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{{short description|Prison riot in Sri Lanka}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox military operation
| title = Magazine Prison Break
| partof = [[1987-1989 JVP insurrection]]
| map_type = Sri Lanka Colombo Central
| image =
| coordinates = {{coord|6|55|19|N|79|52|49|E|region:LK_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| caption =
| location = [[Welikada]], [[Sri Lanka]]
| target = [[Welikada Prison|Magazine Prison]]
| date = 13 December 1988
| time =
| timezone =
| type = Attack using [[small arms]], and explosives; [[Prison escape|Prison break]]
| fatalities =
| objective = To free political prisoners and escalate conflict with the government
| injuries =
| planned_by = [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]]
| executed_by = [[Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya]]
| susperps =
}}

The '''attack on the Magazine prison''' was an attack carried by [[Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya]] (Patriotic People's Movement), the armed wing of the JVP which was staging a rebellion within Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.jvpsrilanka.com/english/about-us/history-of-1965-1994|year=2009|via=jvpsrilanka.lk|title=History of the JVP}}</ref>

==Background==
In the late 1980s, the country was under a tense situation with two insurgencies ravaging northern and southern parts of Sri Lanka.<ref name="tids">{{cite book | title=Sri Lanka's Development Since Independence: Socio-Economic Perspectives and Analyses | publisher=[[Nova Publishers]] | author=Lakshman, W. D. | author2=Tisdell, Clement Allan | year=2001 | location=New York | pages=73–75 | isbn=978-156-0727-84-2}}</ref> The first insurgency was initiated by [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE) and several Tamil militant groups in 1983, seeking to create an [[Tamil Eelam|independent Tamil state]] in the northern and eastern parts of the country.<ref name="rohang">{{Cite web|url=http://212.150.54.123/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=57 |title=International and Regional Implications of the Sri Lankan Tamil Insurgency |author=Gunaratna, Rohan |author-link=Rohan Gunaratna |publisher=[[International Institute for Counter-Terrorism]] |access-date=9 April 2012 |date=December 1998 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930204349/http://212.150.54.123/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=57 |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref> In 1987, neighboring India [[Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War|intervened]] in the conflict to bring an end to the fighting between the insurgents and the Sri Lankan armed forces. That year, the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]] was signed between the two countries and [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] was deployed in northern Sri Lanka to enforce disarmament of militant organizations and to watch over the [[North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka#Provincial Council|regional council]].<ref name="atimes">{{cite web | url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20021001211331/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html | url-status=unfit | archive-date=1 October 2002 | title=Sri Lanka: The Untold Story – Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord | publisher=[[Asia Times]] | date=13 April 2002 | access-date=9 April 2012 | author=Rajasingham, K. T.}}</ref>

JVP and other radical groups viewed this as a proliferation of Indian [[expansionism]].<ref name="ices">{{cite web | url=http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jan99/book%20review.Tisaranee.pdf | title=Insurrectionary Violence in Sri Lanka: The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Insurgencies of 1971 and 1987–1989 | pages=70–72 | publisher=International Center for Ethnic Studies | access-date=9 April 2012 | author=Gunasekara, Tisaranee | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001165208/http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jan99/book%20review.Tisaranee.pdf | archive-date=1 October 2006 | url-status=dead }}</ref> This suspicion was fuelled by the perceived threat of northeastern autonomy, due to the presence of Indian Army in Sri Lankan soil.<ref name="atimes2">{{cite web | url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FB10Df03.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404215255/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FB10Df03.html | url-status=unfit | archive-date=4 April 2004 | title=Reluctant India drawn toward Sri Lanka | publisher=[[Asia Times]] | date=10 February 2004 | access-date=9 April 2012 | author=Ramachandran, Sudha}}</ref> By this time, JVP was equipped with experiences of a [[1971 JVP Insurrection|failed insurrection in 1971]], against the government of [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]. Under these circumstances, the party launched a [[1987–89 JVP Insurrection|second insurrection]] in 1987, seeking to overthrow the then [[United National Party]] government.<ref name="ess">{{cite book | title=Competing Nationalisms in South Asia: Essays for Asghar Ali Engineer | publisher=[[Orient Blackswan]] | author=Brass, Paul R. |author2=Engineer, Asgharali | year=2002 | location=India | pages=228–230 | isbn=978-812-5022-21-3}}</ref><ref name="peacemag">{{cite web | url=http://peacemagazine.org/archive/v07n6p21.htm | title=Refugees in their Own Country | publisher=[[Peace Magazine]] | access-date=9 April 2012 | author=Atack, Iain}}</ref>

==Prison break==
JVP attacked the prison on 13 December 1988 seeking to free prisoners and increase the hostility within the country to "heat up" the rebellion. This was one of the notable attacks carried out by the DJV led by Saman Piyasiri Fernando. After the insurgency, the JVP was criticized for this attack alongside many others.<ref>[http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=70955 Missed opportunities, War on terror revisited]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.lk/books?id=GmRuAAAAMAAJ&dq=inauthor%3A%22C.%20A.%20Chandraprema%22&source=gbs_similarbooks ''Sri Lanka: The inside story of the JVP''] p. 258</ref>

The attack was carried on by 3 armed men with a [[Type 56 assault rifle]] and two magazines of ammo near one. The other two was holding explosives.<ref name='daily'>[http://archives.dailynews.lk/2010/03/12/fea03.asp JVP: Fear Psycosis]</ref>

With the attack, 170 members of the JVP escaped the prison. The prison was holding 320 [[LTTE]] members as well as members of various other militant groups. This also included [[Douglas Devananda]].<ref name='daily'/><ref>[http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20040222/issues-1.htm Unmasking the real face of the JVP]</ref>

==Aftermath==
In 2001 the attack was an allegation by opposing parties to the JVP while they denied active involvement. They claimed the Deshpremi Janatha Viyaparaya was an independent group - operated separately. Some of its major leaders like Kosala claimed direct responsibility on the attacks including the [[1987 Bogambara prison attack]].<ref>[http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20040328/spotlight-more.htm The Sunday Leader Archive] {{dead link|date=December 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://jvpthesis.weebly.com/uploads/2/6/9/5/26951649/jvp_thisis_final_1.pdf JVP Ideology: A Reappraisal]
*[http://www.jvpsrilanka.com/ JVP's Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050822073446/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_sem/IR/research/cstpv-old/Lostrevo.htm SRI LANKA - A LOST REVOLUTION? The Inside Story of the JVP by Rohan Gunaratna]

[[Category:1987–1989 JVP insurrection]]
[[Category:1988 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Battles and Operations of the Second JVP insurrection]]
[[Category:Prison escapes]]
[[Category:Prison uprisings]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]

Attack on the Magazine prison - Revision history

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