CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - CEYLONESE OFFICIALS IMPLICATED IN BANDARANAIKE'S ASSASSINATION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06568909
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-00582
• Publication Date: October 16, 1959

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Copy No. C 65
CENTRAL
IYTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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NEX1 REVIEW DATE: a W I 0
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Approved for Release: 2016/06/13 C06568909
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Novi
Ceylonese Officials Implicated in Banclaranaike's Assassination
Prime Minister ildricipclycUte's government WILL seri-
ously weakened and possibly deprived of its slim parliamentary
majority as a result of a government party official's arrest on
14 October in connection with the inquiry into former Prime Min-
ister Bandaranaike's assassination. The official, a prominent
Buddhist priest and member of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom par-
ty's executive committee, allegedly knew in early September of
plans to assassinate Bandaranaike:1
The latest issue of a publication which was the Sri Lanka
Free om party organ under Bandaranaike implies in a front-page
story that Prime Minister Dahanayake and at least six other prom-
inent figures were implicated in the assassination. Public suspi-
cion of top government involvement will be intensified by the close
association of the arrested priest with several cabinet ministers
and by the simultaneous arrest of the: brother of one of these min-
isters. The growing suspicions may force the implicated cabinet
members to resign from the government. On the day prior to the
arrest, three government members reportedly asked Prime Min-
ister Dahanayake to request the resignation of Minister of Local
Government Vimala Wijewardene because of her well-known asso-
ciation with the priest. The three members also requested an
emergency meeting of the government parliamentary group and
suggested dissolution of parliament and new elections if necessary.
Dahanayake apparently is considering having the cabinet decide
whether the implicated ministers should take feave pending the out-
come of investigations)
Should the issue become the subject of heated public debate or
shou d Dahanayake attempt to protect the suspected members,
some of his parliamentary support may defect to avoid being iden-
tified with the controversy. Senior cabinet member C. P. de Silva
reportedly arranged to meet on 14 October with Dudley Senanayake,
leader of the moderately conservative United National party.
De Silva's move suggests that his irritation over not being named
Bandaranaike's successor, together with the deepening cabinet rift,
may provoke him to seek alignment with conservative opposition
elements.
--SECRET_
16 Oct 59
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
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