{"id":75830,"date":"2022-01-30T03:33:33","date_gmt":"2022-01-30T07:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=75830"},"modified":"2022-01-30T22:19:39","modified_gmt":"2022-01-31T02:19:39","slug":"1962-coup-conspiracy-rising-disgruntlement-within-army-and-police-top-brass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=75830","title":{"rendered":"1962 Coup Conspiracy: Rising Disgruntlement Within Army and Police Top Brass"},"content":{"rendered":"

By
\nD.B.S.Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

In order to understand the 1962 Coup d\u2019etat conspiracy phenomenon, it is essential to delve deep into some events that happened between Independence in February 1948 and the envisaged D-day for executing the coup on January 27-28th 1962. A brief re-run of history is necessary to comprehend the motives of the coup suspects many of whom belonged to the upper echelons of the Police and Army. Interestingly , serving officers of the Navy or the Air Force were not involved in the coup. However a former Navy chief was one of the coup ring leaders . Focusing on the role of the army in post-Independence history is particularly important to understand the coup conspiracy of 1962 because military officers were the pivotal force behind it.<\/p>\n

\"\"

1962 Coup Conspiracy: Rising Disgruntlement Within Army and Police Top Brass – by D.B.S.JEYARAJ<\/p><\/div>\n

What impelled these Army officers and gentlemen who believed firmly in \u201cduty, honour and country\u201d to violate their oath of allegiance to the democratically elected government of \u201cher Majesty\u201d and technically \u201cwage war against the Queen\u201d who at that time was the titular head of state? By the same token why did senior Police officers conspire to bring about a regime change through a coup d\u2019etat?A simple answer would be that the 1962 coup conspiracy was the culmination of a series of events that progressively alienated disgruntled army and Police top brass from the ruling politicians and inculcated in them ,a zealous fervour to save the country by resorting to such drastic action.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The armed forces and Police steeped in British tradition had certain values and established standards. These norms of conduct built up a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by the members of the army or police. This sense of camaraderie is summed up best by the French phrase \u201cesprit de corps\u201d meaning literally \u201cspirit of the body\u201d. The Merriam-Webster Dictionry defines esprit de corps as \u201c the common spirit existing in the members of a group and inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honour of the group\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Sir John Kotelawela<\/p><\/div>\n

The rise of populist politics in Ceylon\/Sri Lanka in the post-independence years saw the values cherished and standards maintained by the Army and Police being subjected to the whims and fancies of politicians. This was particularly so after the election of SWRD Bandaranaike as Prime Minister. The race-religion divide was being promoted within the Army and Police. This\u201d decline and fall\u201d is illustrated by two separate incidents regarding the appointment of an Army chief and Police chief. In 1954 when Sir John Kotelawela was Prime Minister, a Tamil Christian was appointed as Army commander on the basis of merit and seniority. Sir John an ex-army officer himself welcomed it. In 1959 when SWRD Bandaranaike was premier, the serving Inspector General of Police(IGP) was ousted. The next in line was a Sinhala Christian DIG followed by two more Christian DIG\u2019s. Bandaranaike brought in a Buddhist Civil servant from \u201coutside\u201d and appointed him to the post because he did not want Christian IGP. Both these contrasting incidents will be related in greater detail later in this article.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka or Ceylon got a modern, indigenous army during British rule of the Island. Different volunteer units were raised from early nineteenth century. In 1910 they were unified as the Ceylon Defence Force (CDF) and placed under the general officer commanding the British forces in the Island. After Independence in 1948, the Army Act No. 17 of 1949 was passed by Parliament on April 11, 1949 and formalized by Gazette Extraordinary No. 10028 of October 10, 1949. Thus October 10th marked the creation of the Ceylon Army and the date is observed as Army day.Initially the army consisted of a regular and a volunteer force. The regular army\u2019s ancillary, the Ceylon Volunteer Force (CVF) had approximately 1,500-2000 reservists. Each unit of the regulars had a parallel unit in the volunteers. By the mid-fifties a brigade size regular army of around 3,000-4,000 troops was formed.<\/p>\n

Col.Anton M. Muttucumaru<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

In the early years after Independence the commanders of the Army,Navy and Air Force were all British nationals seconded for service in Sri Lanka. In the case of the Army the first British commander was Brigadier James Sinclair , the Earl of Caithness. After him a Scotsman Brigadier Sir Francis Reid took over. The next in line was Col.Anton M. Muttucumaru.Thereafter came Col. Winston Wijekoon. Muttucumaru was Tamil and Wijekoon Sinhala. Moreover Wijekoon\u2019s father Sir Gerard Wijekoon was the president of the senate or upper house at the time.There was speculation then that Wijekoon may use his ethnicity and political clout to his advantage and supersede Muttucumaru and succeed Reid as the first Ceylonese commander of the Army. But when the subject was broached Wijekoon, regarded as a perfect gentleman dismissed it brusquely saying \u201cThere is one ahead of me in the line of seniority who is perfectly capable of taking command. I will await my turn\u201d.<\/p>\n

