The 13th constitutional amendment, first introduced in 1987, is the most contentious constitutional amendment in Sri Lanka. It has now reappeared. This was in response to the President’s remarks at the Tai Pongal festival in Jaffna last January 15. According to the President, the government intends to fully implement the 13th constitutional amendment.
Following that statement, a large number of people, including ‘Trinika’ High Priests and opposition political parties, took steps to protest the constitutional amendment’s implementation. In this context, when the government attempted to implement the 13th constitutional amendment approximately 35 years ago, a special person who objected to it also expressed his objection in this regard.
He is Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni, the man who used his bayonet to attack Mr. Rajiv Gandhi when he came to the island to sign the Indo-Lankan peace treaty. Mr. Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni released a video on his Facebook page explaining what happened to the country with regard to that incident and the implementation of the 13th Amendment.
Due to Ranil Wickramasinghe’s statement that police and land powers will be divided under the provincial council system introduced by the 13th amendment, the association of doctors, teachers, farmers, and workers in this country, ‘Sapta Maha Balavegaya,’ has launched a massive campaign against the government. We have seen that agitation being carried out through electronic media on the initiative of Chief Thero of Mihintale. It has been 35 years since the Indo-Lanka Treaty was signed.
On July 29, 2022, these amendments turn 35. What was the primary reason for the Indo-Lanka Treaty’s signing? That is, some terrorist gangs in this country, including Prabhakaran, are rebelling against the ruling government with the intention of dividing the country and establishing an Eelam state.
Later, a war known as Vadamarachchi was launched under the leadership of General Cyril Ranatunga. From Point Pedro, he continued the operation. When we only had 24 hours to take over Vadamarachchi, the racist Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.G.R., who was Prabhakaran’s friend, became concerned that Prabhakaran was being held hostage by our army. He persuaded Rajive Gandhi, to violate our international airspace and drop lentils in the north of Sri Lanka. He was able to exert pressure on Rajiv Gandhi, who called JR and proposed a solution to the problem.
When this agreement was presented, India put forward several major conditions. Terrorists’ weapons will be turned over within 72 hours. The Sri Lankan government planned to divide the country into nine provinces, each with police and land powers comparable to those of an Indian state.
We saw the entire population of this country opposing and marching, saying that legitimate sons of this country cannot be partners in the so-called peace agreement they are about to sign, which betrays the country. The JVP has been seen torching buses and transformers and causing damage to the country’s property.
Terrorists apprehended as part of the Vadamarachchi operation were temporarily detained at the Galle port. Meanwhile, JR signed the contract. When Rajiv Gandhi was ready, he issued an order to end the war immediately. JR was helpless. Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali was the National Defence Minister at the time. JR sent him to seek assistance from America because JR was an American patriot. The president of the United States at the time was Ronald Reagan, a well-known actor. Negotiations failed, and Athulathmudali was forced to return empty-handed.
JR had to stop the war at that time and sign an agreement. But with JR’s age, he was in a very weak condition. So he agreed to this. He agreed, we saw this country burning and the smoke going up into the sky. With that, the Indian army landed. They asked to release all the terrorists again, before signing the agreement.
I also had to go as an electrician in the Navy to bring these terrorists back to Jaffna. There was a lot of disappointment. Why am I saying that? After such a massive operation, only 21 of our soldiers died in the Vadamarachchi battle. The Tigers didn’t have Johnny Mines then. Today, how many people are injured after stepping on Johnny Mines? There were no cannons.
Remember 36 years have passed. When the entire country protested and yelled that day, I assumed that I, too, would take part in the ‘Guard of Honor’ ceremony alongside 72 soldiers. When the head of state arrives and departs, there are two guards. These guards were presented by the army and navy. So far, I’ve seen how the country’s patriotic forces, including Professor Sarachchandra, Maduluawe, Sobitha, have taken to the streets to protest. The protest was against giving Prabhakaran one-third of the country in writing.
The people’s spirit opposed to the the Indo-Lanka peace treaty. The current generation is unaware of these facts. I thought I was going to be on the Navy’s honour roll, so I tried my hardest as a legitimate child born in the south.
Rajiv Gandhi came to give Prabhakaran one-third of our country. I wasn’t sure if the guard would be given to the navy or the army. I stated then, and continue to state today, that the Air Force was awarded the guard of honour ceremony on the day the agreement was signed, which was unfortunate for the country. The Navy was awarded the guard of honour on the day he returned home. There was no CTB buses in this country on the day the agreement was signed. The Janata Vimukthi Peramuna set fire to all of the buses.
