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The Lanka Academic carried an online "Question and Answer" session with Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, the Propaganda Secretary, a member of the Political Bureau, and the Leader of the group of Parliamentarians of People's Liberation Front (JVP), in Sri Lanka, from December 3, 2002 to December 16, 2002. Below are the questions from our readers and the answers by Mr. Weerawansa.

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Wimal Weerawansa is the Propaganda secretary,and the leader of the parliamentary group of the People's Liberation Front or Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). He was first elected to the Colombo municipality as a member at the local government elections in 1997. In 1999, he contested the provincial council election successfully and was elected to the Western Provincial council from Colombo district. In the General Election of 2000, he was elected to the parliament representing the Colombo district and was appointed the leader of the JVP parliamentary group until the parliament was dissolved in October, 2001. In the General Elections of December 2001, he was re-elected to parliament from Colombo District and is the current leader of the parliamentary group and also a much sought after spokesperson from the JVP on national events and policy matters. Mr.Weerawansa is an alumni of Tissa Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, Kalutara and opened for the 1st eleven cricket team of his alma mater. He participated in JVP political efforts while still a student and worked as a journalist for the Sinhala news papers Lakmina, Lakdiva and Hiru before going on to full time politics.

25	Sun Dec 15 22:10:54 EST 2002 Pls explain the difference between internal and external self determination. Is there any possibility of declaring a seperate state using the powers of internal self determination?  -  Nandana Peiris, colombo Answer: Dear Nandana, According to the UN Charter, there aren't two self determinations called internal and external. There is only one type of self determination: it is the right of a nation for secession according to its wishes; the right to perform as a separate state. How can separation be divided into an internal separation and an external separation? You would remember that with the fall of the Soviet Union most of the states within the Soviet Union became separate states. You would also remember when the socialist system of Yugoslavia was defeated most of the nations within the country established their own states. Since Quebec territory too has this right for secession, a referendum was held in 1995 to test the pulse of the people about secession. The nations in the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia established their own states according to this right for self determination. Quebec didn't separate from Canada because 51% of the people there voted to remain within Canada. This is how the right to self determination works. Nowhere in the world are two different self determinations called the internal and the external. Not even in the charter of the UN. This story about an internal self determination and an external self determination was invented by the tiger organization with the instruction of Norway to safeguard the UNP regime. They say that they ask for internal self determination but not the external one! This is only a game of words to hoodwink the Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and people of all nationalities in Sri Lanka. These days Anton Balasingham is busy with inventing these word games to defend his pal and stooge Ranil Wickremasinghe and his regime. According to this answer your question vis-a-vis 'Could a separate state be declared through "internal" self determination?' doesn't arise. That's because the right to self determination cannot be divided into an internal one and an external one. As I mentioned earlier nowhere in the world is there a self determination which has no right to establish a separate state.
24	Sun Dec 15 13:24:18 EST 2002 Dear Wimal, The government has issued a license to operate LTTE's Voice of Tigers radio station (which got some new equipment recently). India is reportedly concerned about it. What do you have to say on this? Also, why hasn't JVP started your own radio service yet? It will be an effective way to reach the people, don't you agree? [modified by moderator]  -  Vijaya, Cyberspace Answer: Dear Vijaya, "Voice of tigers", the tiger broadcasting service until now, with difficulty, was able to cover only a small area in the North and the East. The tigers wanted to broadcast Prabhakaran's speech on the so-called hero's day on 27th of November to an audience of Tamils throughout South Asia even as far as Singapore. For this, making use of this so-called "peace process", they made arrangements to get down high-powered communication equipment with the blessing of the UNP regime. This high-powered broadcasting station was not imported to Sri Lanka by any tiger member. They have been imported to Sri Lanka by Jon Westborg, the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka. As such there hasn't been any custom duty levied on this equipment nor were they inspected by the customs. When any goods are brought to any country by a diplomat, using the diplomatic privileges, duties are not levied and they are not subjected to any inspection. Next, the Ministry of Defense made arrangements to escort this high powered broadcasting equipment beyond the Army check point at Omanthe forward defense line by Sri Lanka Police and handed it over to the tigers. Even though the officers at Omanthe check point had tried to prevent it been taken to the tigers, they hadn't even been allowed to examine the container. Now, what the government says is that a permit had been issued to "voice of tigers", the relevant equipment had been brought legally and as such there is nothing to worry about that. If these are (as the government tries to establish) ordinary equipment and if they were brought legally, why were they brought in the name of Norwegian Ambassador? Is it correct to use diplomatic priviledges to give tigers tax concessions? Is Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg a member of the tiger organization? (May be the answer to this is "Yes"!) Why were they taken beyond the area controlled by the Sri Lanka Security Forces and gifted to the tigers even without been allowed to be inspected at Omanthe check point? It is evident that the government, to conceal the rubbish it has on it, is in the act of bathing in scum. What has been gifted to the tiger organization is high powered transmission equipment. They can cover not only the land mass of Sri Lanka but also all the areas in India where Tamil speaking people live. By this Jon Westborg has helped the Tamil communalist and separatist ideology to be spread beyond the geographical boundaries of Sri Lanka to the neighboring India. (India would definitely use more powerful technology and equipment to jam and wreck the broadcasting, though.) On the other hand the high-powered broadcasting equipment gifted to the tiger organization has the ability to interfere, interrupt and cause chaos to the communication network of the Security Forces if hostilities erupt. This equipment also has the ability to infiltrate the wave lengths of the Security Forces and give false signals to confuse the Forces. Ranil Wickremasinghe's regime which has undermined the defense of this country and has betrayed it, may consider that these acts are legitimate. But for those who love this country, for those who are concerned about the defense of this country and for those who are always concerned about the well being of the people of this country - these are very serious matters. Your next question is why we don't start a broadcasting service. The biggest obstacle we have here is getting a permit from the government. The authorities of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy had requested for a permit to broadcast Buddhist affairs. But the officials of the Ministry of Mass communication had rejected that request saying it would be a threat to the National security! If it is so to the Temple of the Tooth, what would be our position? However, with the new development with transmission equipment given to the tigers and they been given a permit to run a broadcasting service, we too hope to request the government for a permit to run a broadcasting service. If the tigers can have one, we too must be given the opportunity to maintain one. By any chance if we get the permit to have a broadcasting service, I hope you too would contribute your mite to get down the necessary equipment as we don't have "Jon Westborgs" to gift us such equipment!
