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LSSP played a key role in shaping evolution of politics in SL in a progressive direction
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) celebrates its 85th anniversary. Established on December 18, 1935, the LSSP has played a key role in shaping the evolution of politics in Sri Lanka in a progressive direction.
The LSSP developed into a strong socialist movement, providing it with a Marxist leadership, and organized the workers into powerful trade unions. The result is the establishment of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka with full democratic rights for all the people, particularly the workers.
At the time of the formation of the LSSP, the local capitalist class was represented by the Ceylon National Congress (CNC, the forerunner of the UNP) and the workers by the Labour Party, which soon died out. Among the founder members of the LSSP were N. M. Perera, Colvin R. De Silva, Leslie Goonewardene, Robert and Philip Goonewardene, and later S. A. Wickramasinghe. Success was achieved in establishing trade unions by overcoming resistance from A. E. Gunasinghe.
Efforts in the general political field began with the launching of the Suriyamal Movement in 1933 which led to an anti-imperialist and anti-war movement. The demand was “Peace” and “Freedom”. Led by the future LSSP leaders, the Suriyamal Movement helped to fight the Malaria epidemic of 1934/35 in which 125,000 died throughout the country when the British rulers were inactive.
The LSSP developed youth leagues to convey anti-imperialist propaganda to demand complete Independence and to oppose the demand for Dominion Status under the British, made by the CNC Government. The Government was forced to give up its demand. The success of the Youth League and Suriyamal Movement led to the formation of the LSSP. The main demands were complete independence, nationalization of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the abolition of inequalities arising from differences of race, cast, religion or sex.
The election of N. M. Perera and Philip Goonewardene to the State Council in the 1936 General Election as the opposition to the government made them the voice of the oppressed people. The weekly “Samasamajaya” (from 1936) and the “Samadharmam” (from 1938) took the party message to the people. Unlike the hall meetings in English by the CNC, the LSSP started open air meetings in Sinhala and Tamil. They had to develop new words to teach people to understand politics. In fact, the term “Samasamajaya” (equal society) was necessary for people to understand what “Socialist” or “Communist” meant.
In the period 1935-1939, LSSP agitation both within and outside the State Council resulted in free meals for school children in 1936, reform of the headmen system in 1937 and the abolition of the irrigation rates in 1938. Motions in the State Council to allow the use of Sinhala and Tamil in the Courts and in Police Stations were passed, but not implemented. The LSSP motion to stop more Indian labour being brought to Sri Lanka was defeated.
When a tea planter Bracegirdle joined the LSSP, he was to be deported by the Government, but the LSSP successfully hid him. He was later arrested but the matter was taken up in Court and he was freed. With the beginning of World War II in 1939, the LSSP continued its struggle for independence and people’s rights, and it was banned by the British and its leaders were jailed. Then they escaped from jail and joined the Congress Socialist Party in the fight for Indian independence. They were jailed once again and only released in 1945 at the end of the war.
In the 1945-1950 period, despite Government harassment, the LSSP led successful strikes and was able to contest the General Election of 1947. In addition to terror tactics by the British rulers and Government sponsored attacks on LSSP meetings and leaders, falsehoods were spread. For example, the LSSP would destroy religion. But the LSSP and its allies won 15 seats, coming second to the UNP which won 42 seats and formed a Government.
With the split in the UNP in 1951, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike formed the SLFP. From 1956 onwards, the SLFP formed Governments with the LSSP and CP, defeating the UNP. Thereafter, several progressive Governments of the Centre (SLFP) and the Left (LSSP and CP) were able to make substantial progressive changes for the benefit of the people. Following the split in the SLFP and the formation of the SLPP led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, the LSSP and the CP have continued the progressive alliance forming the present Government, with other political parties from the Centre and the Left.
This has enabled the living and working conditions of the ordinary people – workers, farmers and middle class – to be improved. Attempts by the UNP to serve the USA and the local capitalist class have been defeated. For example, signing of the MCC & Sofa agreements. Within the SLPP-led coalition Government, the LSSP is making every effort to serve the people by, for example, reduce prices by strengthening the Cooperative Movement and eliminating exploitation by middlemen. The LSSP is also fighting against racial, religious, cast and sex based prejudice.
Every effort is being made to strengthen national unity and build a Sri Lankan nation where every citizen has equal rights and privileges. In international affairs, the LSSP stands for a true non-aligned policy, maintaining good relations with all countries, but opposing attempts of imperialism to exploit people.
I wish to thank all the political leaders, political parties and the people who have supported the LSSP during these 85 years of political activity. The Socialist Alliance (LSSP,CP,DLF,SLMP & DVJP) have been actively cooperating in all spheres of political activities. The bonds with MEP have been strengthened. The links with the JNP & the PHU are increasing. Despite their splits, there is good cooperation with the SLFP and the SLPP, which have been further strengthened by working together in the present Government.
It is our hope that the major problems facing Sri Lanka and its people will be properly identified and settled favorably in the near future. I extend warmest greetings to all the people of Sri Lanka, and the working class of the world.
– Prof. Tissa Vitarana, M.P.,
General Secretary,
Lanka Sama Samaja Party.
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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
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By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.
“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”
Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.
