RANIL'S VISIT TO USA (98 Sep 09)
Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to USA later this month has caught the attention of the Sinhala nationalists.Mr. Wickremesinghe has already said that the government should have unconditional talks with the LTTE(Ranil For Discussions).When interviewed by "The Sunday Times" Mr. Tyronne Fernando has said 'anything could happen' on trips like this.However others have been more specific and said that Mr. Wickremesinghe would be meeting the New York Tamil Sangham widely regarded as an LTTE front organisation. He will be in Los Angeles from 25th to 27th September.
Mr. Wickremesinghe in an interview with "Sanjeevi" a magazine section of the "Uthayan" newspaper published in Yapanaya, has said while being in the opposition he would talk to the LTTE to bring about a ceasefire. He has also told "Sanjeevi" interviewer G. Gurunathan " After coming to office, I would discuss the question of a settlement with parties both within and outside parliament and then talk to the LTTE my priority being to bring an end to the war. "
Mr. Wickremesinghe in the interview has mentioned of "waging a political war with the LTTE", meaning his proposed talks with them.The question at hand is not the ending of the "war" by some means. One can stop all military operations and give Eelam or the Confederation as demanded by the LTTE. The asymmetrical devolution of power proposed recently by Mr. Wickremesinghe amounts to a Confederation. The military operations should be stopped only after defeating the LTTE.
There is now a plan by the non-national forces to get what they want, namely a federal state leading to Eelam through the UNP(No talks, no parallels).Last week Mr. George Pickart, Senior advisor to the South Asia Bureau of the US state department was also in Sri Lanka meeting various politicians. Mr. Wickremesinghe has briefed him on the UNP stand on the problem in the North and the East. Mr.Pickart having met the deputy minister Mr. Lakshman Kirielle has gone to Yapanaya. No other country would tolerate interference by so many foreigners in their internal affairs.
The only solution to the problem is to defeat the LTTE militarily. Any other "solution" will only create only more problems. All past discussions with the LTTE have only given added strength to the Tamil racists.