It must be noted that never has there been an instance when the LTTE has come to the negotiating table in a militarily debilitated state. Notwithstanding all this, the fact remains that even if the LTTE is brought to the negotiating table someday in a militarily debilitated state, the solution that has to be offered to the Tamil community cannot be watered down as expected by the government, on the basis that the LTTE is now weakened and must accept what is on offer to them.

Whether the LTTE is in a state of military weakness or not, the final solution to be offered to the Tamil community will have to be within the framework of a federal solution, as otherwise the Tamil community will refuse to accept anything else and they will have the backing of India and the international community, resulting in government’s plans only ending in failure.

The government has made the issue of weakening the LTTE an excuse to dilly-dally and delay a viable solution being formulated and made public even by the APRC.

To further complicate matters, the JVP and JHU the powerful government allies, have ruled out a federal solution. The government is now caught between the devil and the deep blue sea and is merely biding its time on the pretext of trying to weaken the LTTE and is getting nowhere in the process except being party to causing immense human suffering, loss of human lives and destruction of the economy and the country.

I listened in dismay to a part of your interview given to Al Jazeera highlighted on News 1st on May 31. I am sorry that you are so ill-advised by those close to you to take up such a confrontational stance vis-a-vis the super powers.

Did you read the recent Leader Editorial titled Rajapakse Versus The World? If not, you should do so however distasteful it may be to you. In fact, you must listen to severe criticism if you wish to be a better, if not, a great leader.

I wish to repeat that your confrontational stance against the Western world may well lead to the downfall of the nation, as Sri Lanka is totally dependent on them for trade, investment and technology not forgetting aid (Japan being counted as an ally of the West).

Even if you are surrounded by sycophants, your gut feeling should warn you that you are headed in the wrong direction.

I agree with you that the super powers can be hypocrites, but so can we. If the super powers are requesting you to investigate human rights violations which I am sure you will agree is a valid and just request, I do not see a problem in agreeing to do so. In fact, you should have initiated it in the first place so as to avoid international condemnation.

One cannot deny that violation of human rights in conflict situations is inevitable due to the aberrations of war. A legitimate government is morally and legally responsible to safeguard its citizens or anyone under its jurisdiction from such violations through punitive action against the violators, whoever they may be.

A standing example of this is the Iraq Abu Ghareb prisoner-abuse case by the US armed forces. When exposed, the US government succumbed to pressure and gradually assumed full responsibility leading to the eventual prosecution of the guilty officers.

In the case of the massacre of 17 aid workers in Trincomalee, the armed forces are the prime suspects. Why do you fear allowing the course of justice to prevail in a transparent and accountable manner? If found guilty, it will not only act as a deterrent against escalating abuses by the armed forces, but also elevate your credibility and standing in the eyes of the international community.

The second appeal by the international community is that you do not resort to offensive action against the LTTE as it will reduce the chances of a negotiated solution. The entire world is undoubtedly in agreement with you that you are obliged to protect the nation against terrorism and thereby take all possible defensive action against rebel attacks.

There is really no need to take up a defensive posture against both these appeals by the international community which are the stated policies and principles of governance upheld by you and your party concerning protection of human rights and a negotiated solution with the LTTE.

I would suggest that you obtain the advice of highly respected professionals in the field of human rights such as Justice Weeramantry and conflict resolution experts who can give you a balanced view of how to handle the crisis you have been led into. Do not rely on the advice of non professionals, family and friends just because they are trustworthy. Keep them at your side only to safeguard your interests.

I speak as a citizen of this country who cares for its future irrespective of party affiliations. I can call myself a true Sri Lankan as I have a mix of both ethnic and religious lineage comprising Tamil, Sinhalese, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist ancestry. Hence, I think I possess little or no racial or religious bias.

The LTTE is a force to reckon with as we all know only too well. It is a monster created as a consequence of a need for Sinhalese Buddhist nationhood which transfers the onus of responsibility for their actions onto the creators. Thus it makes the government responsible for extending the hand of peace towards them at every opportunity with a genuine desire to share power and resultant peace and progress.

You, as the leader, are morally responsible for developing the trust and confidence necessary for resuming a dialogue with the LTTE. Do not allow shallow men to lead you away from this objective by abrogating the tattered Ceasefire Agreement. It can be resurrected with the correct attitude and will to do so. The Co-Chairs can be of much value if and when a deal is struck with the LTTE, in making it stick via international pressure, aid and also the big stick on your behalf if and when needed.

You will never regret this course of action as it will surely bring you acclaim as a leader with great foresight and fortitude.

TNA MP, K. Thangeswary speaking from the floor of the house of parliament has stated "Tamils have gone to India due to the conflict."

What the learned MP has said is the reality in conflict areas all over the world. Recently on TV we saw people fleeing from their homes due to the conflict in Lebanon.

However the moot point is; what is the government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) doing to help these Tamils of Sri Lanka?

From the media it is very clear that the GOSL is supposed to be fighting terrorism. In this matter the GOSL is doing what Bush, Blair, Howard and Company are doing all over the world.

But that only helps the GOSL to feel with all those who want this war, that the GOSL is winning. This however is a ‘no win’ war. The victims are those who have to flee from their homes.

In this context can sanity prevail? Isn’t the GOSL also for these Tamils?

So the only sane way to handle this is to stop the war, create the ethos for talks, and begin the process of settling our problem, by working out a negotiated and lasting political solution.

It can be done. If Northern Ireland can do it why cannot Sri Lanka?

In the former, the conflict was between two branches of the ‘same faith’ community. In Sri Lanka it is thankfully not a religious war.

And we have four of the world’s living faiths. Can’t we all for the sake of these fleeing Tamils and all others affected, settle this problem? I am sure we can.

