Behind The 1977 Violence

By Rajan Hoole –June 10, 2016

Dr. Rajan Hoole

Antecedents Of July 1983 & The Foundations Of Impunity – Part VII

A clearer picture of what was behind the events would emerge if we look at the testimony given about the actions of the various actors, what Sansoniaccepted and what he rejected.

13th August 1977:

HQI Gunasekera maintained that the policemen who invaded and misbehaved at the St. Patrick’s crnival had gone in search of two robbers. On the evidence, Sansoni accepted the contrary.

13th or 14th August:

PC Sattanathapillai testified that DIG Ana Seneviratne said at an Instruction Class that ‘all Tamil PCs have contributed to the ULF’. This allegation was rejected by Sansoni.

15th August:

The testimony of L.A. Saverimutu that SP A.S. Seneviratne had told him that the Tamils will pay dearly for th gun-shot injury cause to PC Bandara, was rejected by Sansoni.

PC Sattanathapillai testified that on the 15th night a eting of police officers including SPSeneviratne, inspectors, sergeants and constables was held at the SP’s house. He added that after the meeting a group of them made an entry about going to Pungudutivu, but went instead to the market and set fire to it, at 1.30 AM. This was rejectedy Sansoni as ‘prejudicial hearsay evidence’.

16th August

Mr. Yogesweran MP was told about the burning of the market at 5.00 AM, but was unable to contat SP Jaffna by telephone. He then contacted Mr. Wijepala, GA Jaffna, and Mr. Amirthalingam. This was about 5 AM according to Amirthalingam’s statement in Parliament.

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