28-11-2005
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa,
President of Sri Lanka,
Colombo
Your Excellency,
May I take this opportunity first to congratulate you on your election as President of Sri Lanka. Both of us entered Parliament together in 1970 and you being the youngest of all had the Honour of proposing Hon Stanley Thilagaratne to be the speaker.
Although both of us are of the same seniority in Parliament I being elder to you by 12 years, take the liberty to make some adverse comments benefitial to you, on your Policy statement to Parliament on the 25th As usual like your predecessors, you too have sought the co-operation of everyone to help you to build a New Sri Lanka. Without a contended minority support it is difficult to achieve it. Even the full co-operation of the majority Sinhalese may not be available to you because the main concern of the people of Sri Lanka today is achieving Peace and to achieve it an acceptable solution is a pre- requisite. Peace is knocking at our door. Whether we are going to let it in or shut our doors is in your hands. Having found a reasonable solution, within the frame- work of a United Sri Lanka, acceptable to the International Community which will never support separation, you can then proceed to muster support for the creation of a New Sri Lanka. Until then the minorities are not at all interested in anything even if you give them everything free . To put it better the LTTE won’t allow them to do anything. With no satisfactory response from your side, they have no alternative other than submitting themselves to the LTTE’s pressure for everything.
Democracy is not, as many people think, merely rule of the majority. Real Democracy is rule of the majority with the consent of the Minority. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines Democracy as follows:- “Government by all the people, direct or representatives, form of society ignoring hereditary class distinctions, and tolerating minority views”. I agree with you that all the votes received at the last Presidential Elections by the Leader of the Opposition Hon.Ranil Wickramasinghe are votes cast against you. How are you going to build up a New Sri Lanka with the permanently disgruntled minority groups in our midst, the Tamils and Muslims?
You are aware that over 49% of the voters had approved Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe’s “Federalism within a United Sri Lanka as a solution to the ethnic problem. You are also aware that your own political Party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party too has accepted “Federalism” as a solution to our ethnic problem. If you accept that all the supporters of your party, the SLFP and other Leftist Parties like the LSSP, CP, MEP etc. too had voted for you, then you have got a Massive Mandate from the people of Sri Lanka to solve the problem based on a federal structure, within a United Sri Lanka. This may meet even the 2/3rd requirement for amending the constitution and to go for a referendum on the Federal Solution. Even if you disagree with me, you can’t overlook the claims of the 49% of the people who had voted openly for a Federal solution.
I am not trying to isolate neither the JHU nor the JVP. I am dealing with them separately since I have had several rounds of talks with the leaders of these two parties. During the Presidential Election campaign the JHU had declared their acceptance of the Indian pattern of devolution. I think I brought this fact to your notice. The JVP too have stated that if the LTTE gives up its demand for separation they too will reconsider their earlier decision. The following is a portion of a letter addressed to the Secretary of JVP Mr. Tilvin Silva by me, which appears to be relevant, at this juncture.
“The present day youths should take the responsibility on themselves and unite all forces to arrive at a consensus on the ethnic issue. The demand for Federalism as a solution to the ethnic problem is gaining ground day by day. For the first time in fifty years major political parties in Sri Lanka are putting forward Federalism, as an election pledge, to solve the ethnic problem. The UNP and the SLFP have already declared their stand. The Left Parties had always supported it. It appears that the JHU also is favouring an Indian pattern of devolution.
I understand that your party Jathika Vimukthi Peremuna has declared that if the LTTE gives up its demand for separation they will also reconsider their earlier decision.
The Indian pattern of devolution seems to be acceptable to all sections of the people of Sri Lanka. I earnestly plead with the JVP also to take an early decision on this matter without making a historic blunder. Everyone wants a solution early and if a consensus is arrived at, then after the Presidential Election is over, the details of the solution can be worked out. The LTTE should now realize that separation is not possible and give up its demand for separation. Neither the International Community nor India will approve separation. India’s disapproval will be mainly due to avoiding a similar demand within itself. I can assure with confidence that a federal solution will never lead to a division of the country. Instead it will keep the country united. The International Community has made it very clear that they would like a solution within a united country.”
I am strongly of the view that the JVP too can be persuaded to accept the Indian Pattern of devolution, in the larger interest of the country and to achieve much desired Peace. India with 25 states within do on talk about separation. They also do not bother whether it is a federal state or a unitary state. They have reached Unity in Diversity, a lesson we Sri Lankans should take from India. The International Community including India had repeatedly declared that they will not support separation. The concerns of India our big neighbour cannot be ignored and the LTTE too should take serious note of it.
