END OF AN ERA

BANDARANAIKE’S ASSASSINATION:

“THERE is an unmistakable parallel between the assassination of Mr Bandaranaike and Mahatma Ghandi. Both were the victims of their own particular, albeit moderate, brands of communalism. Just as Partition predetermined the Mahatma’s death so too the ‘Sinhala Only’ campaign of Banda and the MEP inexorably Jed to violence, murder, rioting and finally assassination.

Congress outlived the Mahatma. The MEP however will certainly die with its leader. This is as it should be. Having tried to be all things to all men the MEP has succeeded in alienating every section of Ceylonese society, not excluding its most articulate and vociferous supporters: the buddhist priests and the ayurvedic (native) doctors.

The fact that the PM’s assassin was both a priest and a native doctor is sufficient testimony to the rapidly declining popularity of the regime.

The MEP as a matter of fact had already reached an absolute impasse early this year which resulted in the expulsion of the so-called ‘Marxist wing’ led by Phillip Gunawardene from the cabinet and government.

The dilemma confronting the MEP has been succinctly maturing in the context of a deepening economic crisis. The questions posed thereby are not questions of mere concesstons fo the masses within the prevailing capitalist relations.’

They are questions pertaining to the continuance of the capitalist system itself. Within the framework of 2 relatively declining economy the limits of concessions may well have been reached already. Certainly the real and credit reserves available for further tapping appears to be strictly limited and the prospects of foreign aid are not comparable to minimum need. Further concessions must therefore pull down the rate of profit below that which is required locally for stimulating capitalist enterprises and thus endanger the very functioning of the existing economy .... In short, whatever be the desire of the government, no further important concessions to the masses are possible.

So the era of spurious ‘socialism’ has come to an end. The country is now preparing for a general election. Judging from all reports the prevailing wind is blowing strongly in favour of the Marxist opposition—the LSSP, the only party that has stood by its principles and policy and fought uncompromisingly for the emancipation of the Ceylonese workers.

In the event of its victory British socialists and trade unionists must extend every assistance to their brothers in Ceylon in their anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist struggle. .