23	Sun Dec 15 07:12:26 EST 2002 what steps have you already taken or are going to take to create an unbiased free media culture in sri lanka as people are denied to know the truth by prevailing biased opportunistic media?  -  peduru senevirathna, australia Answer: Dear Peduru, As you have correctly interpreted the media in this country are biased. This government, to show the world and to please media 'bosses' who helped them to come to power and maintain it, abolished criminal defamation law and the press council. However individuals who are paid and receive benefits from the Prime Minister's media unit are placed in higher positions in almost all state and private media. They propagate their "master's voice" from these higher echelons. Today some newspapers are handled not by the chief editors appointed officially but by media 'pups' who get paid and receive benefits from Prime Minister's media unit. Hence, almost all principal media in Sri Lanka today are effectively controlled by the government. Even though one or two media try to overcome this state the general situation is that. You also ask what measures we have taken to change this situation. We don't have major means of mass communication. However we possess a powerful alternative mass communication network. We spread our ideology against the ideology of the oppressor through leaflets, our own newspapers, our cadres who communicate our stand to others and various other activities. Recently, for the first time, we have added a novelty to the political propaganda art. It is the alternative "TV channel" called Rashmi TV - which is a VCD (or VHS) issued bimonthly. We currently don't have the legal approval, technology or monetary means to maintain a traditional TV channel. But our RashmiTV is a "TV channel" where programmes flow as in a real TV channel and it goes from hand to hand. These are various methods that we use against unilateral propaganda war. To do this task more successfully and effectively we hope Sri Lankans who live all over the world would help us.
22	Sat Dec 14 01:36:10 EST 2002 Dear Wimal, JVP was instrumental in setting up the Constitution Council and the Independant Commissions for Bribery, Police, Elections and Media. But the CC and the ICs have fallen into collective oblivion. What is the JVP doing about it?  -  D Galappaththi, Tissamaharama Answer: Dear Galappaththi, As you say it was the JVP which pioneered in establishing these commissions. These commissions entered the law of the land through the Probationary Government Programme we brought forward at a time when the country was going through a grave political instability, when this political instability was heading on a path advantageous to the tiger movement, to correct this state on one hand and on the other to win over a number of influential reforms to the county and the people. It was through this probationary government programme, which lasted only the last 21 days of the year 2000, for the first time without any division, this amendment was added to the Constitution. It was the 17th amendment to the Constitution. By that time though there had been 16 amendments to the Constitution that was established in 1978. The opposition at the time had vehemently protested to all of them. It was the 17th amendment that was passed with unanimity. This condition was achieved as a victory of the probationary government programme which lasted only 21 days. Through the probationary government programme we and the People?s Alliance were able to win over to the country this important reform in 21 days. Next the UNP formed the government. It is this government which had to perform the practical aspect of it. It was the UNP government which had to establish the new Constitutional Council and through it appoint representatives to the independent commissions and make them workable. On the other hand the President too should have given the necessary assistance. The independent commissions have not become viable as these conditions were not fulfilled. This is a very sorry situation. We have expressed our displeasure about this on many occasions. However we have not been able to do anything further to correct this situation. Nevertheless these have not been completely submerged. Even with delays these Independent Commissions are being made practical slowly. The question is the delay.
21	Fri Dec 13 19:52:27 EST 2002 Dear Mr Weerawansa, What is your/JVP view about the status of women in Sri Lanka? Some tend to think that - since we have a couple of women in high positions in politics, government and businesses - women are 'liberated' and they are 'equal'. But women are still being oppressed, discriminated against and sexually harassed. What does JVP propose to improve the status of women? Would you urge the government in power to implement your proposals?  -  Kumari, Colombo Answer: Dear Kumari, Just because a woman is the President or for any similar reasons the conditions of social constraints on women don't cease. Undeveloped capitalist system in Sri Lanka didn't historically contribute to transform people of all communities into one common nation. It also didn't give women the due place in society. We feel it is ridiculous to make "proposals" to the present pro-colonialist, sluggish, capitalist system that exists in Sri Lanka expecting them to change this situation. We believe that Sri Lankan women's rights could be achieved only in proportion to the social emancipation that could be won over. Certain women's organizations propose that a definite number of women should be compulsorily elected to public bodies, women's independence from men's domination etc., as a solution for these constraints. Even though there may be certain proposals that could be considered rationally, they are being forwarded to a disastrous system that is economically and socially bankrupt. When a society disintegrates economically, the first to become a prey to the crisis is the family institution. And when this happens, very often, it is the woman who has to bear the brunt of it. When such a situation exists in reality, the proposals that we bring in are like "soap bubbles" in the air. That's why we emphasize that women's liberation is an integral part of social liberation. In a country, where women are sent unrestrained to domestic slavery to the Middle-East countries, certain proposals with regard to women's liberation we talk of, become jokes.
20	Fri Dec 13 01:24:20 EST 2002 All dogma, whether it be religion or Marxism results in numerous schisms because each dogmatist thinks he or she is absolutely right in the interpretation of the doctrine. Thus we have dozens of Christian sects (Anglican, Catholic, Coptic, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Jesuit, Born Again Christian, Assembly of God, etc) and the same goes for alleged socialist parties in Sri Lanka: LSSP, CP (Moscow) CP (Chinese), NSSP, JVP, and many others. How do laymen decide who is right?  -  Lina Elibib, Negombo Answer: Dear Lina, The fact you raise that there are dozens of Christian sects and even in Marxism there are various divisions is correct. We need not be amazed or alarmed over it. At this stage I won't bother to describe how various divisions have arisen in religious enterprises. But I will explain, in short, how various divisions occur in socialist movements. Within the left movement, not only in Sri Lanka but all over the world, there are various divisions. Some of these divisions are ideological. Some leftist organizations accept Marxism-Leninism as their philosophical and scientific guideline and base their stand on that. Some other 'left' movements are based on Trotskyism, Stalinism, Maoism and various ideologies in different names and act accordingly. Some of these left movements either are utopian left movements or revisionist ones. Left movements with a revolutionary perspective and a revolutionary political practice are scarce. JVP is not a left movement limited only to 'lip service'. It is not only a correct left movement in its ideology but in practice too; it acts with the aspects of a true left movement. You could identify these characteristics even in our political practice in the election campaigns. We don't go into the 'preferential vote war.' We don't engage in a political struggle to bring individuals to the podium. Our Members of various public bodies such as Parliament, Provincial Councils etc., credit their salaries to a common fund to spend for public utilities. We don't use salaries of Parliamentarians and members of other public institutes for personal spending. The physical resources that we have gained as people's representatives are not used for our personal comforts. The vehicle we are entitled to as Parliamentarians or other members in public bodies is considered as a resource that belongs to the party, one that we use when the need arises. It is the same with fax machines, computers, telephones etc. As Parliamentarians we get two official telephone connections. All our members have not taken any of these connections to their private dwellings. All these are used in our party offices. This is true with all our Members in Local Government bodies, Provincial Councils and the Parliament. The person who becomes the General Secretary of our party does not seek a seat in any public body. The present General Secretary of our party is Comrade Tilvin Silva. He is not a Member of Parliament or a Member of any other Council. The reason for this is that we believe in confirming a separate existence between the party and the state. These are very practical and important precedents. When you seek answers to the questions "Who's right? Which is correct? How's it correct?" these facts should be taken into consideration. If you are able to recognize these ideological and practical exceptions, it won't be difficult for you to know the political leadership which is correct and suitable.
