Rajiva Wijesinha

“ None of them would, as Mr Hussain does, have imagined that Britain was the world, none of them would have confused the gratuitous aggression against India that was practiced by the Jayewardene regime all the way until 1987 with the right to respond which our more capable officials have exercised in recent weeks. For the fact is, Sri Lanka has never – except in the case of J R Jayewardene as characterized by Mr Hussein and perhaps otherwise too, in the disgusting attacks on Tamil civilians and property in 1981 and 1983 - initiated any war, of words or otherwise. ”

“ We should take the lead in developing the agreements that will allow the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to become as influential as, if not the European Union, at least the Association of South East Asian Nations. As a small, relatively powerless country, we could be the catalyst for the development of mutual confidence – but in order to do all that, we have to overcome our own problems. ”

“ Of course we realize that Britain has its own political imperatives, so that, despite its occasionally preposterous pontificating, we continue to love her, and to engage with her positively, But that certainly does not mean that we should indulge her totally, as President Jayewardene did in 1982 over the Falklands War. ”

“ But whilst one has always admired the capacity of the British to have a go, as they put it, they are also finally quite rational, and therefore a polity that refuses to be pushed around, whilst also keeping its own house in order, will find they come round in the end. Thankfully the Sri Lankan government resisted the calls of oppositional politicians and even the Human Rights office of the European Union, to postpone elections, and made clear its commitment to democracy and pluralism through the local elections held earlier this month. ”

“ India has given a lead in welcoming the political processes that have now commenced. With other countries that have a better understanding of the situation supporting us, unwilling to allow separation and the creation of small client states, we can move confidently forward to dealing not only with terrorism, but also the social and economic problems which initially prompted it. ”

“ In the end, the West will play by rules, though given half a chance they will bend them as much as possible. Provided the Sri Lankan situation continues to improve, the international dimension as it is termed will not be a problem. ”

“ If we stick fast to these principles, it will be easier for us to bring the struggle against terrorism to a successful conclusion. Of course I may be being naïve, and there may be other aspects to Indian policy now, but there is little evidence of this. ”

“ It is then the war of words that upsets him most, a war he relates in the last paragraph to the West, though the body of the article makes it clear it is Britain that concerns him most, and in particular a couple of responses to two pronouncements from the British Foreign Office. ”