Mainstreaming Radical Politics in Sri Lanka: The case of JVP post-1977

Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri

doi:10.22146/pcd.25721

Abstract

This article provides a critical understanding of dynamics behind the roles of the People's Liberation Front (JVP) in post-1977 Sri Lankan politics. Having suffered a severe setback in the early 1970s, the JVP transformed itself into a significant force in electoral politics that eventually brought the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to power. This article explains the transformation by examining the radical political setting and mapping out the actors and various movements which allowed the JVP to emerge as a dominant player within the hegemonic political mainstream in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, it also highlights the structural changes in JVP politics and its challenges for future consolidation.

Highlights

The 1977 general election marked a major turning point in the history of post-colonial Sri Lanka
Once the normalisation is accomplished in relation to a political grouping, either individual interests of existing members towards the resource redistribution network may replace collective wills of the constituency as the raison 75 d’être of the party allegiance, or new members with such interests may join the party
At the time of the rupture, the membership is divided between two groups depending on the power equilibrium of intra-party rival groups and the relative 86 strength of the articulatory capability in regards to the outward ideological component. This can best be illustrated by the trajectories of political life of two important figures who played decisive roles in the recovery period following the 1989 debacle, namely Rohitha Bhashana Abewardana and Wimal Weeravansa

Summary

Introduction

The 1977 general election marked a major turning point in the history of post-colonial Sri Lanka. While the landslide victory of the United National Party (UNP) was the most important highlight of the election results, the shocking defeat for the old leftist parties was important. Both the victory of the UNP and the defeat of the left were symbolic. Enough, as if to dig its own grave, the same UNP government helped People’s Liberation Front (JVP), which became a formidable threat to the smooth implementation of the new economic policies, to re-enter into the political mainstream by way of freeing its leadership from the prison. The JVP leadership had been put behind bars by the previous regime following the failed armed insurgency in 1971

Mainstreaming Radical Politics in Sri Lanka

Breakaway groups from the JVP

Findings

By way of conclusion