The Attorney General frames charges on four counts including “conspiracy to overthrow the lawfully elected government and waging war against it” against 41 suspects in the case of the JVP insurgency; 40 are actually charged.
Source
Ceylon Daily News, 14 June 1972; H. A. I. Goonetetileke (1978): The Sri Lankan Insurrection of 1971: A Select Bibliographical Commentary, published in Religion and the Legitimation of Power in South Asia, Bardwell L. Smith (1978).
Quotation
“Of the 41 suspects, Wijeweera, the thriteenth suspect, was found guilty by the CJC on the charges of conspriing to wage war against the Queen and for waging war against the Queen punishable under section 115 and 114 respectively of the Penal Code. These charges were constituted by (1) membership of the JVP, (2) attendance at all five lectures, (3) participation at educational camps, (4) speeches made at JVP meetings, and (5) delivery of the fifth lecture. As expected, Wijeweera who conducted his own defence did not plead guilty.” Rohan Gunaratna (1990): Sri Lanka A Lost Revolution? The Inside Story of the JVP.
“Some 18,000 persons were taken into custody in connection with the April 1971 insurrection, of whom about 13,500 had been released after full inquiry, and there were less than 4,500 still in custody. Of those released, only 50 were re-arrested. “The government had no intention of following a vindictive policy on this matter”. Justice Minister Felix Dias Banadaranaike on the question of the release of all those detained without trial under the Emergency Regulations, including in connection with the 1971 insurgent activities; National State Assembly Debates, Official Report, Volume 6, No. 9, 21 June 1973.
