Govt. cannot ignore “Black July” by offering perks to masses: Dayasiri Jayasekera

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The government cannot put behind the ‘Black July’ by handing out state sponsored freebies like pay hikes for public servants and pensioners, reducing bank interest rates, distributing tabs among school children, releasing low interest loans and giving jobs to youth, General Secretary of the SLFP, Dayasirri Jayasekara said yesterday.   

The ‘White July’ has been declared by the government to white wash the Black July’ of 1983 but the country and the Tamils in particular could never ever forget what happened on 23rd July of 1983.  

“It was a pogrom against Tamils by a few Sinhalese aided and abetted by the J.R.Jayawardene regime. The ethnic riots after the ambush and massacre of 13 Sinhala Army soldiers in Jaffna on July 21 would have been prevented if the Jayewardene regime acted discreetly. But what happened was the reverse of it. This ugly incident gave a permanent black mark to Sri Lanka and led the country to a 26 year civil war,” he said.  

Mr. Jayasekara said the SLFP would hold a ‘Remembrance Day’ to bring back the memories of Black July to the minds of the people on Saturday afternoon at Sri Lanka Foundation with the participation of all political parties.  

“That is why we urge the government to enact one law for the entire country that would contribute to create inter ethnic harmony and reconciliation,” Mr. Jayasekara stressed.   
Former General Secretary of the SLFP, Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said the Black July did irreplaceable damage to Sri Lanka to be thankful to the J.R.Jayewardene regime.   
“The Black July ignited the 26 year civil war in Sri Lanka that killed over 100,000 maimed 300,000 stunned the economy, industry and exports, created a division among all communities in Sri Lanka, gave a bad name and branded Sri Lanka as a failed state, created the Tamil Diaspora that undermines Sri Lanka even today and a cultural and social gap between Tamil Speaking people and Sinhalese,” Prof. Piyadasa charged.