19	Wed Dec 11 18:54:05 EST 2002 Dear Mr. Wimal, The Sri Lankan farmers seem to be a neglected lot. None of the governments in Sri Lanka have taken serious measures to bring them out of their plight. Most of the agrarian produce is imported from out of Sri Lanka. Some farmers have even committed suicide in the past unable to pay a paltry loan taken from a state bank. What would a JVP government do to uplift the Sri Lankan agriculture and give more place to Sri Lankan produce.  -  John Thangavelu, Ontario,Canada Answer: Dear John, We, who live in a tropical land, a country which is capable of the highest agricultural production, cannot undertake on any journey forgetting the farming population. Various administrations hoodwinked the farming masses and as a result today's generation of these farming families decline to engage in traditional agriculture and instead seek other jobs (slavery). The main strength of the development in our country depends on the field of agriculture. We should pave the way for an agriculture that is well organized and produces products that are based on market demands. We also should incorporate subsidiary fields such as animal husbandry, dairy farming etc. Today our country imports even water gourd! 54 years of neo-colonialist rule has brought us to this stage. We spend Billions in foreign exchange for milk products. After doing that we send our women to Arabian countries for slavery. We have a good potential for growing sugarcane and to produce sugar. But we spend Billions of rupees in foreign exchange to import sugar. When it is possible to produce various kinds of foods using local products, we spend billions to import wheat flour. To import these we take loans which we pay to the same countries from whom we import these foods. Then we pay interests for these loans; and to pay the interests our people are burdened with taxes. If we are to break away from this tangle we have to dedicate ourselves for agricultural development that uses our fertile land and other resources in a well organized way and objectively. First of all we must accept this and then strive for an agricultural development that is directed according to the targets to be fulfilled to a fixed time frame. In the "Five year plan" we presented to the country during the General Election of year 2000 we have explicitly explained this. By accessing our web site www.jvpsrilanka.com you could study this "Five year plan". Finally it should be said that the basis of our economic development is agricultural development. We can embark on other fields technical or what ever only by standing on this basis not, as some say, by entering into "fashionable" developments!
18	Sun Dec 8 23:15:01 EST 2002 If we, who live in the south cannot trust a tamil dominated federal administration to be fair and just by the sinhalese and muslims living in the North & East, is it reasonable to expect the tamils living in the North & East to trust a non - tamil dominated ( sinhalese and muslim ) centre to meet out justice and fairplay given the acrimonious past.  -  Cdr A.S.F. Mohammad (Retired) Sri Lanka Navy, Oman Answer: Dear Mohammad, What we propose is not a Sinhalese-Muslim Central Government. What exists today too is not a Sinhalese Central Government. What exists today is pro-western central government of the petit bourgeoisie which doesn't represent national identities or aspirations. It is not an administration which is committed to and defends the genuine, justifiable rights of people whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers or Malays. Instead this regime has become a broker company of foreign parasitic powers. Therefore any Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or any other patriot with an iota of intelligence would never accept such a central government. Though this central government cannot be trusted we need not divide ourselves on communal grounds and partition the state that belongs to all of us into small pieces on a communal basis. The consequence of that would be the transformation of this unitary state of Sri Lanka into a number of weak, disunited states. This would make us more subdued as a society. Where ever we live whether in the North, South, East or anywhere else we, as Sri Lankans, would become destitute and socially and economically slaves in our own land. An atmosphere would occur where we will kill each other. Just as central governments with Sinhalese communalist ideology have escalated the crisis and communal disparity throughout history, a separate Tamil administration too would escalate the crisis and communal disparity over and over again. What we ought to do is to unite all toiling people and struggle to transform this state of ours to a state which is based on our own power and which accountable to us. Instead if we partition our own state into small pieces on a communal basis, we would be calling for our own destruction. It is on this basis we oppose the separatist, communalist path of the tiger organization. It is the tiger organization which has obstructed the oppressed Tamil people from extending their strength to other oppressed masses in their endeavor of transforming Sri Lanka into a dignified land of democracy and equality. The tiger organization today is treading on a path of the imperialist strategic interest of making use of at least a part of the strength of toiling Tamil masses to partition the country into small pieces. This would never bring about genuine relief to any community in Sri Lanka whether they are Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay or any other. That's why we should oppose a Tamil communalistic federal state.
17	Fri Dec 6 12:22:45 EST 2002 Dear Wimal, As a member of a political party aiming to secure power some day in Sri Lanka,What is your current opinion about sending our women to the Middlle East as house maids and government sponsored lottery business?Under a future JVP (or JVP supported)rule, do you have any plans to find any solutions to these two problems?Thanks.  -  Lionel Fernandopulle, Miami Beach,FL, USA Answer: Dear Lionel, As you correctly expect the JVP is a political party that would certainly come to power in this country. Hence the question you pose about Sri Lankan women being sent to the Middle East is important. According to our belief, not only to Middle East but to any other country or a market in the world, we should not send labour for domestic slavery. Today there are great opportunities opened for males and females, generally for labour, who are professionally competent in various fields. If you look at the computer field, building software for a younger generation with these abilities and talents a vast job opportunities would be available. Instead of sending women for domestic slavery, a survey could be done to find out job opportunities in nursing, health fields etc., give a good training and send them to employment in these fields. What happens now is innocent women, unable to have an income to maintain their family establishment, are sent to slavery in the Middle East with a lot of hope. Our understanding is that this could not even be considered a vocation in civilized society. Already certain countries such as India have abandoned sending women for work in the Middle East. Our country is still sending our women, our mothers to the Middle East for domestic slavery. What should be done is not only to prepare ground for the mature women to seek employment abroad. But the young generation should be directed towards the career opportunities that are available after helping them to acquire required skills. On the other hand in a situation where we focus on a National Economic policy with broad national targets the need to seek employment elsewhere would be greatly minimized. The most fulfilling occupation for a person would be when his or her contribution of labour is for the development of his or her Motherland. We should at least bestow upon the next generation the opportunity of this fulfillment. Your next question is about the lotteries held with the sponsorship of the government. Lotteries have become another medium which pick the pockets of those who have lost all traces of hope. When people have no means of fulfilling their means of living they begin having hopes on sudden serendipity. As such they stake all their hopes on lotteries. We believe that lotteries couldn't be and needn't be stopped abruptly. What should happen is that the government shouldn't give patronage to lotteries. The government shouldn't depend on lotteries as a main source of income. It should be treated as something that is not necessary for our community living. People's attitudes should be directed towards this. Then the necessity for lotteries would dissipate.
