The Coalition Government of SLFP, LSSP and CP

by W. T. A. Leslie Fernando

Although the Federal Party left the UNP led-coalition in 1968, it could still continue the full term till 1970. The country witnessed some progress in certain spheres under the 1965-70 regime. The agricultural plan initiated by Dudley Senanayake generated much interest in the field all over the country. Both Felix Dias Bandaranaike and Hector Kobbekaduwa pledged to carry forward the agricultural plan of M. D. Banda, the Minister of Agriculture in Dudley's Cabinet.

There was also marked progress in the industrial sector and the tourist industry. The reasonable use of Tamil regulations were passed under the Emergency and there was less communal tension in the North and in the East. It was during this regime the Mahaweli Development Scheme was initiated. Accordingly Dudley Senanayake was expecting to return to power again.

On the other hand giving one measure of rice free instead of two measures of rice at 25 cents adversely affected people. The government had no solutions to rising unemployment and the cost of living. The victimisation of teachers suspected of anti-UNP politics made the government unpopular. The changes in education provoked University dons. The Catholic Church was dissatisfied for not undoing the Schools Take-Over. The Davasa Group became hostile to the government for not privatising the printing of school books. Even the Mahaweli Development Scheme was interpreted as an imperial design.

In the 1970 general election, University lecturers, Maha Sangha, victimised teachers, government servants and the Davasa Group of Newspapers all joined hands against Dudley Senanayake government. The government lost the support of the minorities because of the Poya Holiday scheme. Although the Catholic Church was neutral some priests were seen working against the government. Besides people placed much confidence on the SLFP-LSSP-CP coalition because of the golden brains of N.M., Colvin, Pieter Keuneman, Bernard Soysa and others.

Massive victory

In 1970 the SLFP-LSSP-CP Coalition recorded a massive victory winning 116 seats - SLFP 91, LSSP 19 and CP 6. The UNP was routed and could win only 17 seats. Most of the Ministers in the Dudley Senanayake cabinet lost. Even Philip Gunawardena who represented Avissawella seat since 1936 also lost.

In the 1970 SLFP-LSSP-CP government the Leftists Dr. N. M. Perera became the Minister of Finance, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva the Minister of Plantations, Leslie Gunawardena, the Minister of Transport and Pieter Keuneman, the Minister of Housing. However when allocating subjects plan implementation was taken out of the Ministry of Finance and came under the Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

1971 Insurgency

The SLFP-LSSP-CP Coalition had to face the "1971 Insurgency" even before it could complete one year in office. Most of those who took part in the insurgency were unemployed rural youth, University undergraduates and students in higher forms. JVP was a Marxist-orientated organisation and its leader was Rohana Wijeweera, a former student of the Lumumba University in Moscow. He was expelled from the Lumumba University and when he returned to Sri Lanka, he joined the Chinese Wing of the CP. Thereafter he left that too and formed the JVP.

The JVP was organised as a secret organisation during the UNP-led regime in 1965-70. The youth were attracted to it by a series of five lectures and did not have much mass appeal. Nevertheless the economic burdens and unemployment were conducive to its growth. They say that the conventional Leftist parties who talked big about a revolution but did nothing towards it made the youth join an armed struggle.

The plan in the "1971 Insurgency" was highly adventurist. They were to collect weapons and make bombs and suddenly attack the Forces and capture power. The government became aware of the activities of the JVP and took retaliatory measures, to suppress it. The police arrested some leaders of the JVP and took offensive action against it. In these circumstances the JVP was compelled to attack the Forces on April 5, 1971 before the due date.

As this was an unexpected sudden attack, the government found it difficult to suppress it immediately and it appeared as if the insurgents would succeed. But the government was able to reinforce the forces with assistance from friendly countries and could suppress the revolt with slaughter and mass arrests. Although the official report was that it caused about 1300 deaths, it is believed that it amounted to over 10,000.

Over 16,000 involved in the Insurgency were arrested and kept in detention camps. Some of them were released and others were rehabilitated. A special tribunal was set up to try those who led the Insurgency. Those who were found guilty were jailed and Rohana Wijeweera the leader of the JVP was imprisoned for life. Although the "1971 Insurgency" failed, it set the phase for the reforms like the nationalisation of large local and foreign owned estates.

