Lalin’s Column: Random Sketches’ by Gamini Gunewardene (Retd DIG)

The above ‘sketches’ were included in a delightful ‘Appreciation’ on late Mr. Stanley Senanayake former IGP in the Sunday media in late 2010. The sketches were etched with diplomatic if not PR finesse and reserve which did credit to the well known policemen of yesteryear. While some controversial names and situations they were involved in were understandably sanitised, they also included some views and opinions that were possibly not quite accurate.

The whole helped quite rightly to set the record straight if not to polish or burnish the image of the Police. After all they have for nearly 200 years been in the first line of defence in securing and protecting the nation both in peace time and during internal unrest. They took the brunt of the casualties (50% in 1971 but very much less in the 30 year war on terror and 1988/9) before handing over to the Armed Forces. The following observations are made in the hope that Mr. Gunewardene and the Police will suffer them for the sake of clearing up the blots in the ‘sketches’.

There is no doubt that Stanley Senanayake stood the legendary ‘nine’ foot tall in the Police and not only in looks, stature, conduct and performance. This must have had a ripple down effect on the recruitment of the rank and file too as foreigners have remarked that the SL Police are the best looking lot anywhere in the world. Their professionalism not only in SL but abroad while serving with the UN has deservedly won them great recognition too.

However while there is no doubt that IGP Senanayake and Admiral Basil Gunesekara were imposing 6 footers when they stood on the reviewing stand at national ceremonial parades as stated, Army Chief Sepala Attygalle was not. In fact given that his height was about 5ft 10 ins he made himself look even shorter by having developed a semi permanent but very reverential survival stoop which he had adapted and developed over the years to speak to politicians.

That civilian Abeykoon’s appointment as IGP displacing Osmund de Silva caused great disappointment, humiliation, despair and ill will if not justifiable anger and ‘fear of a calamity’ amongst the top brass cannot be doubted.

Unfortunately Abeykoon accepted the appointment. He displayed a cavalier attitude to the professionalism required of the police and a breath taking arrogance. He no doubt justified it by repeating the manthram that there was no way to refuse orders given by the political head of the country whatever happened to the country’s police and the country itself. This pandering to politicians occurred many times later and will do so in the future as our culture has tolerated it. Some were ready to follow similar paths to survive even by committing treachery.

However to make out that amongst other events quoted that the murder of PM Mr SWRD Bandaranayke could have been averted and the attempted coup d 'etat of 1962 may have otherwise been nipped in the bud if there was a professional (Police) head of service would appear to be too farfetched if not fanciful especially in the light of facts. Neither could President Kumaratunga’s near assassination have been averted because there was an IGP ‘of her choice’. Did she not go against the advice of her security? Was the IGP when the JVP set off a bomb wounding the President JRJ and MPs in the fortress like Parliament in 1988/9 or Premadasa was killed by a suicide bomber, handpicked?

Even if Abeykoon was sipping a drink at the Orient Club when the coup plotters were caught were not a senior if not most senior DIG (Dissanayake) another DIG and some other senior police officers, the ring leaders in the attempt? Should civilian IGP Abeykoon be totally blamed if his very senior ‘professional’ police subordinates were conspiring to ‘wage war’ against the Queen when it targeted the legally elected government? There was a professional Army Commander then too but unknown to him, his Deputy Col Maurice de Mel and several other military officers and a retired Navy Commander were in the plot as well. No Air Force officers, commanded then by a British officer, were involved. No one blamed the Army Commander Brig later Major General Winston Wijekoon for not knowing a coup was being hatched by officers who worked so very closely with him. Most of them belonged to the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment that was a stone’s throw away from Army HQ at Echelon Square. It is to IGP Abeykoon’s credit that he was neither co-opted by the conspirators nor blamed for this attempt until now.