16	Thu Dec 5 23:05:27 EST 2002 What is your party's present stand about the way the peace negotiations are continuing? Especially, after the two parties agree to seek as solution in a federal framework (as opposed to a confederal system which was the LTTE's 'least' demand in the past).  -  bandara, Japan Answer: Dear Bandara, There is a mistake in your query. In reality there is nothing called peace talks before us. What is happening are not peace talks. Instead, using that name, "Elam discussions" are being held. They are discussions to exchange stratagem about dividing the country. Genuine peace talks are discussions held to defend the unitary state of the country, decide strategy to defeat separatism and create an environment for all Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim masses of the country to live in harmony with their own identity and cherishing their own cultures. The discussions that are going on are not of that kind. These are definitely discussions on how to divide Sri Lanka. Therefore these are Elam discussions. Your next question is about our view on the agreement of these parties on a federal solution. In the earlier answers on federal solutions we have expressed our stand. There are several reasons for the three parties to put forward the word "federal" at this juncture. The first is on the 5th of December, 2002 the executive President gets the authority to dissolve the Parliament. They needed to create an environment, through the so-called discussions to prevent the President from using this power. On the other hand India had demonstrated symbolically her disapproval of the on going process in Sri Lanka by not participating at Oslo summit. Meanwhile on November 25th People's Alliance, whose stand on the "peace process" was not stable earlier, approached a direct and definite stand. Their announcement had completely rejected the Norway mediation. They had emphasized that the "peace process" was being maintained only to fulfill the targets of the LTTE. In addition there was the threat of united protests against this process being launched by the combination of mass organizations with the addition of executive powers of the President and countries like India. Taking all this into consideration, Balasingham, G.L.Peiris and Vida Helgesen who met in Oslo decided to go for a strategy that would at least push back the forces against their "peace process" temporarily. This strategy was the announcement that the relevant parties had agreed to share power in a federal framework. Different people can have different views about a "federal framework". India has a centralized Federal system. Canada, Australia and also Switzerland are confederations with federal systems. Hence, using the word "federal" it would also be possible to get the right for secession like in Quebec in Canada. As I mentioned earlier the word "federal" was brought forward not for any other purpose but as a strategy to face the powers opposing them. As you know already the government of Switzerland has recognized Karuna, a military leader of the LTTE, as the Army Commander (sic) of the Eastern part of Sri Lanka! He was recognized this way when they visited Switzerland, with aid from Norway, to study their federal system. Meanwhile Thamil Selvam had stated to Reuter Service: "We prefer federal system in Canada. It is because Quebec state government expressed its desire for secession in 1995. At this instance Quebec people showed their right for secession. Therefore we would prefer the Canadian model of federalism." On the other hand Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the LTTE had clearly stated that their stand and aspirations have not changed from Thimpu to Thailand. Even in his so-called martyrs' day he said that they could consider a system where North and East are recognized as the homeland of the Tamils (with the right for a separate state as laid down in UNO resolutions), self determination is recognized and a self administration or a self government is allowed. So, it is very clear that whether it is federal or confederation or whatever name is used, the LTTE is determined to fulfill their target which they have been recapitulating from Thimpu to Thailand. Therefore no one has the right to be deceived by the statement "agreeing to arrive at a solution in a federal framework." The government, the LTTE and also the Norwegian pseudo "peace" agents put forward these lies to hoodwink the people of this country to create an environment, constitutionally, for the LTTE to form a separate state and give them the right for secession.
15	Thu Dec 5 21:16:14 EST 2002 Dear Sir, What is the JVP policy on eastern province Muslim demand for a separate unit if the province is going to be merged with North? Thank you JVP for appointing the first ever female Muslim MP. I hope you will appoint an eastern muslim MP from your party in the next election.  -  Hameed, Eastern Sri Lanka Answer: Dear Hameed, We should consider the request by the Muslim leaders for a separate administrative unit if the Eastern Province is merged to the North in a broader perspective. Specially diversification of the population in the Eastern Province is amiable. All three communities in the island are distributed equally in this Province. It is this Province, where Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim people live in an equal proportionate, that the rulers of this country are preparing to present, with a gift deed, to the LTTE after merging it with the Northern Province naming it "the homeland of the Tamils". To obstruct this attempt, as an action against this vile deed of the UNP regime, the Muslim leaders have put forward the demand that "if the LTTE is given, give us as well". We shouldn't consider this demand only as a demand of the Muslims for a separation. Instead it should be considered as a demand put forward against the Tamil communalist and separatist movement. You would notice that the LTTE while demanding that Tamils should be recognized as a separate Nation has commenced talking about North and East being the "traditional homeland of the Tamil speaking people". By including the clause "Tamil speaking people" they attempt to include the Muslims in their scheme to forcefully bind the Muslims to their communalist yearn for a separate state. But we know that Muslims are a separate nationality with their own identity, their own cultural traits. This Nationality should not be allowed to be manipulated by the LTTE for its own racialist interests. Therefore the demand of the Muslim leaders that a separate administrative unit should be granted to them if the North and the East are merged to give the LTTE a separate administrative zone, at this moment, is a step against the separatist interests of the LTTE. Considering this, we would like to treat this demand as a requirement of the present time. Of course JVP was the first to appoint a Muslim woman Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka. Just like you, we too are happy about it. Also we hope that a JVP Muslim MP from the Eastern Province would be elected to the Parliament in the near future. Thank you.
