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The Lanka Academic carried an online "Question and Answer" session with the Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan Parliament, Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, from February 18, 2002 to March 11, 2002. Listed below are your questions and his answers. Please note that answers 1-6 were made available on February 21, 2002 and 7-28 on February 26, 2002. We have submitted the questions 29-42 as of April 17th, 2002 and are awaiting his response.

BIOGRAPHY

Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa (56) is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Sri Lankan Parliament. In his political career spanning nearly 4 decades, he was Member of Parliament in 1970-77 (Beliatta) and 1989-1994 (Hambantota), Assistant Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (1987), Vice President of SLFP (1994), Minister of Labour and Vocational Training (1994), Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (1997) and Senior Vice President of the SLFP (2001). Hon. Rajapaksa is also an Attorney at Law and an Emeritus Professor at Viswa Bharati University, India. Born to a family with a long tradition of politics, he was educated at Richmond College, Galle, Nalanda College, Colombo and Thurstain College, Colombo. Hon. Rajapaksa is married and has 3 children.

42	Sat Feb 16 23:19:08 EST 2002 Dear Mahinda You are now the leader of opposition that include the upcoming 3rd force in srilankan politics.That is JVP.As we know that your attitude always against JVP,canyou please give your views about JVP? Thank you.  -  Kolitha fernando, Brisbane,Australia Answer: Not available yet.
41	Sat Feb 16 21:04:11 EST 2002 Dear Mr.Rajapakse, There are so many educated people, have achived so much who came from south,including Hambantota,Tissa ,Hungama and other towns,but Hambantota is staying as one of the most under develop area in Sri lanka,would you able to change that?!.  -  mahipa, usa Answer: Not available yet.
40	Sat Feb 16 14:52:02 EST 2002 Dear Mr. Rajapaksa: Mr. Vasudeva Nanayakkara has openly said that he will re-join PA under your leadership. Are u in agreement with Mr. Nanayakkara's inclusion to the PA?  -  Chris, Houston, USA Answer: Not available yet.
39	Sat Feb 16 12:45:14 EST 2002 Dear Mr Opposition Leader, Many congratulations ! The people of the South, especially, Hambantota, were the worst affected by the Premadasa Administration's crackdown on the JVP in the 89-91 uprising. At least 10,000 youths, either disappeared, or were burnt alive on tyres. Yet more innocents were brutally "lamp posted" by the JVP. Yet Sajith Premadasa, the son of the then president, is now the defacto leader of the people of your area, and JVP got 20% of the vote. You only managed to get two seats. Why ?  -  Appuhami, Bandagiriya, Hambantonta, Sri Lanka Answer: Not available yet.
38	Sat Feb 16 11:55:49 EST 2002 What is your stance on the seperate district allocated by MR. Rauff Hakeem? How true is the statement that more members are going to joing the ruling UNF government?  -  Faazil, Sri Lanka Answer: Not available yet.
37	Fri Feb 15 11:42:10 EST 2002 Dear Sir, What have you done to ease the tension among the Sinhalese in the down south against the tamils in the north ? I was born in Matara and I don't see any tamils living there anymore. All of them got kicked out by the Sinhalase extremists. Do you know why ? Thanks UJ  -  UJ, USA Answer: Not available yet.
36	Fri Feb 15 06:39:00 EST 2002 What significant changes would you bring about to enhance the image of S.L.F.P. before the next elections which I think will be not far away? Thank You.  -  Don Marius Perera, Melbourne Answer: Not available yet.
35	Fri Feb 15 06:12:19 EST 2002 Mahinda, Sri Lankan health sector is far behind the world. Though all the specialists have been trained in the developed world purely on Sri Lankan government money they just keep there eyes closed when they leave the airport and commenced work in Public health system. I read the Presidential Task Force statements when I was practicing Medicine Sri lanka. This is the way to develop Sri Lankan health sector. There should be a GP referral system and Public health system. Other thing is evryone in the health system should have the privelege to specialise. This should include Nurses, Paramedics etc.What would be the plan that you put forward to uplift the sick public health system in Sri lanka?  -  Tissa Wijeratne, New Zealand Answer: Not available yet.
