1971 JVP insurrection
The 1971 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) insurrection (also known as the 1971 Revolt) was the first of two unsuccessful armed revolts conducted by the communist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the socialist United Front Government of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) under Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The revolt began on 5 April 1971 and lasted until June of that year. The insurgents held towns and rural areas for several weeks, until the regions were recaptured by the armed forces, following strong support from friendly nations that sent men and material. Although this first attempt to seize power was quickly crushed by force, in 1987 the JVP launched a low-intensity insurgency in the island's southern, central and western regions that lasted several years.
| 1971 JVP insurrection | |||||||||
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| Part of the Cold War | |||||||||
Attack on the Deniyaya police station | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
Military intervention:
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JVP Supported by: North Korea | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Sirima Bandaranaike Sepala Attygalle S.A. Dissanayake D. V. Hunter Paddy Mendis |
Rohana Wijeweera | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
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| Strength | |||||||||
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7,000 Army 1,900 Air Force 2,000 Navy Soviet Air Forces: 60 |
10,000–12,000 combatants 80,000 followers (estimate) | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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Police: 37 killed; 195 wounded Armed Forces: 26 killed; 310 wounded; 1 Aircraft lost |
5,700 surrendered Several arrested, multiple North Korean supply vessels captured by the Ceylon navy and Indian navy Several leaders arrested | ||||||||
Politics of Sri Lanka |
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Sri Lanka portal
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The insurrection formally began in 1971, but the first attacks took place in 1970. The JVP fought the right-wing United National Party (UNP) before launching an island-wide, militant opposition to the newly elected, pro-socialist United Front government. The government's socialist background drew the attention of many states which needed to support it. The Soviet Union sent 60 air-force troops; India guarded the forts, stopping North Korean vessels and a Chinese freighter which raided the harbours. Although China provided diplomatic aid, it was accused of supporting the JVP; Chinese diplomats allegedly contacted North Korea, which supplied weapons and ammunition to the JVP.