Thus Anton Muttucumaru became the first Ceylonese Army commander and served from 1955 -59. Wijekoon waited his turn and succeeded Muttucumaru and served from 1960 \u2013 63. This was the situation then where race and religion was disregarded and only merit and seniority was considered. A far cry indeed from subsequent events where race and religion became the criteria determining posts and promotions!<\/p>\n

\"\"

Solomon West Ridgeway Dias (SWRD) Bandaranaike<\/p><\/div>\n

1956 was a decisive year in which the United National Party(UNP) was voted out at the polls and the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) coalition led by Solomon West Ridgeway Dias (SWRD) Bandaranaike was voted in. The victory was depicted as a people\u2019s victory and the new government described as \u201cApey Aanduwe\u201d (our Govt) began ushering in what was called then the age of the common man. When Parliament convened formally after the elections,hundreds of supporers of the new Govt invaded the house by Galle Face Green. When the Police on duty tried to curb this unruly enthusiasm, they were severely reprimanded by the new Prime Minister. <\/p>\n

Subaltern social forces had realized the power of the ballot and were asserting themselves.A socio-cultural revolution was in progress. This in turn led to much friction and strife where the old order refused to die while the new order struggled to be born. SWRD himself described the situation as \u201ctrials of Transition\u201d and was mercilessly hacked by scribe Tarzie Vitachi in his \u201cfly by night\u201d column and lampooned by artist Aubrey Collette in his cartoons.<\/p>\n

The weak and vacillating PM began capitulating often to pressure groups and volatile individuals instead of instilling firm discipline.This went against the grain of the values and codes of conduct followed by the hierarchies of the armed forces particularly the army.A significant flashpoint of tension occurred in May 1956 within a few weeks of the new Govt assuming office.<\/p>\n

Eighteen soldiers from the Artillery regiment deployed in Mannar went on a hunger strike protesting service conditions. They demanded that the Prime minister himself intervene directly and redress their grievances. The Commanding officer Major. Eardley McHeyzer placed them under arrest pending disciplinary charges.Instead of letting the army top brass deal with this insubordination SWRD Countermnded the CO\u2019s orders, helicoptered down to Mannar and negotiated with the fasting soldiers. He gave them orange juice nd managed to get them to call of their protest fast but seriously dented military discipline. Subsequently the rmy Commander intervened and discharged the soldiers.<\/p>\n

Worse still was the escalation of the ethnic crisis. Sinhala was made the sole official language in June 1956. Tamil MP\u2019s and activists protesting against it peacefully through non \u2013 violent \u201cSatyagraha\u201d on Galle Face green were set upon by thugs and hooligans sponsored by ruling party politicians. The Prime minister reportedly ordered the Police not to intervene while mobs assaulted, stoned and manhandled unarmed Satyagrahis. When the injured Vaddukkoddai MP A. Amirthalingam with a bandaged head walked into the House, Bandaranaike sneered \u201cWounds of War\u201d to which the irrepressible Vavuniya MP C.Sundaralingam retorted \u201cHonourable wounds of war\u201d.<\/p>\n

Sir Oliver Goonetilleke<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sir Oliver Goonetilleke<\/p><\/div>\n

Then came the communal violence of May-June 1958. While mobs were unleashing violence against innocent civilians the Prime minister dilly-dallied and loss of life,limb and property increased. In fact an address to the nation by SWRD Bandaranaike actually helped to exacerbate the violence instead of quelling it. A delegation of concerned MP\u2019s and citizens consisting of people like R. E. Jayatilleke, M.P.,A. H. Macan Markar, M.P., Sir Razeek Fareed, M.P., Dr M. P. Drahaman, M,P., Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva, Selwyn Sarnaraweera, Chairman, L.C.P.A., R. F. S. de Mel, Chairman, Sinhala Merchants\u2019 Chamber, Devar Suriya Sena, Stephen Samarakkody, J. Tyagarajah and Dr M. G. Perera met SWRDB and urged the PM to declare a state of emergency and call in the armed forces.Yet the premier dithered. Finally the Governor General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke departed from protocol and called on the Prime Minister at his Rosemead place residence. Sir Oliver \u201cstrongly\u201d urged the PM to act mmediately. Finally Bandaranaike complied.<\/p>\n

