The Way Forward After the Capture of Kilinochchi
The capture of kilinochchi should be made an occasion to win over the Tamils towards national integration. The Sri Lankan state as well as the Sinhala people should take all measures to safeguard the dignity of the Tamil nation and protect their areas of habitation in the North and the East. We should convince them that they have not come under subjugation but awarded an opportunity to enjoy democratic freedoms as in the South.
The Sri Lankan state and the Sinhala people should do all they can to dispel the feeling among the Tamils that they have become a subjugated nation. If we fail in this historic task, feelings of bitterness will linger among Tamils and lead to an unceasing yearning for liberation. In such circumstances, whether the LTTE exits or not, national integration would become impossible. No nation can be subjugated forever.
We should oppose the brute forces of reaction and pursue the path of democracy. As a start, we should fully implement the 13th Amendment to the constitution. The All Party Representative Committee should soon come up with a power sharing formula that would be acceptable to the Tamil people.
We should keep in mind that national integration could only result from safeguarding the dignity of the Tamil nation, protecting their areas of habitation and ensuring their rights and freedoms.
Wasudeva Nanayakkara (2009 January 9)
