A CIA report later revealed that J.R. placed his hopes in America and his foreign allies to help him weather the storm of the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord. But as their silence grew louder, he found himself with no option but to strike a bargain with India.
The CIA report stated that J.R. had told the American envoy to Sri Lanka, Peter Galbraith:
“I ordered the army to burn Jaffna to ashes and finish off this madman (Prabhakaran). But India would not allow it…”
The CIA report further noted:
“J.R. was taken to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord like a mad dog being taken for a bath…”
This was a statement made by the then leader of the People’s Party, Vijaya Kumaratunga, who supported the Indo-Lanka Accord. Vijaya was right. J.R. was taken to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord like a mad dog being taken for a bath. But after the Accord was signed, a remarkable cartoon was published in The Hindu newspaper. It showed Rajiv running around a tree, holding the tiger’s tail and snarling, while J.R. sat in an armchair, watching Rajiv and smiling.
“Does that mean that J.R. trapped Rajiv, who had come to trap J.R. through the Indo-Lanka Accord?”
India seemed to realise this only after Prabhakaran assassinated Rajiv Gandhi.
But JVP leader Wijeweera, who branded J.R. a traitor, told a different story.
These are Rohana Wijeweera’s own words on how the Indian bourgeoisie “swallowed” Sri Lanka. At the time, he made these statements while recording a speech on a cassette tape from hiding. This is an excerpt from that recording:
“Indian capitalism has developed into state-dictatorial capitalism today. This state-dictatorial capitalism is pursuing a very aggressive policy towards regional countries. The Indian people are very poor. Therefore, backward Indian capitalism cannot create enough domestic markets for the products of these monopolies. As a result, Indian bankers and industrialists must look for markets outside their country. Now, India’s trade policies, foreign investments, contracts, and banks with its underdeveloped neighbouring countries are all built upon this foreign policy.
“To implement this policy, the Indian bourgeoisie cunningly used the Tamil Eelam terrorists to subjugate Sri Lanka. On the other hand, the traitor Jayewardene not only concealed the real situation from the people and allowed the country to be swallowed up, but also created a favourable environment for India.
“The result was the fraudulent agreement signed on 29 July, which betrayed the country. This agreement was not just a betrayal of the Sri Lankan people. It was also a conspiracy against Jayewardene’s own United National Party, its leaders, the cabinet, and, in short, the Prime Minister himself. Rajiv Gandhi came to Sri Lanka to sign this fraudulent agreement. He flew in by helicopter from Katunayake and entered the President’s House like a thief committing a robbery. Rajiv Gandhi, who came to sign the deed of gift, was struck by the butt of a gun by the patriotic soldier Vijitha Rohana.
“Through this agreement, Sri Lanka will become the 20th state of India. It has been promised that India will use the Trincomalee port. It has been promised that the oil tank farm in Trincomalee will be handed over. It has been promised that Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs and defence will also be handed over to India. Sri Lanka has been turned into an Indian colony…”
This was the speech that Rohana Wijeweera made while in hiding, recording into a cassette tape and addressing the nation. He referred to the soldier Vijitha Rohana, who attacked Rajiv Gandhi, as a patriotic hero.
Recently, when Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Sri Lanka, Vijitha Rohana gave an interview to a newspaper and stated that he still does not regret attacking Rajiv Gandhi.
JVP party leader Anura and the current government demonstrated to the world through Modi’s visit that not only did Vijitha Rohana attack Rajiv Gandhi, but that he now regrets Wijeweera’s opposition to the Indo-Lanka Agreement and rebellion against the government. They showed that branding J.R., who signed the agreement, as a traitor was a historical mistake.
The agreements that Anura’s government signed with Modi were agreements to do business with India – agreements to develop the Trincomalee port and oil tanks. These agreements are, in essence, an extension of the Indo-Lanka Agreement itself. The Indo-Lanka Agreement stipulated that no foreign countries would engage with Sri Lankan ports without consulting India. Anura’s government has now agreed to develop the Trincomalee port with India. Concerning oil tankers, the Indo-Lanka Agreement also stated that no foreign nations would be involved without Indian consultation. Now, Anura has agreed to develop oil infrastructure with India. Moreover, there is an agreement to build the Sampur power plant and establish a power grid linking Sri Lanka with India.
There is nothing inherently wrong with this. It is simply the second phase of the Indo-Lanka Agreement. By signing these agreements and conferring the title of “Sri Lankan Friend” to Modi, J.R. has, retrospectively, been vindicated – the agreement he signed is now recognised as patriotic.
It was Mahinda who created the honorary title of “Sri Lankan Friend”. He conferred it on Maldives President Gayoom and Palestinian leader Abbas. Neither Maithripala, Gotabaya, nor Ranil, who followed Mahinda as presidents, awarded this title to Modi – despite several visits during the Maithri-Ranil governments.
Now, Anura’s government has given this honour to Modi. By signing these new agreements, J.R., once condemned as a traitor, is now being hailed as a patriot.
“So, by the JVP’s own logic, are Rohana Wijeweera and the 60,000 young political cadres who died alongside him to be considered traitors? J.R. once told a journalist that history would be the judge of his decision to sign the Indo-Lanka Agreement. Now, it is J.R.’s moment of reckoning.”