34	Thu Feb 14 22:11:03 EST 2002 Congratulations, Mr. Rajapaksha! It is a pleasure to see a fresh and dynamic face in this all important seat, and being the son of an illustrious father who adorned our political history, you very well deserve it. I believe the SLFP of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike's regime had the correct resolve to develop our motherland with the long term well being of the masses at heart. Do you think that the SLFP and the country will be better off if it goes alone rather than get bogged down in the impractical coalition of PA? As we have seen earlier and now with the UNF, it's a case of the tail trying to wag the dog!  -  Upul Karunaratne, Kandy, Sri Lanka Answer: Not available yet.
33	Thu Feb 14 20:40:13 EST 2002 Hi Mahinda,Congrads. Are you in a position to convince SLFP hierarchy to evolve some means to erradicate thuggery and introduce professionalism into Sri Lankan politics?  -  RODNEY PERERA, NEW YORK Answer: Not available yet.
32	Thu Feb 14 08:06:33 EST 2002 What is your opinion on the Government's concessions to the demands made by the LTTE and do you think de-proscription is the way forward regarding talks?  -  Tina Edward - Gunawardhana, London, UniTed Kingdom Answer: Not available yet.
31	Thu Feb 14 05:32:18 EST 2002 Dear Sir, Sri Lankan Cricket team won the World Cup when the national team began to represent the country, and when a Southerner was in the top form. Your coming to the top is just like that, we will have a better recovery once the centre of power moves out of the non-Sri Lankans' Colombo. However, decentralisation of power, finances, taxation, revues, etc., they seem to hold the key for SL. What would your policies for such a move? Bohoma Stuti  -  Harsha Munasinghe, Helsinki Answer: Not available yet.
30	Wed Feb 13 19:47:02 EST 2002 Mr. Rajapakse, would you be willing to take the PA into a government of national reconciliation with the UNP- at least until a settlement is reached with the LTTE- and if not, why?  -  Eranda Jayawickreme, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA Answer: Not available yet.
29	Wed Feb 13 15:39:12 EST 2002 Mr Rajapaksha: Congrads on the appointment. I read your comment that you will not join the government because it is not good for democracy. But we have NOT had democracy in this country since 1987. People don't care about democracy. What is most important is peace, stability and economic prosperity. will you please reconsider your position.  -  upul ranasingha, USA Answer: Not available yet.
28	Wed Feb 13 12:32:24 EST 2002 Isn't it time that Srilankan separates the Temple from the State. You are expected to raise the vision of the masses. How would you influence the country and the budhist clergy that power needs to be shared with the provinces. What plans do you have to go beyond the 13th Ammendment.  -  Anton Norbet, Canada Answer: You mustn't judge the Sangha or the Buddhist tradition on the basis of the conduct or the statements of a few. Buddhism is a religion of non-violence, compassion and tolerance. Millions of humble Buddhists and the vast majority of the Sangha are deeply influenced by this great tradition, through which all differences of caste, creed, race and language merge into one great unity. At a practical level I can quote several examples of Buddhist temples that have donated temple lands for the construction of Mosques and for the construction of Hindu Kovils. Recently too I happened to see in Kandy a Mosque for the construction of which land had been donoted by the Asgiriya temple. This is the Buddhist tradition that I know. I know for a fact that the vast majority of the Sangha and the laity are tolerant and compassionate and support an arrangement in which power is shared. What they are concerned about is the division of the country.
