How I Managed JVP Insurrection in 1971

In 1971 April,several clashes reported with police. It started at Wellawaya Police and spread through out the island. Luckily for me, no such clashes in the area of Balangoda but sooner the Govt. made some arrangements to protect its assets . A army platoon occupied my office in Balangoda and started their operations for the area.

The Engineer on 6th April called me at home as it was a declared holiday, asked me to arrange for 33kV line round the Grid Substation premises and vanished. On hearing this Mr. Lionel Ranwala, a famous artist who was trapped with my brother because of curfew, asked me not to do these killing actions as you have no licence to make electrical fences to kill people. Ranwala and my brother were teaching together at R/Kiriella MMV. So when the engineer called back with confirmation of fence told me to start tomorrow. Then I asked Engineer to give me a letter in writing to erect a line below 6 feet vertically as it does not have any safety to humans. That ended with my request and never mentioned about it again. I must thank Mr.Ranwala who is not living now.
The density of insurrection went down as the govt. managed to secure their strong holds and security in Balangoda continued in Balangoda.

The army supplied with tin Beer and rich food and we, staff in my office, too enjoyed with them by providing arrack to them we managed to taste tin beerand other imported food types .