With the massive mandate you have to solve the ethnic problem and with sufficient guarantees against division of the country, you should not hesitate to take a bold step towards finding a solution. I do not think, it is wise to spend any more time in discussion. We know the problem and what the solution is. The LTTE will never change their stand on separation. The type of campaign they do all over the world is very vicious and unjustifiable. The Tamil children both in Sri Lanka and abroad are brain washed. The LTTE controls both the Tamil Electronic and Print media all over the world with hardly any opposition. If the Sri Lankans and the Sri Lankan Government continue to delay the Peace Process by clinging on to one word Unitary or United or Federal, we only earn the displeasure of the International Community which will be compelled to be indifferent to any type of campaign by the LTTE against the Sri Lankan Government.
Inspite of its ban in several countries the LTTE continues to collect large sums of money from the expatriate Tamils all over the world mostly under compulsion and threat. The expatriate Tamils dare not complain to the authorities for fear of reprisals. They have a number of front organizations under their control to find ways and means of dodging the local laws under which collection of funds is unauthorised . Most countries do not interfere unnecessarily in the activities of their people. They are very careful about being accused of violating their fundamental rights. It is therefore your duty to show the world that your government is taking honest efforts to find a reasonable solution, for the International Community to check the activities of the LTTE in the respective countries. If we do not cooperate with them to help us to solve our problem, why should they bother about our problem?
The ethnic problem is now fifty years old. The problem started with the passage of Sinhala only Act of 1956, could have been solved if the Banda -Chelva Pact had been implemented. Ten years later Dudley-Chelva Pact could have solved it if implemented. The proposal of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga of 1996 could have solved it, if due co-operation was given. For the first time in the History of the ethnic problem “Federalism” had been offered as a solution to the ethnic problem. If you clear the little hurdle you face in your group you will have the support of the entire country with hardly any opposition to solve the problem on the Indian pattern.
You are aware what amount of risk I face for taking this stand. If you accept my proposal as one coming from a person who is genuinely interested in Peace and progress of the country and its People and also wanting everybody to enjoy equal rights, please take the initiative to solve this pressing problem without any delay, before the enthusiasm dies. I advice you, that delay will be detrimental. Therefore act now and the People will give you full backing. I will be too happy to meet you and brief you further.
With kind regards
Yours sincerely
V. Anandasangaree
President - TULF
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa,
President of Sri Lanka,
Colombo
Your Excellency,
POLICY STATEMENT AND THE PEACE PROCESS
May I take this opportunity first to congratulate you on your election as President of Sri Lanka. Both of us entered Parliament together in 1970 and you being the youngest of all had the Honour of proposing Hon Stanley Thilagaratne to be the speaker.
Although both of us are of the same seniority in Parliament I being elder to you by 12 years, take the liberty to make some adverse comments benefitial to you, on your Policy statement to Parliament on the 25th As usual like your predecessors, you too have sought the co-operation of everyone to help you to build a New Sri Lanka. Without a contended minority support it is difficult to achieve it. Even the full co-operation of the majority Sinhalese may not be available to you because the main concern of the people of Sri Lanka today is achieving Peace and to achieve it an acceptable solution is a pre- requisite. Peace is knocking at our door. Whether we are going to let it in or shut our doors is in your hands. Having found a reasonable solution, within the frame- work of a United Sri Lanka, acceptable to the International Community which will never support separation, you can then proceed to muster support for the creation of a New Sri Lanka. Until then the minorities are not at all interested in anything even if you give them everything free . To put it better the LTTE won’t allow them to do anything. With no satisfactory response from your side, they have no alternative other than submitting themselves to the LTTE’s pressure for everything.
Democracy is not, as many people think, merely rule of the majority. Real Democracy is rule of the majority with the consent of the Minority. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines Democracy as follows:- “Government by all the people, direct or representatives, form of society ignoring hereditary class distinctions, and tolerating minority views”. I agree with you that all the votes received at the last Presidential Elections by the Leader of the Opposition Hon.Ranil Wickramasinghe are votes cast against you. How are you going to build up a New Sri Lanka with the permanently disgruntled minority groups in our midst, the Tamils and Muslims?
You are aware that over 49% of the voters had approved Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe’s “Federalism within a United Sri Lanka as a solution to the ethnic problem. You are also aware that your own political Party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party too has accepted “Federalism” as a solution to our ethnic problem. If you accept that all the supporters of your party, the SLFP and other Leftist Parties like the LSSP, CP, MEP etc. too had voted for you, then you have got a Massive Mandate from the people of Sri Lanka to solve the problem based on a federal structure, within a United Sri Lanka. This may meet even the 2/3rd requirement for amending the constitution and to go for a referendum on the Federal Solution. Even if you disagree with me, you can’t overlook the claims of the 49% of the people who had voted openly for a Federal solution.