27	Wed Feb 13 09:21:50 EST 2002 Mr Rajapkse, Considering all the problems in our country, second only to war is corruption. You know that this is prevelent in all walks of life. Will it be possible for both the Ruling party and opposition to draw up a plan to eliminate this as much as possible. It would save the country Millions that are needed for the development. Not in the form of exposing what happened in the past,(we know how that works) but in the form of preventing them.  -  Chandrani, USA Answer: Most of your question has already been answered. In a money-led society (that of finace-based neo-liberal economic globalisation without constraints), the only viable way of fighting corruption is to strengthen the institutions of civil society and the overall democratic processes of transparency, accountability and right to information and their attendant legal frameworks. On matters like this I am all for a consensus between government and opposition.
26	Wed Feb 13 07:20:43 EST 2002 Dear Hon. Mahinda Rajapakse, Congratulations! It's an honor for your hardwork and dedication to SLFP. You are one of a few whom I admire in our politics. I have been observing that neither UNP nor SLFP had acted as a responsible opposition when it comes to ethnic issue. Will you change this unfortunate Sri Lanka's tradition of opposition. Beacuse of these cheap political gains, we are approaching Somalia, instead of Singapore.  -  Tham, USA Answer: I have responded to your concerns in my answers to earlier questions
25	Wed Feb 13 06:37:48 EST 2002 Dear Mr Rajapakse, Sourthern province of Sri Lanka which has lot of resources and produced lot of resourceful people who made Sri Lanka proud remains relatively underdeveloped. As a son of the south do you have a clear vision to develop the south if you assume leadership of our country ? Thank you  -  Vidya Siriwardana, Dubai,U.A.E. Answer: Indeed I have a strategic plan for the South. Its central pivot will be the International Harbour and the International Airport at Hambantota. The harbour will be the deepest harbour in the whole of Asia and will attract a tremendous amount of shipping as it is only a few hours off the international shipping lane that connects Europe with Asia. It will be Asia's biggest and deepest trans-shipment port. It will result in a revolutionary transformation of the economy of the South in particular and Sri Lanka in general. Another important part of my plan is to divert the waters of the Gin Ganga, Nilwala Ganga, Uma Oya and Kalu Ganga to the Hambantota and Moneragala districts and at the same time to harness to a maximum the waters of that great perennial river - the Walawe Ganga for both drinking and irrigation purposes. This will give you some indication of my thinking on the question of Southern Province Development.
24	Wed Feb 13 04:15:37 EST 2002 Dear Sir, Last election results showed that the loss of faith of the minority, especially of Muslims, on SLFP caused a humiliating defeat to PA (SLFP). I think this was because of Mawanella incident and the way the SLFP leadership acted on that issue. What practical steps are you going to initiate to win the minds of Muslims and other minority communities in order to win the next elections?  -  Nizam, Malaysia Answer: An incident or two cannot and, in view, will not shake the confidence that ordinary, simple Muslim people have in the SLFP. Speaking for myself, my own cultural and political ties with Muslim communities both here and abroad have a long tradition. For instance, I have been the Founder President of the Sri Lanka - Palestine Solidarity Committee from as long ago as the 1970's. Very recently too when the Muslim Refugees in Puttalam were facing difficulties and protesting, as Leader of the Opposition I visited them, discussed their problems with them and mediated to resolve them.
23	Wed Feb 13 03:49:10 EST 2002 In your opinion now (Not the parties opinion and not your opinion in 5 years) who should contest the next Presidential election from SLFP(PA)?  -  Bhanu Kumarawadu, Colombo Answer: The person who is selected by the majority of the party at all levels to be their candidate. And, so that the members of the party are facilitated to make their choice through a democratic process, internal democracy within the party must be strengthened in every possible way.
22	Wed Feb 13 02:51:35 EST 2002 Do you perceive a role for Mr. Anura Bandaranaike in the opposition hierarchy? If so, what would it be?  -  M.W. de Silva, 9/1, Charles Way, Colombo-3 Answer: My concept of the opposition is that of a team. Mr Anura Bandaranaike, like all others, should function as a team member and I am confident he will. As the team leader I have the strength - drawn from my personal political history - to set an example to my team members. For over 30 years I have loyally stood by the party, never abandoning it even when my own interests were affected. I am fortunate, thus, to have the moral legitimacy to lead the opposition team.
