Commemorative rally on February 21:

MEP to mark 1956 historic victory

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The historic victory achieved at the 1956 general elections by political and national forces which rapidly developed since 1951 was the initial victory of Sri Lanka's historic national revolution, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Leader, Water Supply and Drainage Minister, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena said.

A commemorative rally to mark the completion of 56 years of the 1956 national revolution led by the MEP under the leadership of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, D.A. Rajapaksa and Philip Gunawardena will be held on February 21 at 3.p.m. at the Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo.

'The Sunday Observer interviewed Dinesh Gunawardena on the 1956 national victory. Excerpts of the interview;

Q: How do you asses the 1956 election victory led by the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna?

A:The 1956 election victory is not merely an election victory.

It was a historic national revolution. What we gained in 1948 was a mere political freedom.

Our political leaders were agents of the British rulers. Even their external appearance with Top-hat and trait coat suits reminded us Brown Sahibs.

The political and national forces which rapidly developed since 1951 successfully organised the masses against the neo-colonial leaders and takeover the country's administration successfully through the ballot.

It was a silent national revolution.

The '56 victory was the outcome of the unity of the contemporary national religious, and cultural forces of the country popularly known as "Sanga-Weda-Guru Govi-Kamkaru Pancha Maha Balavegaya.

Q: Is this victory important in today's context?

A: The British colonial rulers did not want to give total freedom to Sri Lanka. They kept Katunayaka and Trincomalee air and naval bases under their authority. A mentally enslaved class which always ignored and hated local traditional values languages and religions were created by the British rulers.

They wanted to keep that class led by D.S. Senanayaka Sir John Kotalawala and J.R. Jayawardena in power.

The colonialist mentality was realised by the progressive political leaders such as S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike D.A. Rajapaksa, Philip Gunawardena Dr. N.M. Perera and Dr. S.A. Wickramasingha, Trade unions and national movement leaders.

Philip Gunawardena	Minister Dinesh Gunawardena

They all got together to defeat the colonial rulers' conspiracy to keep the country under their thumb through their local agents.

Q: Do you see any capitalist threat to Sri Lanka today?

A: Yes, who were behind the LTTE terrorism which destroyed our motherland for more than three decades. Under the able leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka eradicated the LTTE terrorists and gained independence from the terrorism .

All anti-Sri Lankan forces are trying to cripple the progress of Sri Lanka to gain political and economical independence.

The dream of the leaders of 1956 was socialism to dawn a new era where Sri Lankans have political, social and economical freedom. After creating a peaceful environment in Sri Lanka. President Mahinda Rajapaksa led government aims ushering in prosperity through development project.

The anti-progressive local and foreign forces want to sabotage progress. Various attempts under the guise of human rights and freedom movements are being staged by capitalists who are pumping dollars for those who create problems for the government.

In 1956 too several attempts were made by local and foreign forces against S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Philip Gunawardena alliance.

Finally, they succeeded in getting rid of Philip Gunawardena from the Cabinet and later assassinated Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1958.

Q: There was an attempt to turn round the 1956 forward march specially with the economic and political spheres in Sri Lanka in 1977 under the J.R. Jayawardene regime. What is its impact?

A: The consequences of wrong economic and political policies introduced by the J.R. Jayawardene regime are visible today.

The entire Country and the people became victims of his capitalist -rightist policies.

It is an accepted fact that most of the nasty practices, corruptions wastages, lawlessness introduced to this country by 1977 regime. The distraction of nationalisation of pubic transport and setting up of the Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) in 1957 were ideal examples.

The CTB was gradually destroyed and private bus operation was encouraged by the UNP regime.

The same thing was done to the CWE which handled the distribution and sale of essential food items.

All these were done for the benefit of the rich and not for the poor people. During that period the whole Sri Lankan society became a cultural desert with scant attention paid to languages, religion and cultural values. J.R. Jayawardene's short sighted policies led to the creation of the LTTE.

The aspirations of 1956 revolution are meaningful even today. It is essential that we become totally independent from economic, social and political interferences.