After Don Juan Dharmapala, I saw this as a historical moment in which this country was betrayed. I had decided at the time that I would not allow signing this agreement even if Rajiv Gandhi was killed three days before the award ceremony. I was determined not to become a traitor. But as I mentioned above, no one in the army objected to this.
On the second day, I thought that if Rajiv Gandhi was killed on the 30th, this agreement would be cancelled. That day, I raised my rifle and hit Rajiv Gandhi on the head to kill him. I struck with the intention of killing. In the court-martial case, I testified on legal advice in such a way that my sentence was reduced. But I expressed my opposition to Rajiv Gandhi while waiting to sacrifice my life.
After 35 years, Don Juan Dharmapala’s younger brother, Ranil Wickramasinghe has made a statement that he is giving these police and land powers today without any vote from the people of this country. The Maha Sangharatna has come forward and is protesting against it today.
After signing the agreement that day, I was sent to prison for six years for attacking Rajiv Gandhi, along with three members of our armed forces. These three are not alive. That means that I am the only one alive today who was responsible for this incident. That day, as a young Sinhalese born in the south, I saw the seriousness of this. The states of the world have been divided and controlled because those countries are larger in size. Because America is a big country, it is divided into 50 states. That’s how there were 25 states in India then. It was said that the 26th state would be Sri Lanka. Today there are 29 states in India. When Rajiv Gandhi came to give one-third of this country to Prabhakaran in a document, I came forward to protest the entire people of this country to that agreement, looking forward to sacrificing my life.
But there were very few people who pointed the finger at me that day. And there were those who appreciated it. Also my court martial case report was reported in favor of Rajiv Gandhi in Lakehouse newspapers. That is why I did not issue a statement to the media on the day of my release. So Vardharaja Perumal became the chief minister after creating provincial councils in this country and dividing this country into 09 pieces. He hoisted the Eelam flag and declared an Eelam state within three months of his becoming the chief minister.
At the time, as I recall, Canada and Switzerland accepted it. What would happen to Sri Lanka if some powerful countries including America and England accepted that state of Elam then? Sri Lanka is 4/1 of Tamil Nadu. Our population is two million and twenty five hundred thousand. There are six crore Dravidian people in Tamil Nadu. A kingdom bigger than us.Then first divide Tamil Nadu and then divide Sri Lanka. But none of the leader got appointed in this country since 1987 had the courage to cancel this agreement. I was in T.N.L. ‘Janahada’ and tore up this agreement. That’s how I stood for the unity and independence of this country.
What I saw that day, the damage caused in this country. At first, they ask little powers. After that, they ask for the rest. The Dravidian politicians of this country are ready to take the lead. You don’t just get the next one. After that, they take help from other countries and capture the whole country. Others don’t think so.
It was Ronnie De Malla and Gamini Dissanayake who brokered the Indo-Lankan agreement. Gamini Dissanayake was the first kapuwa. That’s why the people of Nuwara Eliya chased him home. Now Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe, who could never become the president through a democratic system of this country, is getting ready to divide this country. The state of Eelam has less police powers and only land powers. If you give that too, what will happen? I have said since then that Ranil Wickramasinghe is a traitor. But ‘Karume’ means ‘Malavi Panchamaha Raja Yoga’, which is placed in a tray and offers good luck, in his horoscope. It is because of that Raja Yoga that he got this on the tray.
Praise to the Rajapaksas of Pohottuwe, who failed to get a position as a Member of Parliament, came to Parliament from the position as Member of Parliament from the national list and became the Prime Minister and became the President today. Can we justify this? Is this justified? You have to tap the heart and listen. Today, the JVP does not speak a word about this. Anura Kumara always says that we accept the right to self-governance.
I did not hit Rajiv Gandhi looking forward to enter politics. I acted that day saying that I would sacrifice my life for the unity and independence of this country. Some people say that it’s over when you give it away. There are also such ignorant people. Since 1948, this country has never been ruled by wise, intelligent and high consciousness leaders. Because there are no intellectual leaders ruled this country. The venerable Maha Sangharatna expressed their objection today as well.
In the past, the main opposition party leader, Sirimavo Bandaranaike in Colombo Fort, tore up this agreement. We saw them. SLFP did not compete for the first Provincial Council that day. Objected to it. This was the situation then. The current generation does not know that.