21	Wed Feb 13 02:36:01 EST 2002 Dear Hon. Minister! Can you comment the actions taken by present government and earlier by your government regarding the ethnic problem and what do you think about leader of LTTE personally.  -  Thamilan, Colombo Answer: It was the PA government of Mrs Chandrika Kumaratunga which started the peace process in 1994. Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe has taken some important steps to continue the process of confidence building - a process which the PA government started. As such we are happy to see a continuation of our policies. This is necessary. But Mr Wickremasinghe should insist that the other side too provides confidence building to the people in the south. For example, the abduction and forcible recruitment of children has been disturbing. We are also concerned about arms shipments being unloaded in the seas off our coast. We need to have confidence building from both sides. As to what I think of the LTTE leader, I am personally opposed to any form of violence and as such I hope he will renounce violence and join the democratic process.
20	Wed Feb 13 02:10:58 EST 2002 I thought Pramadasa and JR made election a mockery. But last election is the worst election in Sri Lankan history. What is your plan to eradicate these problem?  -  Pallavan, Ottawa Answer: Though I may not agree with your sweeping conclusion, I think there is a need for some radical changes in the elections law. Through new legal frameworks as well as institutional arrangements we must re-discover a system of elections in which money power, thuggery and violence cannot be used to advantage.
19	Wed Feb 13 02:09:18 EST 2002 Dear Mahinda, Most probably You are going to be our next president/Primeminister of our country. Do we have some hopes that will you let public to enjoy the quality of politics (Gentlymen politics)that your father, Honorable D.A Rajapakse used to practice our home towns such as Tabgalla, Beliatta & Mulkirigala.  -  Daya Siriwardena, Sydney Australia Answer: I am deeply committed to 'Gentleman Politics'. In the days of my Father and others, society was value-led and the value-environment was so strong as to sustain 'gentlemen' as 'gentlemen'. Today, as a result of the culture of Finance Capital that swept through our country after 1977 when market forces were allowed to take the place of values, we have largely evolved into becoming a money-led society. In a money-led society, 'gentleman politics' can be a reality only if we evolve an institutional environment in which genuine civil society institutions (with internal democracy, accountability and non-dependence on foreign funding) are strong enough to demand transparency from politicians and hold them accountable at all levels. The political environment must also allow for the free expression of the citizen's "Right to Information'. It is only in such an institutional environment that 'gentleman politicians' can function. So these are the institutional changes I would like to see in our country.
18	Wed Feb 13 01:48:25 EST 2002 The SLFP has always been perceived as a Sinhala Buddhist party. President Kumaratunga came to power because she was able to change that perception. Unfortunately she was unable to sustain that image and the minorities deserted her and her party. You have also been perceived as a Sinhala Buddhist hardliner. What steps would you take to change the image of the SLFP and that of your own to make it an "electable" party?  -  Chris Joseph, Nugegoda Answer: The SLFP was dubbed with a false image of being a "Sinhala Buddhist Party' simply because it recognised the Temple as a strong civil society institution in Buddhist Sinhala villages. Look at the reality. The Temple at the level of the village is not a simple straight-jacketed religious institution. It is also the economic, social and cultural voice of the village. Whether we like it or not, it still continues to play this civil society role - though perhaps less than in the past. In Catholic Sinhala villages, the Church assumes almost the identical role as an important civil society institution. Therefore in Catholic areas the SLFP has given the same respect and recognition to the Church as to the Temple. In Tamil areas, the Tamil political parties, by not ever identifying themselves strongly with the State even when they are a part of government, play a civil society role in relation to the State and political society. That is why we in the SLFP give much recognition to the Tamil Parties.As a democratic party committed to the strengthening of civil society, we have been recognising and respecting civil society institutions wherever we find them and as a result some people may dub on us a wrong identity - because they don't understand the country's political processes at depth. However as for the ordinary Tamil, Muslim and Catholic voter, they do not seem to share this false view of the SLFP. In the Presidential election of 1982, Mr. Kobbekaduwa the SLFP candidate had a very high poll in the Tamil districts of the North. By way of another example, the Catholics have voted heavily for the SLFP at several elections including that of 1970 and 1994. The SLFP has also always had a strong vote base among the poorer Muslims. So the people in fact don't accept the image of the SLFP as a 'Sinhala Buddhist Party'.
