Garvin Karunaratne

Many recent Papers detailing details of the August 12, 1953 Hartal in nostaglia took me to my days at Arunachalam Hall at Peradeniya.

It was the 11 th of August 1953 and we students had planned for a major a protest in Kandy on the next day. The Vice Chancellor had decided that no student was to be given any permission to leave.

Suddenly my Hall mate Gunasena Galappatty received a telegram from his home in Nakalagamuwa. It stated that his mother was seriously ill and wanted him to come at once. Gunasena wanted to go but there was no method as every mode of transport would not be functioning .

A bright idea struck us and Gunasena decided to get a mo bike from a friend. One colleague had a mo bike -BSA 250 at Peradeniya and I happened to be the rider who often was called upon when he could not accommodate any urgent request from a friendly student.

The mo bike was available but the fact that no student could be granted leave was the problem. Gunasena in tears and I went to Dr. GVS de Silva, Lecturer in Econ our sub warden and explained that we had to go to see his mother. GVS listened patiently and said. I cannot give you permission, but You can go. Be safe.”

We took off at around two o clock that day. By four we dropped in at my home at Mahasen Mawata, Nugegoda and was greeted by my parents. We were there for a cup of tea. We explained our mission and got going in around fifteen minutes. Off to Galle we reached around six and saw many poilce movements, vans full of them but continued. In around ten miles it was very difficult to ride on the roads as there were Z metal pieces strewn on all roads and we had to ride very slow dodging all the Z pieces to avoid a tyre burst. We reached Nakulugamuva by mid night. Gunasena barged in to his home to find his mother in good health speaking in glee to see his son. I knew you would be upto some samasamaja tricks and this was my method of keeping you safe.” Gunasena took it all with a smile. We had a hastily prepared dinner and got off to sleep.

The next morning we were on the road, back to the campus at Peradeniya. We could go only upto Matara when we found the road to Galle blocked- unpassable, blocked with trees. We did not know the roads and discussing with people we were told that there was a road to Ratnapura via Deniyaya and there was a road to Kegalla from Ratnapura via Avissawella. We lingered to see whether we could try to go to Galle but the road blocks were well held.

We decided to try to go via Ratnapura and sped to Akuressa, to Deniyaya, through Hayes and by afternoon we were going over the Hayes hair pin bends to Rakwana and finally reached Ratnapura. Then we proceeded to Eheliyagoda when we found that it was not possible to go any further to Avissawella. Speaking to people we were told that there was a way to proceed to Kegalla via inland roads and we sped on. We could not proceed far when the roads were blocked with cut trees. We alighted and moved the trees and moved on with some difficulty. As we moved the trees people came forth and inquired who we were and we said we were from the University at Peradeniya. That changed the mood and we were greeted and they moved the trees and we were allowed to pass. We all sang Sadukeen Pelena Un Den Itin Nagitiyaw.

We could hardly move a mile when we found the road blocked again and we entered singing Sa Dulin Pelena Un Dan Itin Nigitiyaw and found that we were greeted and the people came in droves to move the trees. Thereafter till we reached Dehiovita and finally Karawanell, we were stopped at around twenty five or more road blocks and as we approached them we sang the song and were allowed to pass after we helped the people to move the trees. It was a long tedious process and we found the roads blocked again and again till we reached Kegalla. It was a genuine peoples’ uprising and we were in the thick of it.

It was near mid night and found the roads to Kandy closed at Kegalla. No one was allowed to proceed. The police who stopped us inquired who were were and when we said we were from the University at Peradeniya looked at us with scorn and wanted us to wait. They communicated to others and we were told to wait. In a flash it came to our mind that Dasa, a very senior student in our first year was now a Civil Service cadet and working at the Kegalla katcheri . He was probably the Assistant Government Agent of the District. That was DMDP Dassanayake known to both of us. We inquired from the policemen who had detained us and inquired for his residence. We said that we will be staying at his place. Suddenly the mood of the policemen changed and we were told the way and we took off.

We knocked on his door and were made welcome.

The next morn we took off to Peradeniya and found the campus stirred. The earlier evening the police had confronted the students at Kandy and had followed the students to Peradeniya with minor confrontations. The student body had been pushed back to Jayatileka Hall when the students were baton charged. The students had rushed into the Hall and somehow many concrete blocks had been broken, I do not know how that had happened that quickly but the concrete blocks were hurled at the police and many constables were injured. In the melee the police had gone into the J Hall and had arrested a few students who were playing table tennis. These included our friend Bassa and also a son of a Judge, who were charged in the Courts. I can remember visiting Basnayake’s parents at Polgahawela, again on the motorbike. in connection with the Court Case against the innocent students.

Garvin Karunaratne

24/8/2023