I am not trying to isolate neither the JHU nor the JVP. I am dealing with them separately since I have had several rounds of talks with the leaders of these two parties. During the Presidential Election campaign the JHU had declared their acceptance of the Indian pattern of devolution. I think I brought this fact to your notice. The JVP too have stated that if the LTTE gives up its demand for separation they too will reconsider their earlier decision. The following is a portion of a letter addressed to the Secretary of JVP Mr. Tilvin Silva by me, which appears to be relevant, at this juncture.
“The present day youths should take the responsibility on themselves and unite all forces to arrive at a consensus on the ethnic issue. The demand for Federalism as a solution to the ethnic problem is gaining ground day by day. For the first time in fifty years major political parties in Sri Lanka are putting forward Federalism, as an election pledge, to solve the ethnic problem. The UNP and the SLFP have already declared their stand. The Left Parties had always supported it. It appears that the JHU also is favouring an Indian pattern of devolution.
I understand that your party Jathika Vimukthi Peremuna has declared that if the LTTE gives up its demand for separation they will also reconsider their earlier decision.
The Indian pattern of devolution seems to be acceptable to all sections of the people of Sri Lanka. I earnestly plead with the JVP also to take an early decision on this matter without making a historic blunder. Everyone wants a solution early and if a consensus is arrived at, then after the Presidential Election is over, the details of the solution can be worked out. The LTTE should now realize that separation is not possible and give up its demand for separation. Neither the International Community nor India will approve separation. India’s disapproval will be mainly due to avoiding a similar demand within itself. I can assure with confidence that a federal solution will never lead to a division of the country. Instead it will keep the country united. The International Community has made it very clear that they would like a solution within a united country.”
I am strongly of the view that the JVP too can be persuaded to accept the Indian Pattern of devolution, in the larger interest of the country and to achieve much desired Peace. India with 25 states within do on talk about separation. They also do not bother whether it is a federal state or a unitary state. They have reached Unity in Diversity, a lesson we Sri Lankans should take from India. The International Community including India had repeatedly declared that they will not support separation. The concerns of India our big neighbour cannot be ignored and the LTTE too should take serious note of it.
With the massive mandate you have to solve the ethnic problem and with sufficient guarantees against division of the country, you should not hesitate to take a bold step towards finding a solution. I do not think, it is wise to spend any more time in discussion. We know the problem and what the solution is. The LTTE will never change their stand on separation. The type of campaign they do all over the world is very vicious and unjustifiable. The Tamil children both in Sri Lanka and abroad are brain washed. The LTTE controls both the Tamil Electronic and Print media all over the world with hardly any opposition. If the Sri Lankans and the Sri Lankan Government continue to delay the Peace Process by clinging on to one word Unitary or United or Federal, we only earn the displeasure of the International Community which will be compelled to be indifferent to any type of campaign by the LTTE against the Sri Lankan Government.
Inspite of its ban in several countries the LTTE continues to collect large sums of money from the expatriate Tamils all over the world mostly under compulsion and threat. The expatriate Tamils dare not complain to the authorities for fear of reprisals. They have a number of front organizations under their control to find ways and means of dodging the local laws under which collection of funds is unauthorised . Most countries do not interfere unnecessarily in the activities of their people. They are very careful about being accused of violating their fundamental rights. It is therefore your duty to show the world that your government is taking honest efforts to find a reasonable solution, for the International Community to check the activities of the LTTE in the respective countries. If we do not cooperate with them to help us to solve our problem, why should they bother about our problem?
The ethnic problem is now fifty years old. The problem started with the passage of Sinhala only Act of 1956, could have been solved if the Banda -Chelva Pact had been implemented. Ten years later Dudley-Chelva Pact could have solved it if implemented. The proposal of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga of 1996 could have solved it, if due co-operation was given. For the first time in the History of the ethnic problem “Federalism” had been offered as a solution to the ethnic problem. If you clear the little hurdle you face in your group you will have the support of the entire country with hardly any opposition to solve the problem on the Indian pattern.
You are aware what amount of risk I face for taking this stand. If you accept my proposal as one coming from a person who is genuinely interested in Peace and progress of the country and its People and also wanting everybody to enjoy equal rights, please take the initiative to solve this pressing problem without any delay, before the enthusiasm dies. I advice you, that delay will be detrimental. Therefore act now and the People will give you full backing. I will be too happy to meet you and brief you further.
With kind regards
Yours sincerely
V. Anandasangaree
President - TULF