This begs the question as to professionalism and moral courage if not integrity of the senior police officers in their reaction to having a civilian made the IGP. The question must be asked why the senior officers did not resign en masse as a professional body as at first contemplated. Was it really ‘loyalty and dedication’ that decided the course of action taken by them to avoid a ‘calamity’? Did they do better when they went even feverishly further by suggesting that a much junior officer (Senanayake) be appointed IGP instead? Given what happened later maybe it was a good thing for Senanayake that this appeal was rejected by the Prime Minister.

How would a junior (Senanayake) if he was IGP have commanded his erstwhile seniors (Dissanayake, de Soyza et al) in such a situation? Would he not have been putty in their hands? Would he have been trapped? Senanayake’s subsequent conduct in the face not robbery or murder but attempted treason shows to what extent the nation, not just the police, was imperilled, not by Abeykoon but by police top brass itself. Senanayake had initially kept quiet until almost the literal last hour despite being made aware of the plot earlier. Was this ‘calamity’ not worse than anything else they had feared?

It is worthwhile in the light of who the plotters were to consider if the action of the senior police officers was self serving capitulation to crass political interference or anything to do with ‘loyalty and dedication’.

I am sure that Gamini G will bear with me that the police reflect society and not the other way round. The actions of the police senior officers when Abeykoon was made IGP were typical of our society. After all was it not three Generals (two retired) who as supinely but treacherously too agreed to gift weapons and ammo to the LTTE as decreed by the then President in the late 1980s?

Soldiers and policemen are meant to be a cut above the rest of society by character and choice and by and large they definitely are. However there are the sadly and grievously gross exceptions especially at the top like these. Abeykoon was not guilty of attempting a coup, only of sipping a drink at the Orient Club which any civil servant of his day island wide and police and military officers too would have indulged in their own clubs and messes of an evening. Ironically some of Abeykoon’s subordinates with military officers, not being partners had been planning their devilry it is said also over drinks at another elite club close by!

Now to the mundane. There is also no doubt that the police Hewisi band are excellent. Its formation made interesting reading specially that DIG Vamadevan who was highly respected by many officers in the forces was the founder of the group. At the Edinburgh tattoo its dancers having delighted the spectators with the traditional SL dances then stole their hearts when dressed in Highland kilts they took part in Scottish reel dancing with similar skill.

Gamini G however errs when he says that the Hewisi band concept was followed by the other three services after the Police hewisi band gave its maiden performance post 1971. While not vouching for the SL Navy or SL Air Force it must be said that the army Hewisi band had been in existence from 1951. It performed at the army searchlight tattoos with its cultural dance troupe in 1963 at the Colombo race course and in 1968 and 1978 at the Sugathadasa stadium. A volunteer force dance troupe section was raised in 1971 in the National Service (nick named Nakki Sinhala –elderly Sinhalese)Regiment. The troupe’s colourful leader was Capt Clarence Delwela. A regular unit was raised in 1979. Its performances were staged island wide including Jaffna in 1980 and in UK, Mexico, Germany and Cuba amongst other countries. It is in great demand for state visits.

Some mention of the forces participation in the Non Aligned Conference of 1976 is worth mentioning too. While DIG Cyril Herath exemplified Police professionalism if not perfection, the forces played their part under Colonel (later General) Denis Perera. Guards of Honour troops were stationed at the KIA to receive all (about 90), incoming Heads of State (HOS), whenever they arrived day or night, together or singly from all over the Non Aligned world. The entire route from KIA to Colombo was protected day and night by troops.They were billeted close by all along the route. The police kept the entire route clear for the duration. Military officers acted as liaison officers to all 101 delegations being on duty until the close of each days play and at state receptions and dinners thereafter.

Military and police communications provided excellent command and control facilities. Police inspectors gave close protection to the VIPs. Vehicles for the delegates from the police transport division were controlled by para dropped Ian Wickramanyake the Bribery Commissioner. Most vehicles of HOS were driven by Forces staff car drivers. Much of the triumph for the Foreign Ministry with Vernon Mendis and Manel Abeysekera predominating was due to the services performed by the Forces and the Police.

More about that later.

- Asian Tribune -