Military coups

As per a news item, addressing a news conference at the Government Information Department, the current Navy Commander has lashed out at politicians who spread rumours that there would be a military coup if the government failed to arrest deterioration of democracy. He said it was only a figment of the imagination. He claimed that in the history of Sri Lanka there had been no such incidents. He said there would be no military coup in the future as well, as the armed forces were there to protect a government elected by the people.

The Navy Commander’s claim that there had been no previous military coups in the country is not correct. The 1962 abortive coup orchestrated by the top brass of the police and armed forces is a case in point. Several military and police officers planned to topple the government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike during the night of 27 January 1962. However, key leaders were arrested before the coup was carried out. The accused were found guilty by a special court established for the purpose in Sri Lanka , but were set free by the Privy Council in UK, due to a legal issue.

There was also a case of an alleged military coup in 1966. The first task done by the so-called national government led by UNP was to arrest the then Army Commander Richard Udugama, a relative of former Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, for an alleged Army Coup, with an aim of pleasing the Federal Party (A constituent of the Government in 1965) . Major General Richard Udugama successfully managed the security situation, in the North under Mrs Bandaranaike’s government (1960-1965).

The Army Commander was charged for an abortive coup to topple the elected government of Dudley Senanayake, with a few non-commissioned officers in the army, a retired civil servant and a monk with political ties, on the basis of an alleged plot for a coup. The suspects arrested included Major General Richard Udugama, N.Q. Dias (former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence under Mrs Bandaranaike’ government) and a prominent Buddist monk of the day, Ven. Henpitagedera Gnanaseeha. Two suspects Corporal Tilekawardene and Dodampe Mudalali were reported dead while they were under Police custody. Several Buddhist army officers, including Major (later Lieutenant General) Denzil Kobbekaduwa were sent on compulsory leave. All accused, including General Udugama, were released after several years in custody, since there was not any evidence in support of an abortive coup.

Thus arresting and filing cases, with various allegations against people who were responsible for successfully managing the security situation against separatist elements, and who have had close links with the county’s political leadership is not new to us. The present government was also formed with the help of separatists.

S. Akurugoda

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