New Wisdom: But Alas, Too Brief And Fleeting
By Rajan Hoole -February 7, 2014
Rajan Hoole
The Year 1988: The Red Moon Over Sri Lanka And The Dawn Of New Wisdom – Part 8
The last 6 months of 1988 represented a time in the South when the world was turned upside down. Once the Army turned to
killing Sinhalese youth, in sharp contrast to earlier years, it was regarded as a virtual leper. The Sun which had been the most pro-UNP and stridently chauvinist saw hope in the Government’s release of JVP leader Shantha Bandara on 15th September. Its editorial of 19.9.88 said:
“Errant over enthusiastic law enforcers, military and para-military agents have been responsible for the present fiasco amidst the fraternity of youth. Young men and women have been driven to dissidence and militancy due to various faults and failings of law enforcers. What is happening in the South today took place a few years ago in the North and East … New thinking is imperative.”
There was a new reluctance to use the catch- all word terrorists and an acknowledgement by the Southern Right that the Tamils had real problems with the State. This mood is also reflected in Herman Gunaratne’s For a Sovereign State, which appeared in October 1988. In the earlier sections of the book, there are copious references to Tamils as invaders, Eelamists and terrorists. On p.223 he quotes Rev. Dimbulagala, no doubt with approval: Read More
To be continued..
*From Rajan Hoole‘s “Sri Lanka: Arrogance of Power - Myth, Decadence and Murder”. Thanks to Rajan for giving us permission to republish. To read earlier parts click here
