The plotters even dragged the name of Dudley Senanayake, the great democrat, through Sir John; the most logical rationale could be the ‘opportuneness’ that they foresaw in convincing those at different levels to get their cooperation, as violence would have been a phenomenon that may have repulsed prospective participants.  

The decision to ‘use arms’ in the operation had been established beyond any reasonable doubt. However, the mystery remains on the emergence and coining of the term ‘Bloodless-Coup? One has to take into consideration many theories before reaching a conclusion. Why did the leaders want to maintain this stance throughout their planning process making flimsy observations like ‘blood-less’, ‘Buddhist’, ‘Christian’ and ‘gentlemen’s’ coup?   
On the 26th evening, several manoeuvrings by CC Dissanayake to lure a few more army men to the plotters’ side had not met with success. As revealed by Major Rajapakse, the Second in Command of the armored corps, on the night of 26th January, he was invited by Major VL Percival Joseph, Duty officer, Ceylon Armoured Corps Hqts. (Mutwal), to dine with him at his flat; and he was driven there from the YMCA by Joseph himself. There, he met a few people that included Joseph’s wife, Major Wilton George White of 3rd Field Artillery Regiment and his wife; and Vanden-driesen and his wife. After George White and Vanden-driesen left the-flat with their wives; at about 11.00 pm ;in a very peculiar move, Joseph had left too; leaving behind his guest for George’s wife to serve him dinner George returned to the flat a while later and accompanied Rajapakse downstairs, telling him that DIG, CC Dissanayake was there and he wished to see him.   

"Rajapakse demanded more specific details that if he would agree to participate.  Dissanayake, for obvious reasons did not want to divulge any further details, had assured him that he would arrange for Joseph who would brief him fully. Dissanayake impressed on him the necessity for secrecy"

Rajapakse met CC Dissanayake who was sitting in Major Joseph’s car with Joseph at the driving wheel. Rajapakse and George Vanden-dreisn sat in the rear seat. The car was driven down to the end of Melbourne Avenue, Bambalapitiya, where they all got out. Rajapakse and CC Dissanayake sat on rocks on the beach, while George and Joseph were standing before them. CC Dissanayake spoke to Rajapakse in the same strain as Douglas Liyanage had done on the 11th night, referring to the country being on the brink of disaster; the possibility of the Communists getting control and the need for intervention by patriotic persons to prevent this disaster. He eventually spelled out their plans to overthrow the Government by force and requested his support. He then asked Rajapakse, if he would join them in this all important exercise, assuring him what they have planned would be a popular Government by well-known people; including two former PMs [Kotalawala and Dudley S]. He emphasised that the new government would not be a military or a junta, and that there would be no blood-shed, and the Governor-General would be confronted and persuade to accept a change for the benefit of the people.   
Rajapakse demanded more specific details that if he would agree to participate.  Dissanayake, for obvious reasons did not want to divulge any further details, had assured him that he would arrange for Joseph who would brief him fully. Dissanayake impressed on him the necessity for secrecy.   

However, Rajapakse and CC Dissanayake have given conflicting versions of their conversation that night at the trial. Dissanayake’s position was that Rajapakse was looking to him to lead a movement to prevent the Army being used illegally by Felix D Bandaranaike, while Rajapakse said that his support was being canvassed by CC Dissanayake along with George and Joseph, to overthrow the Government.   

"The disclosure on non-use of arms had diverging views as expressed by military analysts, commentators, writers and critiques. Some of them disagreed with planners, while others supported the claim. Those who supported the assertion included no less a person than ex-diplomat and writer, TDSA Dissanayake, the only son of ‘Jungle’ Dissanayake"

Why Rajapaksa’s involvement became so important? Readers can gain more insights in future.   
 The coup leaders were supposed to meet the Governor-General, Sir Oliver Goonetillake, at mid night, at the conclusion of the successful overthrow; and request him to dissolve parliament and hand over the administration and Parliamentary powers to a ‘junta’ named by them. This particular area in the Blue Print however, is not clear, with so many confusing and conflicting plans cropping up due to lapses in strategy; and lack of or poor coordination among coup leaders. Further, some of them had appeared to have worked independently as the H-hour approached. Conflicting statements by plotters had surfaced during the interrogations. Confessions by suspects have revealed that they had divergent views on the actual ‘role’ played by the Governor-General. All officers who were assigned specific tasks had been instructed to be in uniform and fully armed.   

