SDHF Newsletter No.160 Sri Lanka’s Independence

Sri Lanka’s Independence: – a result of Japan’s entry in the Second World War, which sealed the fate of European Colonialism in Asia
–by Senaka Weeraratna
(Lankaweb, posted on February 2, 2017)

March 8, 2017
February 4 is Sri Lanka’s Independence Day. Sri Lankan Mr. Senaka Weerarantna, Attorney at Law, posted an essay as titled above in “Lankaweb” to commemorate this year’s Independence Day on February 2, 2017.
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2017/02/02/sri-lankas-independence-a-beneficiary-of-japans-entry-to-the-second-world-war-which-sealed-the-fate-of-european-colonialism-in-asia/
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was asked in the 1930s to name the date that India would win its independence from Britain. He replied that it would probably be in the late 1970s, i.e. long after their time. The fact that India its gained freedom in 1947, much sooner than Nehru thought possible, and Burma and Ceylon thereafter in 1948, was largely due to Japan’s fight to erase European power from Asia.
Mr. Weerarantna mentions an interesting episode from Bose: An Indian Samurai, written by G.D. Bakaki.
When former British Prime Minister Attlee visited Ceylon in 1956, he had a conversation with P.B. Chakraborty, acting Governor of West Bengal, who wrote: “My direct question to Attlee was that since Gandhi’s Quit India Movement had tapered off quite some time ago and in 1947 no such new compelling situation had arisen that would necessitate a hasty British departure, why did they had to leave?”
Attlee’s reply was that he feared Indian mutiny inspired by the trial of Indian National Army officers’ at Red Fort. The INA, fostered by Japanese Army, was led by Subbas Chnadra Bose and fought the battle of Imphal together with Japanese Army. He further stated that the extent of Gandhi’s influence upon British decision to leave India was “minimal”.
URL:　 https://www.sdh-fact.com/essay-article/924/
　　PDF:　 https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Sri-Lanka-Independence.pdf

Questions are welcome.

MOTEKI Hiromichi, Acting Chairman
for KASE Hideaki, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact