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{{Short description|Preparation for insurrection}}{{more citations needed|date=October 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox military operation
| conflict = the [[1987-1989 JVP insurrection]]
| date = 14 (prep), 15 April, 1987
| image =
| caption =
| territory =
| executed_by = [[Patriotic People's Armed Forces]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Jancz|first=Frederica|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20040328/spotlight-more.htm|title=Spotlight|publisher=TheSundayLeader}}</ref>
| outcome = [[Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya]] victory<br>Base sealed off for few weeks
| planned_by = {{flagicon image|Red flag.svg}} [[Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya]]
| location = [[Pallekele]], [[Sri Lanka]]
| commanded_by= {{flagicon image|Red flag.svg}} [[Saman Piyasiri Fernando]] (Keerthi Vijayabahu
|target = 2nd Armed Corps, [[Sinha Regiment]]
}}

The '''attack on the Sri Lankan Armed Forces (SLAF) base in Pallekele''' was an attack carried out by the [[Patriotic People's Armed Troops]] together with the [[Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya|Patriotic People's Movement]], which were armed divisions of the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] (JVP; People's Liberation Front). The attack was led by [[Keerthi Vijayabahu]], as a preparation for the [[1987-1989 JVP insurrection]].

==Background==

The [[Sri Lankan Civil War]] began in 1983 following years of racial and political tensions between the Majority [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] and the Minority [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamil]] people in Sri Lanka. The Indian Peacekeeping Force arrived in 1987 following the [[Indo-Lanka accord]]. The JVP opposed the arrival of the [[IPKF]] and revolted against the pro-Western [[Junius Richard Jayawardene|J. R. Jayawardene]] led government. They named the UNP government as traitors and created the "Patriotic People's Movement" ([[Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya|DJV]]) which carried out the attack. Piyasiri later would operate as the leader of the JVP.

==Attack==

===Account of a member===
According to Kosala a.k.a. Adhikari, the JVP members received training in rural areas. They were trained for a period of time like 1-2 weeks. He got basic training like usage of a knife and assault rifle as preparation for the attack.
===The Attack===
On 15 April 1987, the JVP launched the attack on the SLAF detachment in Pallekele in Kandy. Assisted by a SLAF deserter, Mahinda, under the directions of [[Shantha Bandara]] and Gemunu ([[Premakumar Gunaratnam]]), the JVP seized 12 [[Type 56 Assault Rifle|Type 56 assault rifles]], seven sub-machine guns and ammunition. The attack was carried out by a paramilitary of the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna|JVP]], [[Patriotic People's Armed Troops]]. The cadre wore army uniforms ([[camouflage]]) and used [[hand grenades]].{{sfn|Chandraprema|1991|page=141}}
<ref>{{cite interview|last1=Wickramatunga|first1=Raine|last2=Adhikari|first2=Kosala|title="SundayLeader Spotlight"|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20011202/interviews.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720053610/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20011202/interviews.htm |archive-date=2017-07-20 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2020/09/20/erasing-the-eelam-victory-part-17-c-9/ Erasing the Eelam victory Part 17]</ref>

==Investigation and aftermath==
JVP used the weapons they took away, months later on 7 June, Sri Lanka Air Force Base, [[SLAF Katunayake]] and the [[General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University|Kotelawala Defence Academy]] were attacked and weapons and ammunition were stolen while only four of the attackers were killed in the entire series of attacks.{{sfn|Pfaffenburger|page=5}} DJV claimed responsibility and the Criminal Investigation Department investigation resulted in 13 JVP members arrested. Kosala stated that these weren't against the Sri Lankan army but attempts made to collect weapons and arm themselves for the conflict.

==References==
<references/>

===Sources===
*{{cite journal|last=Pfaffenburger|first=B.|title=The Indian Intervention and the Resurgence of the JVP|doi=10.2307/2644815|publisher=University of California press|jstor=2644815 }}
*{{cite book|title=Sri Lanka: The years of terror|last=Chandraprema|first=C.A|year=1991}}
*{{cite book|last=Guneratne|first=Rohan|title=Sri Lanka: A lost revolution? Inside story of the JVP}}

==External links==
* [https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-jvp-towards-a-second-comeback/ 132 Demonstrators were shot Dead and 712 Arrested During Island -wide Protests Against the Indo – Lanka Accord of July 29th 1987]

[[Category:1987–1989 JVP insurrection]]
[[Category:Battles and Operations of the Second JVP insurrection]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]

Attack on the Pallekele detachment - Revision history

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