Sydney Knight’s letter titled "Fighting terrorism — why have we to do so" complaining at finding name boards and newspapers in English and Sinhala only in public places is surprising.

Tamils inhabit the entire globe, and can they hope to find name boards in Tamil in public places wherever they exist? Which country in this world paints name boards in the language of its minorities, comprising only around 10% of its population?

The Tamils in France learn French, in Thailand they learn Thai, in Myanmar, they learn Burmese and everywhere they learn the language of the majority population, to survive.

It is only here that they demand language rights, one third of the land belonging to the majority Sinhalese, and 60% of the coastline.

Let the Sinhalese assert their rights and like in every other country, ask their minorities who cannot pay allegiance to the language, national anthem and national flag to leave. And if these Tamils leave for India they will be forced to learn Hindi, the language of the majority Indians to survive!

The Supreme Court recently ruled that the benefits approved by the cabinet of Chandrika Kumaratunga, for the former President was in violation of the constitution. In fact, it had named Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake in particular, and rapped them both for misleading the public.

If both of them had acted against the constitution, are they not guilty of treason? And if that is so, how come they are still holding office and not been arrested for these acts? The entire cabinet at the time should be punished for its part in this massive scam!

They are nothing but disgraceful, shameless politicians.

It is the holidaymaker, businessmen, those who attend religious festivals, weddings and funerals, land and estate owners, and tourists who travel long distances. These categories of persons will not feel the pinch on their purses if an increase of Rs.2.50 or Rs.5.00 is added on for every 10 mile multiple over 40 miles.

So why not let the hard pressed suburban commuters most of whom are office workers and others who come to the city daily to attend offices to get their things done or attend to their other needs, enjoy a reduction of fare commensurate with the above increase charged from those who travel over 40 miles? Generally a majority of daily bus commuters to the city travel from a distance of about 20 miles and their plight needs to be considered when fixing bus fares.

It is time a team of accountants specially appointed by the Transport Ministry considers the revenues derived on each route, work out the increase and cushion the short distance traveller.

Office and factory workers who travel distances over 40 miles should also be given a special reduction.

All good wishes for the apparently improved bus service.

June 6 marks the 45th death anniversary of Charles Edward Victor Seneviratne Corea, advocate of the Supreme Court, member for Colombo North in the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the first president of the Ceylon Labour Union. Named a national hero, he played a dominant role in the campaign to achieve independence.

A descendant of Dominicus Corea Edirimanasuriya Vikramasingha Bandara, General of the Sinhala Army who was crowned King of Kotte and Sitawaka by King Wimala Dharma Suriya, Victor Corea was known to be a man of steel guts, a fearless fighter who championed the cause of the common man. Amongst his many daring exploits, one that stands out in undying memory is his relentless fight to abolish the iniquitous poll tax in 1921, serving a jail term of 30 days and being subjected to hard labour.

When orders came that Victor Corea be offered the choice of an European or ‘native diet’ he rejected the offer and chose to eat the diet that was given to everyone else in jail. The food however was so badly prepared that for the first 42 hours in jail, he starved. On his second day in jail the doctor ordered that he be given a pound of bread and a little sugar daily. He spurned the sugar as a luxury and lived on a diet of plain bread.

When he broke huge boulders on the public road under the extreme heat of the sun, the poor whose cause he championed came from all parts of the country to see the spectacle — a person from an affluent family, an advocate of the Supreme Court working like a condemned criminal, all for fighting for the cause of his countrymen. Although his palms were full of blisters he did not bring this to the notice of the jailors and carried on with grim determination to labour and pay the penalty.

When the crowds coming to see him started increasing each day, the government observing that the people hailed him as their hero and in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order abolished the poll tax and released him from jail much to the jubilation of the people.

Another daring episode that is connected with Victor Corea is that when the beating of hewisi at the Dalada Maligawa was stopped by the Government Agent, Kandy, who was a Britisher, as it was a source of disturbance to his wife, it was Victor Corea, a Christian, who rose up in protest. He told the Government Agent to remove his wife to any place he liked, and insisted that the hewisi in the Maligawa must continue in accordance with tradition. If the Diyawadana Nilame was not prepared to defy the order and resume the beating of hewisi, Victor Corea vowed to come to the Maligawa and beat the hewisi himself. The newspapers at the time wrote: " Since Victor Corea, by that time was known to be a man of action who lived up to his word, the Government Agent withdrew his order, fearing that there would be unrest in the country." The beating of hewisi has continued ever since.

Victor Corea and his brother Charles Edgar Corea, were a powerful force not easy to match. Together, they protected the Muslims in the Chilaw area from the wrath of the embittered Sinhalese during the Sinhala-Muslim riots of 1915. The Corea brothers were responsible for completely exonerating the people of Chilaw from paying damages which was a penalty imposed on all citizens of Ceylon. The people of Chilaw were in the exalted position of not having to pay damages owing to the astute leadership given to them by the Corea brothers.

A.E.Goonesinha was Victor Corea’s trusted lieutenant and Secretary, supporting him in all his daring deeds. When he was planning on forming the Ceylon Labour Union, and knew for sure that he would come up against stiff suppression from the government, his need was for a bold and courageous leader to be the first president of the Ceylon Labour Union. His choice was Victor Corea who gave the union dynamic leadership and a fearless start!

The sad truth is that despite Victor Corea’s heroic deeds, too many to mention for want of space, he has not been honoured as yet. During his lifetime he was vehemently against books being written about him, roads being named after him and memorials erected in his name. He stood by his belief that what he did for his country and its people was inspired from deep within. That alone shows his sincerity. Now that he is not amongst the living he must be honoured lest his deeds be attributed to someone else and cause the political history of this country to be unjustly distorted.