CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - SITUATION IN CEYLON

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06568910
• 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 12, 1959

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12 October 1959
Copy No. C 65
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
DOCUMENT NO.
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Approved for Release: 2016/06/13 C06568910
Approved for Release: 2016/06/13 C06568910
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Situation in Ceylon
relcvernor General Goonetilleke, in distipsing the political�
situation in Ceylon with the American ambassador on 8 October,
assured him that Prime Minister Dahanayake was sincere in ex-
pressing privately to the ambassador his anti-Communist posi-
tion and his desire to work closely with the West. Goonetilleke
appealed strongly for increased American economic aid during
the next two "crucial" years. He expressed the belief and hope
that Dahanayake would be able to survive the present crisis and
last out the remaining 18 months of the government's constitu-
tional term-0
onetilleke's strong endorsement of Dahanayake probably
is motivated by fear that his own position as Governor General
is se ure only as lone as the present government remains in of-
fice.
hanayake's command of a working majority in Parliament
remains in doubt. The combined opposition parties have decided
to introduce a no-confidence motion when the House of Representa-
tives reconvenes on 27 October. Opposition spokesmen are vig-
orously protesting the government's continuation of .a state of
emergency, its stringent censorship regulations, and its failure
to reconvene Parliament immediately. Despite their publicly
expressed determination to defeat the government, leftist ele-
ments apparently continue to be reluctant to face elections and may
therefore abstain or absent themselves in sufficient numbers to
enable Dahanayake to win the test vote. The prime minister's
own divided party is likely to give him nearly unanimous support
in order to stay in office3
umors apparently are widely prevalent in Colombo of a con-
spiracy behind the recent assassination of former Prime Minister
Bandaranaike, implicating certain ministers and high government
party officials. The Communist party, which has taken the stand
that the government is now completely controlled by "reactionar-
ies," is instructing its branch organizations to spread such rumors
so as to undermine public confidence in the new leadership. The
maintenance of close press censorship, with any speculation on
Bandaranaike's assassination specifically banned, probably is
lending substance to reports that members of the government were
involved'?
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12 Oct 59 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 3
Approved for Release: 2016/06/13 C06568910