After emergency was declared, the Governor \u2013General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke took hold of the reins of governance. Sir Oliver took full control and gave clear orders to the armed forces. \u201cClear them out even if you have to sh-sh-sh-shoot them,\u201d he instructed in the presence of the media.. The army and Navy then went into action. In Ratmalana the Army led by Col. FC De Saram fought a pitched battle with a well-armed mob near the CTB bus depot. The Navy opened fire on mobs and cleared the Fort and Pettah areas. The Navy chief Royce de Mel supervised the operation personally. Gradually the Army, Navy together with the Police quelled the violence and ensured Island wide security. Sir Olver and the armed forces saved the country and its people then.\u201dSol Banda\u201ds deplorable conduct was criticized strongly in the Army and Police barracks and mess halls.<\/p>\n

Even though the officers of the armed forceatreds discharged their duties without fear or favour and established law and order many of them were disgruntled. They felt that a communal conflagration need not have occurred in the first place. They felt that SWRD Bandaranaike\u2019s mis-governance and meek capitulation to communal forces was at the root of these troubles. They also felt he had mishandled and aggravated the situation.While the gentlemen officers of the army were seething with discontent, SWRD Bandaranaike upset the Police force also through blatant political interference of both a political and communal nature.<\/p>\n

By whipping up Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism to win the 1956 elections, SWRD Bandaranaike had unleashed resentment and hatred towards Tamils and Christians. There was Sinhala – Tamil friction on the one hand and a Buddhist- Christian schism on the other. An incident concerning a senior Police officer illustrated this state of affairs well. There was a move by the Catholic Church to construct a new Church in Maradana, Colombo. It was opposed by some Buddhist sections. An organized mob protested vehemently at the building site. When there were signs of violence, a senior Police officer got his men to disperse the mob through force.He also set up an emergency Police post at the spot. The officer was Asst Supdt of Police A.C. Lawrence who was a Tamil Catholic. Buddhist organiztions began condemning the \u201cTamil Catholic\u201d Officer. The Prime Minister wanted the IGP Osmund de Silva to take disciplinary action against Lawrence.The IGP refused but the PM kept insisting.So the IGP reluctantly transferred Lawrence out. This caused much dismay within the Police force.<\/p>\n


\nOsmund de Silva<\/strong><\/p>\n

Osmund de Silva the Inspector General of Police too fell foul of the Prime Minister soon. This was due to the conscientious Osmund refusing to carry out inappropriate orders of the Prime minister. It is a tale worth recounting today at a time when the country\u2019s Police force particularly senior Police officers are accused of being minions of their political masters. Osmund de Silva had been serving as the IGP since 1955. There was a wave of strikes in 1959 that plagued the Bandaranaike-led Government. The situation was particularly acute in the Colombo Port sector where leftist-led Trade Unions dominated.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

An exasperated SWRD Bandaranaike summoned IGP Osmund de Silva and asked him to break up the strike, arrest the trouble-making trade unionists and lock them up. Osmund de Silva refused point blank saying there were no grounds to arrest them unless the Police \u201ccooked up\u201d something and that doing so would be unlawful. The Premier then said he expected extra loyalty from the IGP to which Osmund de Silva replied that his loyalty was first and foremost to the law of the land. An angered Bandaranaike sent Osmund de Silva on compulsory retirement on April 24, 1959. Osmund de Silva convened a hasty conference of senior Police officials and related details of the incident with the Prime Minister and departed proudly after re-iterating to his fellow police officers to always uphold the law and not adopt extra-legal measures at the behest of politicians <\/p>\n

Though SWRD Bandaranaike wanted to oust Osmund de Silva permanently as IGP there was a hitch. Osmund was a Buddhist and the first Buddhist Inspector General of Police at that. The senior Deputy Inspectors General of Police in line to step into his shoes were all Christians. DIG CC Dissanayake (Jungle), his brother DIG SA Dissanayake(Jingle) and DIG Sidney de Zoysa. The Sinhala Buddhist associations of the laity and clergy opposed Osmund de Silva\u2019s removal on the grounds that he was a Buddhist and that his successor would be a Christian.A tremendous outcry was launched on behalf of the first Buddhist IGP. SWRD Bandaranaike who had been born and baptized as an Anglican before reverting to Buddhism was somewhat sensitive to this criticism by the Buddhist lobby. He reportedly exclaimed to CC Dissanayake\u201dOh Jungle,jungle,if only you wee a Buddhst\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Parliament in 1962<\/p><\/div>\n

