Ranil Wickramasinghe and burning of the Jaffna Library.
42 years ago on 31 May 1981 the public library in Jaffna was set ablaze
Ranil Wickramasinghe and burning of the Jaffna Library.
—————————————————————————————
42 years ago on 31 May 1981 the public library in Jaffna was set ablaze. At that time ,it had 95000 invaluable rare books and publications. This horrendous deed was executed by the hooligans of the UNP who were sent to win the development council elections and the police officers who were deployed for special duties. 4 ministers were sent to Jaffna by the then president J. R. Jayawardene to win the elections by hook or by crook. They were, Minister of Land Development and Mahaweli Gamini Dissanayaka, Minister of Youth Affairs Ranil Wickramasinghe, Minister of Fisheries Festus Perera and Minister of Industries Cyril Mathew.
They were residing at the “ Kings” Rest House. They took with them, a train load of thugs specially selected from Kurunagala. From 31 st May to 8 th June a rehearsal for the Black July which was to take place in 2 years (1983) was held. The most destructive acts of this crime wave was setting fire to the Jaffna Library and burning of the house belonging to the Jaffna MP. The uncanny happenings was that after 41 years in 2022, the houses of the MP s in the south were set ablaze, including the house and the “ valuable library “ belonging to Ranil Wickramasinghe who was then the Leader of the Opposition.
A staunch Buddhist might take this as , a retaliatory karma which he experienced in this life itself. Surprisingly , of the 4 politicians who caused this grave destruction in Jaffna, which paved the way to the Ealam war, only Ranil Wickramasinghe is still living. Now he is talking nonsense about the development and democracy. The fact that Ranil Wickramasinghe was one of the leaders of this crime was stated by the then MP for Gampaha, S. D . Bandaranayaka on 19 th June 1981 and is recorded in the hanzard. It is as follows:-
MP for Gampaha Mr. S. D. Bandaranayaka :- On the advice of the hon. Party leader Mrs. Sirima Bandaranayaka, I got an opportunity of visiting Jaffna yesterday. There I met the Chief incumbent of the Naga Vihara, The Bishop and the public. They stated that at the time of provincial elections, Gamini Dissanayaka, Cyril Mathew, Festus Perera and Ranil Wickramasinghe were present. We also got to know that 250 officers who were trained for election duty were ordered out of Jaffna by these 4 ministers.
The hazard report of 1981 July 10 parliamentary meeting.