17	Wed Feb 13 01:40:36 EST 2002 The major reason for the defeat of the PA government was due to lack of professionals to innovate & impliment effectively new things in all trade. So, are you going to strength the SLFP with strong master mind people to move the SLFP for victory & there by to develop our country ?  -  Gamini Jayalath, Katunayake Answer: Politics is the language of the people. Management is the language of professionals. Neither should politics be subordinated to the norms of management nor should management be subordinated to the norms of politics. The role of a leader is to mould a process through which politics and management, politicians and professionals, impact on one another in a healthy manner and influence one another without destroying each other's identity. This is the challenge for us.
16	Wed Feb 13 01:25:07 EST 2002 Suppose you are at the helm of the new government instead of Mr. Wickramasinghe, will you be following similar route as Mr. Wickramasinghe does, trying to achieve what he refers to as 'the last chance for peace'? What are the points that you don't like in present plan? What are your alternatives to them?  -  bandara, Japan Answer: I don't have enough information on Mr. Wickremasinghe's plans to comment on them.
15	Wed Feb 13 00:55:07 EST 2002 Hon. Minister - There is speculation that Anura will be the next Presidential candidate from PA. Peopole say that is why his sister Chankdrika wanted him to come back. Some say Anura did a timely calculation giving up a little for the moment for a bigger share in the future. Many people also think you are the most suitable representative of the party as the candidate for presidency. What do you think about this?  -  Jayasiri (Jerry) Gamage, Paris Answer: I have met many people who think that they are the most suitable persons to become President of Sri Lanka. And in a democracy they have every right to air their views - however absurd or funny some of them might seem to be. At the end it is not they but the people who decide who their President will be: And as for candidates,it is the party that finally decides, and competition for leadership within a party is always a sign of health and not of sickness.
14	Tue Feb 12 20:59:17 EST 2002 Hon Mr. Rajapaksa, First let me congratulate you on your appointment as the Leader of Opposition. My question We all agree on a negotiated solution. Is it mandatory for LTTE to renounce Eelam and violance as the core of the agreemant and if they do not what is the alternate path for the Govt(rest of the country)? Short of Eelam will Sri Lanka agree to LTTE autonomy beyond autonomy of States in India?  -  Kith de Silva, Australia Answer: I hope the government will try and the LTTE will permit the ordinary, simple Tamil men and women to be brought in to participate in the discourse relating to the settlement. Their perspectives can be very different from and much more reasonable than those of the official LTTE which after all is not a democratically constituted movement.
13	Tue Feb 12 19:10:36 EST 2002 Sir, In any event,your party happens to be back in power and you become the president or the prime minister tomorrow,will you follow what the UNF is doing at the moment to solve the ethnic problem or will you propose a different method?Thanks.  -  Paul Fernandopulle, Miami Beach,FL, USA Answer: We don't have sufficient information on what the UNF government is doing to resolve the ethnic issue. So I cannot comment on this. And moreover, these are issues on which the party must decide.
12	Tue Feb 12 19:04:26 EST 2002 After UNF Government came to power, they have taken various kind of revenge from the other opposition parties. What kind of preventive actions you have taken inside parliament and outside parliament? What kind of results yo've recieved?  -  Wimal Ranasinghe, California, U.S.A. Answer: It is a most unfortunate state of affairs at a time when the national call is for consensus politics to resolve the ethnic issue. We are trying to prevail on the government to act in a sensible manner and give priority to national issues rather than to local vendettas. Live and let live is a cornerstone of democracy.
