Mainstreaming Radical Politics in Sri Lanka: The case of JVP post-1977

https://doi.org/10.22146/pcd.25721

Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri(1*)

(1) University of Colombo
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


This article provides a critical understanding of dynamics behind the roles of the People's Liberation Front (JVP) in post-1977 Sri Lankan politics. Having suffered a severe setback in the early 1970s, the JVP transformed itself into a significant force in electoral politics that eventually brought the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to power. This article explains the transformation by examining the radical political setting and mapping out the actors and various movements which allowed the JVP to emerge as a dominant player within the hegemonic political mainstream in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, it also highlights the structural changes in JVP politics and its challenges for future consolidation.

Full Text:

PDF


References

Alles, A.C. (2001) Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (1969-1989), Rathmalana: Vishvalekha.

Alokabandara, Sumana (2001) Sinhala Vedikave raththaran Avadiya Pilibanda Sumana Mataka (Memories of Sumana on the golden era of the Sinhala theatre), Dehiwala: Vidarshana.

Amarasekera, Gunadasa (1962) Yali Upannemi, Gampaha, Sri Lanka: Sarasavi Publishers.

Amarasekera, Gunadasa (1976 &1996) Abuddassa Yugayak, Borelesgamuwa, Sri Lanka: Visidunu Publication.

Amarasekera, Gunadasa (1987) Ganaduru Mediyama Dakinemi Arunalu, Maharagama, Sri Lanka: Chintana Parshadaya.

Amarasekera, Gunadasa (1993) Jathika Chinthanayai Jathika Arthikayai, Maharagama, Sri Lanka: Chintana Parshadaya.

Amarasekera, Gunadasa (2009), Gamanaka Meda, Borelesgamuwa, Sri Lanka: Visidunu Publication.

Amarasinghe, Y.R. (2000), Revolutionary Idealism and Parliamentary Politics: A Study of Trotskyism in Sri Lanka, Social Scientists’ Association Aurora, Vol. 1, No. 1. (in Sinhala).

Chandraprema C.A. (1981) Sri Lanka, the Years of Terror: The J.V.P. Insurrection, 1987-1989, Colombo: Lake House Bookshop. De Silva, Nalin (1986) Mage Lokaya, Author Publication.

Dewasiri, Nirmal Ranjith (1991) Deshapalana Nayakayeku Lesa Rohana Wijeweerage Balapema- 1966-1989 (Impact of Rohana Wijeweera as a political leader) (Unpublished dissertation submitted for the BA degree in History, University of Colombo).

Dewasiri, Nirmal Ranjith (2000) Formation of Sinhala Nationalist Ideology in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries (Unpublished dissertation submitted for the MPhil degree in History, University of Colombo)

Dissanayake, Wimal (2005) Enabling Traditions: Four Sinhala Cultural Intellectuals, Borelesgamuwa, Sri Lanka: Visidunu Publication.

Fernando, Laksiri (1983), ‘The State and Class Strugglein Sri Lanka: The General Strike of 1980’ Labour Capital and Society, McGill University, November 1983

Gunaratna, Rohan (1990) Sri Lanka, a lost revolution? The inside story of the JVP Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Gunasekera, Prins (1998) A Lost Generation: Sri Lanka in Crisis, Colombo: S. Godage&Brothers.

Gunasinghe, Siri (1960) Hevenella, Colombo: Rathna Publishers. Fred Halliday (1971) ‘The Ceylonese Insurrection’, New Left Review I/69, September-October 1971.

Keerawella, G.B. (1980) ‘The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the 1971 Uprising’, Social Science Review, No. 2 Jan. 1980.

Kuhn, Thomas, S. (1962) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Laxman, W. D. (1996) ‘Macro-Economic Policy Framework and its implications for Youth Unrest’, in Unrest or Revolt: Some aspects of youth unrest in Sri Lanka (ed. By S.T. Hettige), Colombo: Goethe-Institute.

Laxman, W.D. (1997), Dilemmas of Development, Colombo: Sri Lanka Association of Economists. Moore, Mick (1993) ‘Thoroughly Modern Revolutionaries: The JVP in Sri Lanka’, in Modern Asian Studies, 27, 3, pp. 593-642.

JVP (2000) Rata Hadana Pasaurudu Selesma (Five Year Plan to Build the Country), JVP Publication 2000. Shanmugaratnam, N. (1984) ‘Sri Lanka’s “New” Economic Policy and Agriculture’ Social Scientist, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Mar., 1984).

Shanthasiri, Abewarna Patabendige (2004) Viplaveeya Drushtivadaya Ha Parlimentuwadee Deshapalanaya; Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna Pilibanda Adyayanayak, (Revolutionary Ideology and Parliamentary Politics; A Study on the JVP), Unpublished MPhil Thesis, Peradeiya University.

Tennakoon, Serena (1988) ‘Rituals of Development: The Accelerated Mahaveli Development Program of Sri Lanka’ in American Ethnologist Vol.15.

Tucker, Robert (1967) ‘The Deradicalization of Marxist Movements’, The American Political Science Review, Vol. 61, No. 2 (Jun., 1967).

Uyangoda, J. (2003) ‘Social Conflict, Radical Resistance and Projects of State Power in Southern Sri Lanka: The Case of JVP’ in Markus Mayer, et.al., (eds.) Building Local Capacities for Peace: Rethinking Conflict and Development in Sri Lanka. London: Macmillan.

Weeravansa, Wimal (2008) Ntta venuvata etta: ja.vi.pe. arbudaye sebe hetu (Truth instead of Lies: real causes of the JVP crisis), Battaramulla, Sri Lanka: Nidahase Niyamuwo.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/pcd.25721

Article Metrics

Abstract views : 5807 | views : 3192

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2017 Power, Conflict and Democracy Journal

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

web analytics View My Stats

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

       

 

 

                                © Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Gadjah Mada University Jl. Sosio-Yustisia Bulaksumur Yogyakarta 55281
                                                     Telp (0274) 563362 Ext. 150; +62 811 2515 863 - email: pcd@ugm.ac.id