Do you want the N&E not to develop?

Please accept my apologies for not addressing you as Sir. I do not address any one so, except my teachers. However, please do not consider this an attempt at disrespect. You have many attributes needed to be a ' leader' of the Tamils, but for the lack of courage and a vision, have not been able to become so. You continue to be a typical Tamil politician of the old mould. This is unfortunate, because the Tamils desperately need a 'Leader'
President Rajapakse at one meeting referred to you as a good and experienced lawyer.

I am sure you are. This reminds me of a verse from the Thevara-Thiruvasagam. In essence, it says the following cannot attain freedom from the cycle of birth and death:

" Kaathi moethi vathaadum nool katriduvorum( lawyers) , Kaasu thedi eeyaamal waala paduvorum ( those earn money but live without doing charity)—
I hope you are not a lawyer without principles. Your recent interview with Rohan Abeywardene, published in transcurrents, proves you debate for the sake of debate, argue for the sake of argument and, are yet a common politician but not a leader. This is unfortunate, because you have it in you to be a great leader. You have nothing to fear, except fear itself, because of your age and the tragedy you have seen unfold in your lifetime. You have nothing to gain personally either, because of your age. However, the Tamils will gain much if you provide them the leadership and vision required.

I have heard of two incidents that involve you. The first of how you were intimidated by Anton Balasingham at a meeting in the British parliament. The language used by Anton Balasingham had been apparently filthy. Inability to stand up to the LTTE was a big mistake. I am sure this was because of fear. The second involved your apparent unwillingness to talk to Ven. Rathana thera, who sat next to you in parliament for several years. His English was poor, but you are very conversant in Sinhala. It is necessary in your position to talk to individuals like Ven Rathana thera who are opinion makers among Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. I am sure you did not engage in bridge building because of your fear of the LTTE. One has to be fearless to be a leader! To be fearless, one has to be truthful.

Why did you and your party ( I shall refer to the combination as 'you' in the following sentences) demand the LTTE release the civilians they held captive in the last stages of the war? Were you unaware of LTTE intentions and the obvious outcome? Were you unaware of the murderous nature of the LTTE? Were you unaware of details of what the LTTE was subjecting the Tamils in their iron grip? Did you think the war was a game and would end without tragedy? Did you not think the LTTE would ultimately win? Did you not think and act as if the government and the Sinhala people were enemies? Were you not aware the government was determined to end the LTTE menace, once and for all? After meeting president Rajapakse for the first time, soon after he was elected, I told those close to me that the LTTE would be finished soon, unless they act wisely.
What moral rights have you to accuse the government of war crimes, when you were on the side of the LTTE, which also committed war crimes. You were fellow travelers of the LTTE (some willingly and others unwillingly) and hence should also stand trial for the war crimes committed by the LTTE. I am sure the armed forces too committed various war crimes, although they may not be of the nature being portrayed.

In your interview, you accuse the UPFA/GOSL of many things. Was everything they did after the war ended, wrong? I remember, you criticized the government for keeping the people in IDP camps . I remember, you demanded from the government the IDPs be released immediately. You criticized the government for not permitting your party to visit the IDP camps, knowing very well that your party was working as a proxy for the LTTE. I remember one of your party parliamentarians telling me that the LTTE cadres were scattered in groups of two hundred and would emerge to continue the war. Would any government permit members from a party that had such hopes, to enter IDP camps?

I know the government had plans to develop the war-affected areas before moving the IDPs back to their villages. The plans were impressive. Pressure from your party, the Tamil Diaspora and the International community, forced the government to let the IDPs go with only a handout, twelve galvanized roof sheets, plastic sheets and dry rations. The IDPs suffered. Many regretted leaving the IDP camps. Were you and your party concerned? Why did we deliberately miss the chance to prove the government bonafides?

If you can raise funds, why did you not do so after the war ended? Did you make an appeal and rally the Diaspora to help? The funds could have been collected in a bank account in a foreign country, initially. Did you discuss with the government the possibility of setting up such a fund in Sri Lanka? Did you discuss with the government a mechanism to do this with your participation, considering the circumstances?