11	Tue Feb 12 18:57:45 EST 2002 What would your position on a federal state solution (like the one in Canada)for Sri Lanka?  -  indran, toronto, canada Answer: Let us - the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher people - discuss among ourselves and develop our own home-grown model through dialogue and consensus., while reaching out to the experiences and models in other countries and learning lessons from them. We should not accept or reject existing models on an a-priori basis or on the basis of what individual leaders like or don't like. Our model must be the outcome of a participatory process of discourse within our own country.
10	Tue Feb 12 18:33:58 EST 2002 What is your plans in a future government under your leadership to attract foreign investments  -  Roshan Perera, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Answer: My strategy will be to attract the kind of foreign investment that capitalises the comparative advantages that are specific to our country. For example, we have highly intelligent, educated human resources. Foreign investment in IT will maximise this specific comparative advantage of ours.
9	Tue Feb 12 18:07:43 EST 2002 My congratulations on your new appointment.Last time when you all were in the opposition ,it did not seemas if you all had any plans ready to govern the country.Are you planning out such atleast now? The copy of the proposed memorandum of understanding to be signed by the govt with the LTTE seems to have some unsavoury clauses pemitting a lot of freedom for the LTTE in every sphere of life.Your comments on them please.  -  Parakrama S.Jayasinghe, Southern California Answer: Prior to developing plans I think the first priority for the opposition is to develop an alternative people-centric vision or perspective of globalisation in contrast to the strongly finance-centric perspective of the UNF. Plans for the different sectors of the economy and society must be worked out within such a framework and not in an ad-hoc, hasty manner. As for the MOU signed by the government and the LTTE, till we have an adequate fund of information about the processes that led up to it and the negotiations that preceded it, I don't like to comment on it.
8	Tue Feb 12 17:56:59 EST 2002 Mr. Rajapakse, Congratulations to you. I really hope you can work to improve the image of the SLFP. As a loyal SLFPer you have sacrificed a lot and deserve this and you have earned it on your own merits. What can you do to change the image that the PA was incompetent and corrupt to the core and basically lost the election and gave it to the UNP because of monumental corruption and inefficiency from top down? How can leaders lead by example? And how can the President be taught to respect people's time in governance?  -  Mano Ratwatte, Oklahoma USA Answer: Corruption and inefficiency characterise many, if not most developing societies. Furthermore, individual developing societies at some historical moments are relatively less or more corrupt than at other moments. It is always relative. Corruption and inefficiency are symptoms of a set of interrelated systemic problems. These are - the lack of adequate, well developed institutions and legal frameworks for ensuring transparency and for holding those who handle public resources accountable to the people; the absence of a strong democratic political culture; the absence of strong civil society institutions that are themselves transparent and accountable to the people, the absence of an operational Right to Information, and so on. I would like to mobilise the country to confront these problems at a systemic level rather than at a symptomatic level. That is my orientation.
7	Tue Feb 12 16:38:33 EST 2002 If you come into the power again, do you still wish to introduce the employers charter. And do you wish that you can balance the interests of business community with implementing such a policy which favours the employers to employees.  -  Thakshala, London Answer: The relevant principle is not whether the interests of employers or those of employees should have precedence. It is also not a question of whether one set of interests has to be at the expense of the other. My perspective is that if development is to be sustainable, its benefits should be shared with equity - not equally - by all sections of the population; and that includes both employers and employees. The interests of both should be managed within a Rights Perspective; that is, within a framework that respects the Rights of both employers and employees.. Let me add that the present economic crisis requires cooperation between business and labour.
