances of the Tamil minority. Bank robberies and killings were not to the liking of the Tamil people. The people had shown their dislike of killing by a record attendance at the funeral of Alfred Duraiyappah, the murdered Jaffna Mayor. They showed their dislike of lawlessness by helping the Police give chase to Sivakumaran after a robbery, and apprehending him. But the sense of oppression led increasingly to admiration for the militant youth. Even if the people doubted the ‘Boys’ being freedom fighters, they were reluctant to regard them as criminals. They felt that the Government had no moral right to demand that the people betray them. Yet in those days, before July 1983, it was a manageable problem. It was not until 1985 that the security forces faced problems of mobility in Jaffna.                                                  Read More