14	Thu Dec 5 06:45:21 EST 2002 Dear Wimal, Free market economy and globalization is the norm now.Nobody can ignore these two realities and follow a closed Economic system with government controls and progress given the current world economic structure. As a Political party following Marxist ideals how would JVP handle this if elected to power on a future date without compromising on Marxist ideology ? Thanks.  -  VIDYA SIRIWARDHANA, DUBAI,U.A.E. Answer: Dear Sriwardana, According to what you say the trend today is for free economy and globalization. In your opinion it is not only a trend but a reality as well. Therefore you conjecture that it is not possible to follow a government controlled closed economy avoiding this reality. When a country like ours, a country like Sri Lanka is guided towards national targets of its own the trend you mention could be used profitably. But it could be used for our advantage only if we don’t fall into the traps of Western monetary institutes. The right to decide on policy frameworks of the economy should be with Sri Lanka. Today the right to decide on economic policies of this country is not with its rulers. Instead all that authority is bestowed on the representatives in charge of Sri Lanka in Western monetary institutes such as IMF and World Bank. Under these circumstances countries like ours have lost even the opportunity of getting the benefits of the so-called globalization or open economy that you speak of. Therefore what should be done is not to talk about closed economy of the old model. Specially, we don’t believe that a closed economy could exist anywhere in the world. Instead of a closed economy we believe in a centralized system where the direction, pathway, the targets are planned, and management by the state with certain characteristics and abilities of the private sector and open economy incorporated into it. Today in China, in their centralized socialist economic system, they have strategically used the advantages of open economy and globalization that you speak of to benefit their national aspirations. Even Cuba, in spite of the economic embargo of the USA, is conducting open and transparent large scale transactions with investors. Cuba conducts such large scale projects such as provision of its petroleum resources with foreign investors on profitable conditions of a 50 - 50 basis. Even Vietnam is strategically tapping certain benefits of open economy. Therefore we need not be apprehensive of the open economy or globalization. If we have our own national economic strategy, a programme with our own targets and ambitions, if we have our own future motives we need not bow down to the world trends that you speak of in fulfilling them. Therefore it is possible to get the benefits we need from a centralized economic system as well as the advantages from the open economy and globalization that you mention without countering Marxism. What we should concentrate is not on the existing economic sub-system. We should always examine the developments in 20 or 30 years time in the future. If we are able to evaluate these developments we should develop human resources through our educational system targeting these future developments. We should bring forth a patriotic young generation. If we can create a human resource that loves and cherishes the Motherland and the world they live in, serve it with righteousness and with high principles we would have the ability to progress as a society and a country even making use of the profitable characteristics of the open economic trend or the globalization trend or any other trend that is more precarious than any of them. Marxism is a creative dynamic philosophy. It is not a static philosophy. It is not a frozen doctrine. Therefore creative Marxist movements are gifted with the ability to guide economies in correct directions and use strategies and tactics correctly without being distressed by changing situations. We need not fear about it at all.
13	Wed Dec 4 23:14:24 EST 2002 Does your party regret for the past insurgencies in 1971 and 1987? If you see the past retrospectively, do you think the parties political objectives could have been achieved by the democratic process?  -  Trevor Joseph, Toronto Canada Answer: Dear Joseph, We have expressed our views on this matter many a time. We have no reasons to regret about the people's uprisings of 1971 and 1987 which took place striving to win over and establish Equality, Social Justice, Democracy and National Independence. There may be positive characteristics as well as negative ones in those struggles. But it is not the task of the current people's leadership to have regrets about history just because there were negative characteristics and being defeated militarily. We are not mourners of history we are students of history. We are those who put into practice what we have learnt from history and developed that into existing situations. On the other hand when analysing history we can't come into conclusions by assumptions. All those struggles and uprisings should be considered in its own perspective. We can't isolate them from the social setting they occurred. Achieving our goals through a democratic process were and still are the aspirations of our party. Today we are going forward satisfactorily on this path amidst thousands of plots and obstacles to curb our progress.
12	Wed Dec 4 20:03:57 EST 2002 Dear Wimal, what do you think about the NGO's in our country and their growing power and influence?  -  Sumanasiri, Matara Answer: Dear Sumanasiri, You have asked a very sensitive question that needs a broad discussion. This is the shortest answer I can give to your question. Sri Lanka, our Motherland, today is entrapped by the dollars 'donated' by pro-imperialist organizations. The organizations which give us loans are the lending organizations controlled by western imperialism. Meanwhile gangs calling themselves 'civil societies' which depend on the dollars of the imperialists pump us of various 'concepts'. At the same time even those who mediate in our issues on a theoretical sphere are those individuals from Non Governmental Organizations who depend on the dollars from the imperialists. It is not only our economy that is being controlled by the west. We are being influenced and controlled by them politically, socially and culturally as well. Look at this incident. The present Norwegian Ambassador, a few years ago, was the head of an NGO called 'Redd Barna'. This organization had bolstered up the separatist movement in various ways. This individual today as an ambassador fulfils the same undertaking he did as the head of 'Redd Barna'. A few days ago he had imported a container full of highly sophisticated communication equipment and with the aid of the defence secretary had handed it over to the tigers. This has been revealed by the media. All NGOs in Sri Lanka, that are involved in the national question, represent, in various forms, the interest of the west to partition the country. On the surface they may appear as religious, human rights, social welfare etc. But in the final analysis all of them are unholy accomplices of the politics of dividing Sri Lanka. These organizations which depend on funds from imperialists got a boost at the beginning of the UNP regime in 1977. They have been active in various fields to achieve their aim of religious, cultural, political and economical incursion. There are two or three genuine ones. But generally these NGOs fulfil an alien invasive interest hostile to our country. If not for the existence of the JVP these sinful, voracious forces would have been more powerful!
11	Wed Dec 4 19:42:27 EST 2002 What do you and JVP think about the relationship between religion and government affairs? In this context, what do you think about the special place given to Buddhism in the Sri Lankan constitution. Thank you.  -  Savitri, Kandy Answer: Dear Savitri, Religion is an association that has existed even before the primitive stages of society till now. Any state recognises its independent existence. However manipulating religion for the sustenance of a state is not correct. With regard to this I recall what Nehru, a great leader of India, said in New Delhi on 10th July 1961. "In our Constitution India is introduced as a worldly state. It doesn't give the view that we are anti-religion. It means that all religions are respected and a follower of any religion has equal opportunities." We too believe in the same principles in the dealings between religion and the state. It is true that according to the Constitution Buddhism has been given an advantageous position. However neither Buddhism nor any other religion has got any position in this country. What is happening is all religions are being 'used' by the rulers. If the rulers assume that it is necessary to give priority to Buddhism in achieving their ends they would do so. However, Buddhism as an Eastern philosophy is linked strongly to the culture of the majority of Sri Lankans. Buddhist philosophy has influenced all their customs, values, etiquettes etc. We believe this state could be advantage.