SWRDB wanted Osmund de Silva out but did not want any of the Christian DIG\u2019s to become IGP. His idea was to bring in someone from outside and make him IGP. His choice was a civil servant MWF Abeykoon. This was flagrant political interference in the affairs of the Police.The Police top brass was aghast at this. The senior DIG\u2019s were united in opposing an outsider. The senior Police officers irrespective of racial and religious differences met together and discussed the situation.One idea mooted was for all senior Police officers to resign en masse in symbolic protest. It was however ruled out because such drastic action could demoralize the Police service and trigger off a major calamity.<\/p>\n

Since the Premier was vehemently insisting that a Buddhist should be made IGP the senior Christian DIG\u2019s in a remarkable gesture resolved to shelve their rightful claim and opt for a viable alternative. They decided to select the senior most Buddhist Police officer in service and ask the Prime minister to appoint him as the IGP and pledge to serve under him diligently.The senior most Buddhist Police officer in service then was Stanley Senanayake who was a police Superintendent (SP). He had joined the Police force as an Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) in 1943.<\/p>\n

C.C.\u201cJungle\u201d Dissanayake<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now in a rare and exemplary gesture the senior Police officers were prepared to work under the comparatively junior Stanley Senanayake rather than work under an outsider parachuted into office. This was because they valued the service and had the best interests of the Police at heart.Despite this show of solidarity by the Police top brass a stubborn Bandaranaike declined to appoint Stanley Senanayake as IGP. SWRD went through with his brazen decision to make Abeykoon the IGP. The overlooked C.C. \u201cJungle\u201dDissanayake immediately tendered his resignation but later withdrew it. Walter F. Abeykoon was a respected civil servant who was SWRDB\u2019s personal friend and partner at bridge. He was appointed IGP on May 1, 1959 by Bandaranaike.Later events demonstrated that this was a grave blunder as Abeykoon proved himself incompetent and incapable of discharging his duties as IGP efficiently.<\/p>\n

There was much heartburn within the Police top brass as a result of the new appointment. The consideration of religion over merit and seniority had upset many. Moreover Buddhist \u2013 Christian relations in the country were also deteriorating just like Sinhala \u2013 Tamil relations. Wild rumours of a \u201cChristian coup\u201d were in circulation. It was widely whispered that \u201cCatholic Action\u201d was behind the conspiracy to topple the \u201cSinhala Buddhist\u201d government of SWRD Bandaranaike. A cabal of senior Catholic officers from the Police and defence services were in league together ,it was alleged.<\/p>\n

This untrue \u201ccoup story\u201dhad begun when Osmund de Silva was IGP. Ven.Malawana Gnanissara Thero an Ayurvedic physician cum Bhikku living at Havelock road in Colombo had tipped off the IGP that Catholic actionists in the Police and armed services were plotting to stage a \u201cChristian coup\u201d against the Govt. According to the Thero, DIG Sidney de Zoysa was the mastermind behind the coup conspiracy.When Gnanissara Thero fingered Sidney as the brains behind a coup in the making, a secret inquiry was authorized by Osmund de Silva without Sidney\u2019s knowledge into his activities.But even as the investigation was in progress, Osmund was removed and Abeykoon became IGP.<\/p>\n

In what was perhaps the first of his many mistakes the new IGP handed over the file into the suspected coup probe to de Zoysa himself for further action.This resulted in Sidney stultifying the inestgtion and conducting instead an internal vendetta into those officers investigating him. He also intimidated Gnanissara Thero into retracting his original statement Finally the probe into a suspected coup was called off and Sidney de Zoysa was cleared.<\/p>\n

Sidney de Zoysa<\/strong><\/p>\n

This however did not deter the rumour mills working overtime. The country was buzzing with the talk that a Christian coup masterminded by Sidney de Zoysa was in the pipeline. Sidney\u2019s reputation was such that many believed it. It is said that even JR Jayewardene had \u201cwarned\u201d Sidney not to engage in foolhardy ventures like a coup.The \u201ccoup story\u201d in 1959 was a false alarm but within three years another coup d\u2019etat cloud gathered across the political horizon. This one was for real!<\/p>\n

DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/span> <\/a><\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

This Article appears in the \u201cD.B.S.Jeyaraj Column\u201d of the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d dated January 22nd 2022.It can be accessed here:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/dbs-jeyaraj-column\/1962-Coup-Disgruntlement-Within-Army-and-Police-Top-Brass\/192-229614<\/a><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj In order to understand the 1962 Coup d\u2019etat conspiracy phenomenon, it is essential to delve deep into some events that happened between Independence in February 1948 and the envisaged D-day for executing the coup on January 27-28th 1962. A brief re-run of history is necessary to comprehend the motives of the coup suspects …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘1962 Coup Conspiracy: Rising Disgruntlement Within Army and Police Top Brass’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75830"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=75830"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75835,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75830\/revisions\/75835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=75830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=75830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=75830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}