"The coup leaders were supposed to meet the Governor-General, Sir Oliver Goonetillake, at mid night, at the conclusion of the successful overthrow; and request him to dissolve parliament and hand over the administration and Parliamentary powers to a ‘junta’ named by them. "

‘Bloodless’ or Armed Coup? 

 The disclosure on non-use of arms had diverging views as expressed by military analysts, commentators, writers and critiques. Some of them disagreed with planners, while others supported the claim. Those who supported the assertion included no less a person than ex-diplomat and writer, TDSA Dissanayake, the only son of ‘Jungle’ Dissanayake. In his book, ‘Politics of Sri Lanka’, Vol. iii relates that his father instructed ASP, Jirasinghe not even to carry side arms. [Son defending the father?]   
 However, submissions at the Trial-at-Bar give specific details of arms and ammunition, including the quantities and types withdrawn unlawfully from armories in three different places, namely; Police training school at Katukurunda; Depot police at Havelock road; and from an army unit at Panagoda camp, as per the details given below.   

Army unit—2 (V)
LAA Regt. C A. Arms / Ammunition:__Bren Guns- 6 / Amm.-0 .22- ..1229, Sterling Guns- 4 / Amm. 0.38- ..380, Sten Guns- .. 13 /Amm 0.303- .. 15,000, .303-Rifles- ..370 / Amm.9mm .. 2951, .38 Pistols- .. 30 , .22 Rifles - .. 4   

Army Unit—2 (v) Fd. Pl. Regt. C E. 
Bren Guns- .. 16 / Amm.-0 .22 .. 1002, Sterling Guns ..14 / Amm- .. 0.38- 608, Sten guns- .28/Amm- 0.303- 9220, 303 Rifles .. 315 / Amm 9mm- 3,824, .38 Pistols- .. 20   

Army Unit—3 rd Field Regiment C A. 
Bren Guns- .. 10 / Amm 0.22- ..3,825, Sterling Guns- .. 6 / Amm 0.38- 176, Sten Guns- .. 36 / Amm- 0.303- 11,249, 303 Rifles- .. 477 / Amm- 9mm .. 9,320, 0.38 Pistols- ..20   

Army Unit—2 (V) CSC 
Bren Guns- .. 2 / Amm .38- .. 66, Sten Guns- .. 19 / Amm .303- ..4301, 0.303-Rifles- .. 154 / Amm 9mm- ..1120, .38 Pistols- .. 11, .22 Rifles- .. 2   

At all points of withdrawal, specific instructions were issued asking them not to make any records. Extraordinary measures were used to obtain sterling guns on the 27th morning: according to Lt. Col. J H V de Alwis--Commanding officer, 2nd Volunteer Engr’s regiment, the issue was made unusually quickly. He could not assign any reason for such speed and it was only because the 2nd defendant wanted it done that way that the issue was made so quickly. At the twelfth-hour plotters panicked sensing ‘leaks’, and altered original blue print.   
 “It is true that Alwis had earlier asked for Sterling guns to replace the Sten guns which had been issued to his regiment,” (the sterling gun is far superior to a sten gun) -An extract from the Judgment, Trial-at-Bar.—sec. 220.   

Lack of a ‘Plan- B’   

One major weakness in the whole affair was the fact that there wasn’t an appropriate contingency plan for successfully thwarting retaliation by the government forces. Such a feat by a section of military would have led to a vicious state of affairs; an armed conflict of sort, ending up in the blood-splattered passages of ‘Temple Trees’, parallel to what happened 28 months ago, on the veranda of ‘Tintagel’ at Rosemead Place. 
Excerpts from writer’s Manuscript :‘Bloodshed ’62: Aborted or Abandoned?’