10	Wed Dec 4 17:51:45 EST 2002 What is the position of you and your party with regards to ragging and violence in Srilankan Universities? [edited by Moderator]  -  Rohana, Colombo Answer: Dear Rohana, Ragging has existed for a long time in Universities in Sri Lanka. It is a deteriorating student sub-culture concurrent to the deteriorating culture of the society. I think you, too, would agree that the last two or three decades have been decades of violence, inhumane and barbarism in Sri Lanka. Also the modern (young) generation has been nurtured in the present consumerist economy called the open economy. They have been proportionately been made uncompassionate by its economic frame and its cultural assaults. This state is reflected in university ?ragging? which is a part of the University sub-culture. Our view is that ragging should be abolished from the university student culture. We don?t believe modern society of students acquire anything from ragging. It has now become an end result of a mental distortion which is part of aggression against the community. Socialist students? Union, the students? union of the JVP recently published a book after a social research. In it, while presenting a scientific interpretation of university ragging, a strong opinion has been built up that ragging should be abolished from universities.
9	Wed Dec 4 11:38:07 EST 2002 The former J.R. Jayawardene Government accused the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna of unleashing violence against the Tamil Minority in July 1983. Do you accept this accusation?  -  Douglas Tisseverasinghe, Toronto - Canada Answer: Dear Douglas, Posing this question surprises me. Who doesn't know that it was the then UNP government which created the infamous ‘black July’ in which unarmed, innocent, Tamil people in Colombo and suburbs and else where in Sri Lanka were mercilessly murdered and their property plundered? By creating this vile act J.R. Jayawardene’s UNP regime forced the innocent Tamil people to the lap of the tiger terrorists. By doing so J.R. supplied the reasoning that the tiger terrorists needed to justify their cause internationally. Further, J.R. made use of this ‘black July’, which he himself created, to proscribe the JVP. By this single incident J.R. was able to achieve several goals. The ‘black July in 1983 was only one of the concessions given to tiger terrorists by J.R.’s UNP government. Further J.R. was able to suppress the strongest left movement in Sri Lanka which was against separatism. It was only after ‘black July’ in 1983 that the tiger terrorists could carry the false notion throughout the world that ‘Sinhalese are killing their people and plundering their property.’ The infamous eelamists who had been posted to many countries as diplomats by J.R.Jayawardene’s UNP regime made use of ‘black July’ to broadcast this view. ‘black July’ of 1983 was not a creation of the JVP or the Sinhalese people in the South.This was a plot created by J.R.Jayawardene’s UNP regime, with the interest of Western imperialists, to bring to a higher stage the separatist movement and to suppress the genuine left movement of Sri Lanka. Even today in Western Province Tamils and Sinhalese live in harmony. Do any incidents like ‘black July’ erupt through them? No! ‘black July’ of ’83 was completely a mean act of the UNP regime.
8	Wed Dec 4 10:12:41 EST 2002 What do you think of the future of Retail business in Sri lanka? Will it be taken over by Giants?(Local/ International) If yes , what is your plan of action?  -  Ranjith Ranasinghe, Colombo Answer: Dear Ranjith, "Yes" is the shortest answer. By the budget of this year at the instructions of the International Monetary fund VAT (Value Added Tax) was levied on retail business too. Today the retail business is being encroached by giant local and foreign business companies with ?food cities? and supermarkets of various names. The government defends and represents the interests of these companies. 20% of VAT tax is levied on retail trade to enhance this state. On the other hand the small scale trader is clueless before the escalating cost of electricity, telephone, water etc. What happens in this situation is that the production is gobbled by the foreign racketeers and trade becomes the monopoly of local and foreign business giants. The small scale trader is incapacitated gradually. Retail trade could be salvaged from this situation only by planning the country with a national perspective. Today the economic policies, plans and decisions of our country are brought forth not with a National interest. All these ?happen? with the whims and fancies of lending institutes and large scale racketeers. Without liberating the country from this state it would be senseless to find solutions to a single issue. In National production we must give priority to primary productions. In trade too the basic trade should be upheld. It is the economic development in which the masses participate at their lowest level. The profits of production and trade should reach to the lowest levels of our society. What happens now is centralization of all these among large scale companies. It is heartening to know you are aware of this.
7	Wed Dec 4 07:16:21 EST 2002 Being a Marxist party, how would JVP justify its cohabition with People Alliance, which openly stands for the capiatlist open-market economy? [edited by moderator]  -  Dr. A.R.M. Imtiyaz, Nanjing University, China Answer: Dear Imitiyas, The outlook of the JVP is based on Marxism-Leninism. We are courageous enough to admit it. Marxism-Leninism is the philosophy which analysed the present situation faced by all the masses in the world and showed the way for emancipation. However we are not a lot of imported Marxist-Leninists. We are people of this land. Hence, we are also the proclaimers of historical and National interests. We also are those who hold high the banner of human excellence and social values inherited from our great history. We prominently represent the vast social interest of winning, yes! National Independence to this country which is being subjected to re-colonialism. You need not consider us as pseudo-Marxists who have been uprooted from their land and drifted away in a so-called internationalism. We are Marxist-Leninists who are deeply rooted to this land and as a consequence are linked to the whole world. Our country needs National independence. We need the right to decide our course of action. It is not an issue that could be solved by the villainous “universal franchise”. Today ours is a country which is subjected to re-colonization. The prototypes of plans that solve the national issue of Sri Lanka is decided in Oslo. Model is ‘manufactured’ by “Forum of Federation” in Canada. Economically the country is entrapped in a snare of debts. The Economic policies and decisions are decided not by the rulers of our country. The budget too is a lyric sung to the tune of IMF. Today we have become slaves in every way - economically, politically and culturally. Emancipation from this state of affairs is the Marxism-Leninism of the day for our country. On one hand the ‘Israel’ of south Asia is being built on this land after partitioning it. On the other the last shreds of life in our economy are being let loose.
