Many senior JVP leaders were absent in the commemoration

Addressing the 34th commemorative meeting of the 1971 uprising, party leader Somawansa Amerasinghe said that the JVP would fight tooth and nail against federalism in any future referendum.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga addressing Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members in an earlier meeting said that 80 percent of the public of Sri Lanka approves federalism.

Leader of the JVP told thousands gathered in the Anuradhapura stadium, "we will reduce the 80 percent to 20 percent".

"It is our democratic right to oppose what we believe is wrong for the country."

1971 uprising

"JVP would fight against federalism in any future referendum"

The JVP staged the first ever militant youth uprising in post-colonial Sri Lanka in April 1971.

The government led by Sirimavo Bandaranaike, mother of the President Kumaratunga, crushed the rebellion and arrested thousands including JVP's founding leader Rohana Wijeweera.

In a two-hour long speech Amerasinghe, the sole surviving JVP politbureau member in the second uprising in the late 80s reminded the gathering of the earlier days of the party.

Observers were surprised to notice the absence of senior JVP leaders including party secretary Tilvin Silva, propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa and senior leader and former presidential candidate Nandana Gunathilake.

Somawansa Amerasinghe who voiced opposition to the governments privatisation programme said however, that the policy of the party is to strengthen the private sector as well as the government sector.