JVP-led govt., in Independence Day dilemma

By Vishvanath

The JVP owes its success to its skillful propaganda or strategic communication/messaging, among a few other things. Its sloganeering skills are simply unparalleled, as was seen during its presidential and parliamentary election campaigns late last year. The flipside of this kind of message crafting, however, is that slogans could become counterproductive in case of policy reversals, driven by expediency, on the part of those who employ them to gain political mileage. The JVP/NPP has some of its catchy slogans of yore, dogging it, prominent among them being, “Death to Capitalism; Victory to Socialism”.

Slogans are an effective propaganda tool that helps shape and influence public opinion and even mobilize the masses for various causes. It is doubtful whether any other Sri Lankan political party can match, much less rival, the JVP’s skills in sloganeering, which consists in effective political propaganda.

The JVP introduced the political poster culture in this country. Its propaganda campaign during the 1980s was largely dependent on posters with pithy slogans, diktats, warnings and even threats. The JVP and other political parties including the mainstream ones had their own newspapers, but they did not have a wide reach. The national press paid more attention to the SLFP and the UNP than the other parties. In that era, only the state-owned television channels and radio stations were allowed to carry local news bulletins, which blacked out the Opposition. Social media emerged many years later. The alternative press at the time consisted of newspapers put out by political parties and independently-published oppositional tabloids which were radical in outlook; it catered mostly to outliers.

After going underground, the JVP was dependent on political posters to carry out its propaganda to prepare the ground for its second abortive uprising. Its proscription in 1983 and the suppression of freedom of expression under the then UNP regime debarred the JVP from using the mainstream and alternative media to disseminate its views and messages. It also used graffiti effectively as a propaganda tool to issue calls to arms and even intimidatory messages.

The focus of this comment is on one of the main slogans the JVP-led NPP employed to have the public believe, ahead of last year’s elections, that successive governments had ruined the country for the past 76 years, and only the NPP was capable of making a real difference. The slogan it crafted for that purpose was ‘76-year curse’, which resonated with many voters, as evident from its victory in both presidential and parliamentary elections a few months ago. Besides, the JVP has persistently claimed, since its inception in mid-1965, that Sri Lanka did not gain Independence in 1948 in the real sense of the term; it has used the fact that the country became a republic only after the promulgation of the 1972 Constitution to bolster its aforesaid claim.

Even other socialist parties see eye to eye with the JVP on this score. LSSP leader Prof. Tissa Vitarana has argued in an article, “Forgotten Republic Day is our true Independence Day’ (Sunday Times of 20 May 2012): “The Soulbury Constitution was remarkable in that aspect, for it left that issue out of its ambit. It is clear that the “Independence” gained in 1948 was a step forward, but the Soulbury Constitution on which it was based clearly restricted our freedom and sovereignty. It was the 1972 Constitution that gave Sri Lanka complete freedom and sovereignty. Without a doubt, it is Republic Day, May 22, that should be celebrated as true Independence Day.” The traditional leftists have softened their position on Sri Lanka’s Independence, or when it was gained, to be exact, and have taken part in Independence Day celebrations over the years as members of governments.

Ironically, the JVP, as the main constituent of the NPP, has had to celebrate the 77^th Independence Day on Feb. 04 2025 while claiming that the country has been under a 76-year curse and it did not gain Independence from the British in 1948. There are said to be two schools of thought in the NPP in respect of the Independence Day celebrations. JVP hardliners are of the same view as the LSPP, etc., that Sri Lanka became truly independent only in May 1972, but they do not want the government to celebrate the now forgotten Republic Day because the SLFP and its allies will gain political mileage in such an eventuality. The other school of thought consisting of moderates has argued that it is not advisable for the government to discontinue the practice of celebrating Independence on Feb. 04, lest there should be a political backlash, and this view has gained acceptance in the government, which obviously does not need any more controversies to contend with. The challenge before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is for celebrating Independence on Feb. 04 has been to strike a balance between political traditions and the JVP’s policies.

The government has decided to scale down the Independence Day celebrations this year. This could be considered a move aimed at pacifying the JVP hardliners opposed to the Independence Day celebrations on Fe. 04 and adhering to the long-held tradition. The government will also be able to claim that it has taken into consideration the country’s economic situation.

Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha, has emphasized at a media briefing that this year’s Independence Day parade, the main event of the celebrations, will see a 40% reduction in military personnel participation compared to the previous year … Only three Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft will participate in this year’s parade, while the march will consist solely of foot soldiers, with no armoured vehicles included. Additionally, a Sri Lanka Navy ship will perform the traditional 25-gun salute to the nation.” Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lasantha Rodrigo has said the Independence Day celebrations will be held with the participation of 1,307 personnel from the Sri Lanka Army, 725 from the Sri Lanka Navy, 521 from the Sri Lanka Air Force, 505 from the Sri Lanka Police and Special Task Force, 182 from the Civil Security Department and 500 from the National Cadet Corps.

Now, the NPP is in a quandary. Independence Day cannot be celebrated without remembering the First Prime Minister of Ceylon/Sri Lanka, D. S. Senanayake, who founded the UNP, which, according to the NPP, has only contributed to the ruination of the country.

The JVP/NPP will have to face questions from the media as well as its political opponents on its policy contradictions stemming from its claim that Sri Lanka has been under a 76-year curse and celebrating what it said the country had not achieved in 1948–Independence. The NPP leaders have the eloquence of seasoned salespersons and can put forth arguments for or against anything as if to the manner born, but whether the public will buy into them is the question.