The setting up of the 1972 Republican Constitution was one of the great achievements of the SLFP-LSSP-CP Coalition. It was drafted by Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. The powers of the Queen as the nominal head of the country was removed. Appeals to the Privy Council were abolished and a local Appeal Court was created.

Constitution of 1972

The Republican Constitution of 1972 abolished the Publich Service Commission as well as the Judicial Service Commission. Appointments of Judges to lower courts had to be approved by the cabinet. Dr. Sarath Amunugama opines that the abolition of the Public Service Commission and vesting the power of appointment, transfer and dismissal of public servants with the relevant Minister and the cabinet was making room for political interference in the public service administration.

Another feature of the 1972 Constitution was the removal of Section 29 of the Soulbury Constitution that provided the safeguards to the minorities. This evoked protests from the Tamils. The Federal Party and the Tamil Congress that were hostile to each other from 1948 joined together against it. Some contend that the struggle for a separate state germinated from the 1972 Constitution. It is also said that the Leftists who stood for parity accepted Sinhala as the official language by the 1972 Constitution because it was conceded by the Federal Party in 1965 Dudley Senanayake-Chelvanayagam Pact.

The death of Philip Gunawardena, the Father of the Leftist Movement in Sri Lanka was another important event that took place in 1972. There was no State funeral for him and when Dr. N. M. Perera even moved for State participation some other colleagues of the Leftist movement had demurred it. However Dr. N. M. Perera paid a moving and glowing tribute to Philip saying "History will no doubt accord him his rightful place in the political life of this country. In the years to come when lesser mortals like us have played their part and vanished into the limbo of forgotten, a grateful socialist Sri Lanka will remember him with pride and place him in the worthy pedestral due to him."

In 1972-73 the price of rice went up in the world market and there was an increase of Prices of other imports. The Finance Minister Dr. N. M. Perera was forced to take stringent measures. Accordingly first measure of rice was kept at 25 cents and the second measure was increased to 75 cents. Sugar was rationed and prices of wheat flour, bread, milk powder and cigarettes were increased. And outdoor patients in hospitals were charged 25 cents.

The government made an appeal to people to lead an austere life. It encouraged people to grow alternative food crops like cowpea. There was compulsory savings for public servants. What Dr. N. M. Perera expected from these measures was to prepare people to stand on their own feet in the long run without depending on foreign countries.

The situation in the world market worsened in the following years. In 1974 the Arab countries raised the oil prices and in our country the petroleum prices had to be doubled.

By the 1974 Budget the rice subsidy was reduced by 50% and bread was rationed. Transport of rice districtwise was banned to prevent hoarding.

As a result price of rice increased further. There were queues for bread in bakeries from 3 a.m. Economic burdens became unbearable to people.

Affluent

In this background Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike offered the Ministry of Trade to Dr. N. M. Perera instead of Finance. But Dr. N. M. Perera declined. The LSSP implied that the increase of tax on the affluent was the reason behind this move. In the meantime Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike alleged that the speech made by Dr. N. M. Perera at the Hartal Commemoration meeting in 1975 was vituperative and there was a conflict.

This conflict was worsened in due course and finally the LSSP Ministers Dr. N. M. Perera, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva and Leslie Gunawardena were expelled from the government.

Achievements

The Communist Party stayed with government but in February 1977 it too left the government protesting over the manner the strikes were suppressed. Soon T. B. Subasinghe, a Minister sympathised with the Leftists too resigned from his portfolio and left the government.

Then the LSSP and the CP accepted Cabinet portfolios, it generated so much hope among the masses. The achievements of Philip Gunawardena and William de Silva in the 1956-59 regime brought glory to the Leftists. However, the Leftist Ministers in the 1970 Coalition were unable to impress people to that extent and rather they frustrated them.

On the other hand the brutal manner Dr. N. M. Perera suppressed the Bank's strike surprised all!

Dr. Colvin R. de Silva extending the term of Parliament by two years without an election by the 1972 Constitution, embarrassed many!!