Chapter 3 of the Batalanda Commission Report states that approximately 1,960 members of the United National Party (UNP) were killed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena said in a media statement in Colombo today (17).
The UNP Chairman further stated that the Commission report explicitly highlights the extensive damage inflicted on government property by the JVP during this period.
He also pointed out that the report indicates how the country’s security situation had steadily deteriorated since August 1987, posing a serious threat to the lives of politicians.
According to the report, the JVP’s primary targets were politicians of the ruling UNP government, with traditional leftist leaders also falling victim to these threats, Mr. Abeywardena noted.
Referring to the information recorded on page 29 of the Batalanda Commission report, he elaborated:
“The report states that beyond high-ranking politicians, even grassroots-level political sympathizers of the UNP became targets of the threats. The Commission estimates that approximately 1,960 UNP members were killed (Chapter 3 – Sinhala – Page 29). Among them were two successive UNP General Secretaries, Harsha Abeywardena (assassinated on 21.12.1987) and Nandalal Fernando, along with several UNP Members of Parliament.”
Additionally, the Batalanda Commission report details how senior police officers were also targeted by the JVP. Superintendent of Police Clarence Perera, who was actively involved in intelligence gathering on JVP activities, was among those murdered.
The report also states:
“Senior Superintendent of Police Bennett Perera, an officer who took an active role in investigating acts of sabotage, was also assassinated. The extent of damage to government property was alarmingly vast. Government institutions in peripheral areas were set on fire. A particularly striking feature was the well-organized strikes within government agencies.”
One of the most impactful strikes was launched by the National Transport Employees, which effectively brought essential services to a standstill. Work in various other government institutions was also disrupted in succession. These actions were carried out following written orders issued by an organization known as the Patriotic People’s Movement (D.J.V.).
The report further mentions that these strikes were accompanied by de facto curfew orders, reportedly issued by the same organization under the alias “Keerthi Vijayabahu.” As a result, the country was plunged into near anarchy, the Batalanda Commission report states.
UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena reiterated that these findings from the report provide a clear and detailed account of the period’s violent political climate.