6	Wed Dec 4 06:13:46 EST 2002 Do you think a federal system like the Canadian model is suitable for Sri Lanka? If not, why? [combined by Moderator]  -  Anton from Jaela, and Dhinesh, Oklahoma, USA Answer: Dear Anton and Dhinesh, As we know the principal influence for a Federal system of government being established in Canada is the suspicion Canada had of a future threat from the USA. Canada had to go in for a Federal system in order to keep away from the federal framework of the USA and to fulfil their need to remain as an independent nation. It is clear that Canadian Federal State was established in 1865 for this purpose. As Hamilton, an eminent political philosopher has pointed out ‘A Federal State is a new state consisting of a union of states’. First federal states in the world were established fulfilling two needs. On one hand they had the desire to unite and on the other was the need to safeguard their authority. Often a federal system of government was utilized when a few small states united to form a single state. You ask us whether a federal system in the Canadian model is suitable for Sri Lanka. Our view is that this question is irrelevant. Canada became a federal state as there were historical and environmental reasons that were distinctive. In comparison Sri Lanka hasn't been affected by similar conditions. Historically too Sri Lanka had been a unitary state. Though at various stages various rulers had reigned from various capitals, it had remained a unitary state throughout history. If federal system is introduced to Sri Lanka it won't happen with the intention of “the desire to remain united and to hold power separately”. It would definitely happen as a part of the USA strategy to establish the ‘Israel’ in South Asian Region. Thus, moving towards a federal system would only fulfil the need to partition Sri Lanka constitutionally into two separate states. What did tiger leader Prabhakaran say in his so-called heroes’ day speech? Didn't he say that their aims haven't changed from Thimpu to Thailand? It is true that Prabhakaran talks about ‘the prospect of considering an internal self administration’ based on the principles of Tamil homeland, recognition of Sri Lankan Tamils as a separate nation (a nation having the right to create a state) and the right for cessation. This so-called internal self administration is really a stepping stone to create a separate state constitutionally. Sri Lanka will be made a federal state not to unite but for division! To partition Sri Lanka into two states. Hence, there is no question here about Canadian model or Indian model or British model. What is necessary is to defeat separatism in all its aspects. In parallel to this Sri Lanka should be transformed into a respected state which defends the identity and rights of all communities that live there. Without doing this talking about Canadian or model of any other country is only a farce.
5	Tue Dec 3 22:17:18 EST 2002 In your opinion, what is the legitimacy of the claim by the LTTE and some specific Tamil groups to a Tamil homeland, Tamil nation, and the claim to govern a merged North and East as a Unit?  -  Kandula, USA Answer: Dear Kandula, The concept about a 'Tamil homeland' is historically a myth as well. It's a falsehood fabricated by the Tamil communalist politics of Sri Lanka on the interest of Western imperialism to undermine the existing natural geographical boundaries by replacing them with nationalistic or racist ones. On the other hand if the so-called 'Tamil homeland' is recognized and a separate administration is established encompassing the whole of the North and the East of Sri Lanka it would eventually extend to Tamil Nadu as well. The desire of the Western imperialism to partition the states that have their existing natural geographical borders using nationalistic or religious norms is being activated all over the world. If the North and the East are recognized as the 'Tamil homeland' doesn't it infer that all areas where Tamils are the majority, including Tamil Nadu in India, as the 'Tamil homeland'? The Tamil communalist separatists claim that the North and the East including several other areas, which is about 1/3rd of the land mass of Sri Lanka, as the 'Tamil homeland' or 'Tamil people's traditional habitat'. This concept, they tried to build up, is to have a basis for their 'Tamil Elam state'. The 'Tamil Elam' or the 'homeland' claimed by the Tamil communalists of Sri Lanka seems to be the area that was grabbed by the Chola Empire during the 10th and 11th centuries. The Tamil monarchy that reigned in Tamil areas in South India from Nanjore extended its authority not only throughout the whole of South India. For 77 years a large area of Sri Lanka excluding only a small portion consisting of 'Ruhuna' and 'Dhakshina Deshaya' in the South was ruled by these kings. Maldives too was annexed. When history is analysed correctly it is evident that the ancestors of the present Tamil population of Sri Lanka mainly immigrated and settled in Sri Lanka during these invasions. 'Tamil Elam' the name of the separate state the Tamil communalist leaders of Sri Lanka on the basis of their 'Tamil homeland' too has been borrowed form Chola Empire. Also when Tamil United Liberation Front established Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam as its combat unit the 'tiger' was chosen from the royal symbol of Chola Empire. The symbol of the Chola Empire was the tiger. The flag was a tiger flag. Tincomalee, not Jaffna has been named as the capital of proposed 'Tamil state'. Trincomalee is a district where Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims all nationalities live. Despite this they have named Trincomalee as the capital of the so-called Tamil homeland in view of the fact that Plonnaruwa was the capital of Elam state of the then Chola Empire. Since presently Polonnaruwa cannot be named the Tamil communalist leaders have named Trincomalee which is the closest large town to it. Observe the map showing the northern portion of Sri Lanka which the tiger terrorists claim as their 'homeland'. This map shows exactly the area in Sri Lanka that was under the Chola empire. The 'Dravida Nadu' that Dravida Munnethra Kasagam in India is clamouring for is the historical heritage of Chola empire. What the Tamil communalists including the tiger terrorists are demanding too is the land mass invaded by Chola Empire. The name given to this land mass invaded by Cholas was "Elam Mandalam" which means 'Elam State'. When these and other facts are considered the concept of 'Tamil homeland' is a historical myth. We believe that Sri Lanka is the historical homeland of all who live there and were born there. Tamil communalists in Sri Lanka standing on this fabrication, turning out pseudo historians bustle along with their separatist politics with the blessings and persuasion of the Western imperialists whose need is to partition and weaken Sri Lanka and India on racial bases. On the other hand how the area shown in the so-called Elam map could be maintained as a separate administration? Could it be separated geotropically as well as in natural resources from the rest of the country? More than 50% of the Tamil majority doesn't live in the North and the East. We know that the products of the North came to the South. We also know that equal number of people belonging to all three communities live in the East. In such a situation how could a strip of land partitioned on the basis of racism exist? But these questions are not pertinent to them as their aim is, after annexing the Tamil areas in India as well, the recreation of the Tamil kingdom that existed during the Chola empire. When a large area in Sri Lanka, including the North and the East, had been invaded and subjugated by the Chola empire this country was liberated in 1070 by the leadership of King Wijayabahu the 1st who was popularly known as Prince Keerthi after a strenuous struggle that called for tremendous dedication. Recreation of "Elam Mandalam" too can be defeated by such a dedicated, courageous, genuine patriotic leadership only.