6	Tue Feb 12 15:48:18 EST 2002 Dear Mahinda, Sri Lankans have lost faith in all politicians be it red blue or green.What would you do as the leader of the opposition to restore the citizens faith in the politicians and by it the democratic traditions of the country.  -  J Goonetilleke, London Answer: I will first take the initiative to develop and strengthen democratic processes and institutions and help evolve a strong democratic culture and mind-set in the country. Through such a scheme, the people will be empowered to hold the politicians accountable to them. When that happens, the politicians will re-gain the confidence of the people.
5	Tue Feb 12 15:37:06 EST 2002 It was reported that President Kumaratunga did not want you as the opposition leader. She initially appointed the former PM as the opposition leader. You became the opposition leader after considerable pressure was apllied on CBK by your fellow partymen. After all these, how easy it is to work with CBK and advance YOUR vision and agenda for the country?  -  K. Balachandran, Colombo Answer: Our parliamentary institutions, as you know, tend to follow the traditions and conventions of the Westminster model. Accordingly, when a governing party moves into opposition, the former prime minister becomes leader of the opposition unless he opts not to accept the post. When subsequently the former prime minister resigned his post as opposition leader, President Kumaratunga proposed and former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar seconded my name as his successor. So there was no problem as such.
4	Tue Feb 12 15:30:41 EST 2002 What are the driven forces behind you to take the leadership of opposition party over Anura Bandaranayake?  -  Pushpa Gamage, from Nederlands Answer: On a proposal made by President Kumaratunga, the parliamentary group of the People's Alliance unanimously resolved to invite me to lead the opposition. In deference to their decision, I accepted their offer.
3	Tue Feb 12 14:54:21 EST 2002 It’s a good feeling that there seems to be some commitment towards a peaceful solution to the civil war in Sri Lanka. All around the world, there are never ending conflicts between groups that are not coming to senses to sit down and talk. I hope Mr. Wickramasinghe and Mr. Prabhakaran could be good examples for the whole world by coming to a peaceful solution and be recognized for it after all these years of hardship put on civilians. How would you describe your position in this important juncture?  -  Jay, USA Answer: I reflect the dream of all true Sri Lankans that peace should soon dawn on our country. My support for a peaceful Sri Lanka is non-negotiable.
2	Tue Feb 12 14:02:09 EST 2002 Dear sir Tamils never treated equally by sinhalese, If they want to go sepratly why can't you let them go.Please think.This make both parties happy. thank you.  -  Raj, London Answer: Neither you nor I have the right to take decisions on behalf of the Sinhala and Tamil people. It is the people themselves who have the right to decide through the functioning of democratic processes and institutions. My own personal view, however, is that the cultural and religious practices, values, customs, habits, modes of social interaction and economic practices of the vast majority of ordinary Sinhala and Tamil people are very close to one another. As a result, I have sensed a deep yearning on the part of everyone to evolve sustainable institutions for sharing the common cultural, economic, social and political resources of our country and living together within the framework of one strong nation.
1	Tue Feb 12 13:36:53 EST 2002 Sir, You played a very prominent role in bringing back SLFP to power. I believe you are right person to explain why SLFP lost the last election. Mowjood  -  Seyed Mowjood, Västerås Sweden Answer: Let me give you my personal viewpoint. The processes of neo-liberal economic globalization into which we incorporated ourselves in 1977 brought varying degrees of benefit to 30 or 40 per cent of the population and left perhaps 60 per cent of our people more disadvantaged than they were before. First of all, these were the forces that brought the PA to power in 1994. Between 1994 and 2001 the PA, in my personal view, failed to develop a well thought out alternative way of negotiating with the processes of neo-liberal globalization on behalf of this broad, disadvantaged 60% of the people. The people wanted from us an alternative but within the framework of globalization itself. We failed to provide one. So we were defeated. My priority objective therefore, as opposition leader, is to launch various dialogues and discourses through which we could make globalization which is now finance-centric and technology-centric much more people-centric at ;least for our country. Once we are able to project a new people-centric vision for the PA, then surely the people will give us a chance to implement it.