Black July: Some Missing Threads

By Rajan Hoole -September 27, 2013

Rajan Hoole

Sri Lanka’s Black July – Part 31

“…Next came attempts to appease heaven. After consultation of the Sibylline books, prayers were addressed to Vulcan, Ceres, and Proserpina; Juno too was propitiated. But neither hu- man resources, nor imperial munificence, nor appeasement of the gods, eliminated sinister suspicions that the fire [that raged in Rome] had been instigated. To suppress this rumour, Nero fabricated scapegoats – and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians (as they were popularly called). Their originator, Christ, had been executed in Tiberius’ reign by the governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilatus…” - Publius Gaius Tacitus, from Histories 
Sinha Ratnatunga’s account of the July 1983 violence is contained in the first two chap- ters of his book, The politics of terrorism: the Sri Lankan experience. It was published in mid- 1988 by the International Fellowship for Social and Economic Development Inc., Australia. Ratnatunga’s material provides an opportunity to sharpen our conclusions about the events of July 1983. Both in his book, and in his column for the Weekend under the name Migara, Ratnatunga’s accounts display signs of close access to the ruling establishment of the day. The book is defensive of the conduct of the UNP and most particularly of Jayewardene. While much valuable testimony is given, the writer continu- ally suggests, or cites persons to the effect, that the formation of the mobs and the violence were spontaneous, thus absolving the UNP of all re- sponsibility. While referring to allegations against Mathew, he offers only Mathew’s denial. The value of the information is often lost by the failure to ask appropriate questions, a failure to push matters to their logical conclusion, and by overlaying facts with misleading suggestions.Read More