4	Tue Dec 3 19:42:47 EST 2002 Mr Weerawansa; The UNF government and media pointed the finger at the JVP and its student members for the recent killing of a student at Jayawardenapura University. What do you have to say about these allegations? Thank you. [edited by moderator]  -  Nimal Rajakaruna, Melbourne, Australia Answer: Dear Nimal, This is all we can say about this. As the JVP is directly and correctly engages itself in the political struggle against the monstrous betrayal of the government, it has recognized the JVP as its main and the most active enemy. As a result the government has made it a hobby to ascribe any incident that they think could be used to vilify the JVP. This government thinks that when the same lie is repeated many a time the masses would accept it as the truth. Therefore any ant-social incident happening in any part of Sri Lanka is credited to the JVP account. Not only the incident at Sri Jayawardenepura Campus but in the future various other incidents too may be accredited to us. The incidents may be created by the government itself ( Like the black July incidents) and we would be held responsible. We stay vigilant. We expect you to be vigilant too.
3	Tue Dec 3 17:23:37 EST 2002 Is your party against private sector based development of the economy? Are you for cradle to grave state welfare for everyone?  -  Mano R, USA, Oklahoma Answer: No, Dear Mano, your supposition is not correct. State welfare is essential in our process of historical development. But is not the only 'thing'. What we advocate is that the state must take the center stage in manipulating the economy of a country. How it is manipulated may vary. Today China is active in the world economy using giant companies set up by the state. Though in structure they are 'companies' the manipulation is done by the Chinese Government. Private sector is necessary for us. But it should be an irrevocable part of economic strategy of the state and not a private sector that has been allowed to wander about. Today, in Sri Lanka, what is known as the private sector are a few brokering companies. The rest of the private sector is collapsing day by day. The local private sector which engages in National production is facing a great threat. We should mainly utilize the expertise of the private sector in the field of production. Not only in the sphere of trade. Instead of a private sector which has no controls, undisciplined and wanders about without a course, having plunder as the main goal and which has no accountability to the country we insist on a private sector which is controlled, disciplined, marching on a path fulfilling the National expectations and is responsible to the Motherland.
2	Tue Dec 3 14:22:37 EST 2002 What is the position of you and your party with regards to rights of tamils in north and east and what is the political solution that your party propose to settle the tamil problem.  -  T.Sritharan, toronto,canada Answer: Dear Sritharan, You should have asked our stand not only about the Tamil people who live in the North and the East but of all Tamils who live in all parts of the country. It is necessary that an atmosphere is created for all people who live in Sri Lanka, belonging to any nationality, to enjoy their culture, identity, language and other rights. Considering the North and the East, in some areas Tamils are the majority and in others either Muslims or Sinhalese are the majority. Hence, solutions for ‘the North & East’ that put all the aspirations of all these communities in one basket is not correct. On the other hand majority of the Tamil people live outside the North and the East. Therefore trying to find solutions to fulfil the needs of the tiger organization or any other is erroneous. When rights are considered, the Tamil people should have the same rights as the Sinhalese. Muslims should have the same rights that the Sinhalese and the Tamils of this country have. No community should have rights that would overlap the others’. But the true issue today is that the majority of Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims of this country have been denied of their rights. In Sri Lankan society today the rights are only for those who ‘have & can’ whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims. In this issue of the denial of rights in general, denial of rights of the minority is unique. Specially the right to function in ones own language, identity and the free development of ones culture. With regard to the above our solution is establishment of equality and democracy in all spheres. On one hand the administrative power (Not political power) should be distributed among institutes that come up at grass root level and while safeguarding cultural and democratic rights of the minorities through these institutes social justice, equality and democracy should be firmly established. The solution does not lie in granting a separate state which would allow a separatist movement to fulfil its goals.
1	Tue Dec 3 13:09:49 EST 2002 JVP has consistently used Indian domination of Sri lanka as a populist message to harness popular support. How does your party view the current cozy commercial, political and cultural relationship with India, Is it detrimental to the long term security of Sri Lanka or not ?  -  Miller Ethirverasinghe, USA Answer: Dear Miller, There is a deduction in your question. It is, “populist message to harness popular support.” This deduction is wrong. Our viewpoint of ‘Indian domination’ is not according to what you deduce. What is the stand that India should take with regard to Sri Lanka strategically and which is favourable to India? It is a stand that prevents partition of Sri Lanka and thereby prevents it becoming a colony of western imperialism. If a Tamil Elam state or any similar condition is established it would certainly link with the separatist movement in India longing to partition the Tamil areas in India. Think what the symbol of the tiger movement is! It is the tiger the symbol of Tamil Elam concept. Where have they taken this ‘tiger’ from? It is the symbol of the Chola empire which, during the 11th and 12th centuries, had extended its power over all the areas in India where Tamil people were the majority and also many areas in Sri Lanka including the whole of the North and the East. Moreover, where did ‘Tamil Elam’ in Sri Lanka come from? It is from “Elam Mandalam”. “Elam Mandalam” is the 9th state of the Chola empire I mentioned earlier. The capital of this “Elam Mandalam” was Polonnaruwa. Since the tigers are unable to consider Polonnaruwa as the capital of so-called Elam state of theirs just yet they have opted to Trincomalee. Therefore if the concept of Elam state succeeds in Sri Lanka, it will be difficult to prevent it linking with the objective of isolating the areas which have a Tamil majority from India. What the Western imperialism needs today is to substitute geographical boundaries of states on an ethnic basis. Norwegian Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Westborg, imported a load of sophisticated communication equipment and gifted them to tigers as the imperialists consider that the next domain the tiger ideology should be spread to is Tamil Nadu. Hence, it is very clear that dividing Sri Lanka means dividing India as well. It is necessary that India realises this and act accordingly. If India evades this strategic interest and act for its own tactical interests ( it may be short term interests) then as you say, the question of “the Indian domination” comes up. Today India has reduced risking its strategic interests to tactical interests. Trade and cultural ties with India are not new. They have a long history. Our firm stand is that we must have trade ties with India which would benefit both countries. It is very important that cultural ties with India are strengthened. Our culture has been always tied to the Indian culture. It is necessary that there should be a good relationship and an understanding in foreign policies of both countries. Just as Sri Lanka should abstain from following a foreign policy detrimental to India, India too should adopt a foreign policy that would not be harmful to Sri Lanka. India would be an excellent facilitator for the struggle of our people to break free from the vile interests of western pirates and obtain complete independence and freedom. It is necessary that it should. If someone tries to work without this awareness there would be many conflicts.