The JVP won the largest number of MPs in Sri Lanka for the first time in the 2004 general election, by winning 39 seats. The JVP contested the 2004 general election after forming the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The JVP formed the UPFA with the SLFP in opposition to the ceasefire agreement signed by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The agreement imposed a large VAT on the people. The JVP had formed a movement called the Patriotic National Movement to unite the people against the ceasefire agreement. The leaders of this Patriotic National Movement were Wimal Weerawansa, representing the JVP, world cricket champion Arjuna Ranatunga, Elle Gunawansa Thero and Gunadasa Amarasekara, a literary figure. This Patriotic National Movement is a model of the National People’s Power established by the JVP today.
Like the National People’s Power, the Patriotic National Movement included artists and intellectuals. The star of the National People’s Power was Harini Amarasuriya. The star of the Patriotic National Movement was Arjuna Ranatunga. The only difference is that the JVP did not contest the 2004 general election under the Patriotic National Movement but contested with SLFP under United People’s Freedom Alliance and the 2024 general election was contested under the National People’s Power. The JVP made Wimal the hero of the Patriotic National Movement. The JVP leader Anura was the hero of the National People’s Power. The JVP formed the Patriotic National Movement against Ranil’s government. The JVP started the National People’s Power against the Maithri-Ranil government in 2019. The National People’s Power was built as a major force against Ranil’s rule in 2024.
The JVP held demonstrations, protests, and satyagrahas across the country against Ranil’s government from 2002-2004, uniting the country against Ranil’s ceasefire agreement and the agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The JVP signed agreements with the SLFP, but only after then President Chandrika agreed to the condition that the SLFP-JVP government would withdraw from the ceasefire agreement and the IMF agreement.
In 2004, the SLFP fielded a limited number of candidates to contest against the JVP. Through those candidates, the JVP made a huge difference in Sri Lanka’s electoral history. When the preferential votes were counted in Gampaha, the Bandaranaike stronghold of, the crown prince of the Bandaranaike fell to second place. The winner in Gampaha was Vijitha Herath. In other districts as well, the JVP candidates defeated the SLFP banners and became the number one in the districts. In fact, in 2024 as well as in 2004, the SLFP supporters voted for the JVP. The SLFP came to power with the help of the JVP.
In 2004, Chandrika’s United People’s Freedom Alliance government had four JVP ministers. Anura Kumara was the Minister of Agriculture. Lalkantha was the Minister of Rural Economy. Chandradasa Wijesinghe was the Minister of Fisheries. Vijitha Herath was the Minister of Culture. Bimal Ratnayake, Sunil Handunnetti, Samantha Vidyaratne, and Nihal Galappatti were their deputy ministers. As agreed with the JVP, Chandrika withdrew from the agreement that Ranil had signed with the IMF. The World Bank also closed its office in Sri Lanka and left. Chandrika did not withdraw from the ceasefire agreement. However, she was not interested in initiating peace talks under the ceasefire agreement. She took advantage of the fact that the LTTE withdrew from the peace talks during Ranil’s government. The JVP was happy with this. But by then, the JVP’s main enemies, the UNP, and the Hela Urumaya were accusing the JVP of breaking its promise to withdraw from the ceasefire agreement.
After the tsunami in December 2004, Chandrika decided to form a Tsunami Relief Council with the LTTE to receive foreign aid, with the intervention of Norway and the international community. By this time, there were already debates within the JVP Politburo regarding Chandrika’s refusal to withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement. When she went to sign the Tsunami Relief Council Agreement with the LTTE, the JVP Politburo was in flames. The JVP Politburo decided it would be difficult for them to remain in that government if she signed the Tsunami Relief Council Agreement. They decided to withdraw from Chandrika’s government. Thus, the JVP preserved its political virginity by not falling into the trap of the ceasefire agreement set by Ranil. The JVP withdrew from Chandrika’s government and went to court against the Tsunami Relief Council.
The JVP, which incited the entire country against the ceasefire agreement signed by Ranil and came to power together with the SLFP, has incited the entire country against the IMF agreement signed by Ranil and, unable to escape the trap of those agreements by assuming the presidency and the power of government alone, is implementing those agreements under the same conditions that Ranil signed.
Anura and the JVP did not say that they would withdraw from Ranil’s IMF agreement. But they said they would change the agreement and remove the harmful taxes imposed on the people. Like the JVP, Sajith and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya also said the same thing. In the 2024 presidential election, 5.6 million people voted for Anura and 4.3 million for Sajith to change the IMF agreement in a way that was favourable to the people. Ranil, who said that the IMF agreement would be implemented as it is, received 2.2 million. Namal Rapakshad also received 3 million for voting against the agreement. Dilith Jayaweera also received 1,22,396 to create public opinion against the agreement. Then, more than one crore people of Sri Lanka voted to change the IMF agreement.
‘Why doesn’t the National People’s Power government tell the IMF about this..?’
In 2005, Mahinda became President because the JVP withdrew from the government against the 2005 Chandrika-LTTE agreement, protected its political virginity, and fought the election campaign with Mahinda bearing it on their shoulders. If the JVP had bowed its head and been in Chandrika’s government, the JVP would have gone to the 2005 presidential election like tamed kittens, not like lions.
Today, the President is not Chandrika or Mahinda, but the JVP leader. Just as Chandrika defended Ranil’s agreement when the JVP left the government, today the JVP leader and the JVP have to defend Ranil’s IMF agreement. That is by losing their political virginity.
