But as a optimistic it has to be taken for granted that the younger generation of the Sinhalese have started to think as Sri Lankans and NOT as Sinhalese, which is a positive step forward. Surely this attitude will be reciprocated by the Tamils.

There is not a single political leader (except some unpopular left politicians like Dr.Wickrababu Karunaratne) or for that matter any Sinhalese politician who put their hands and say that the Tamils and all other minorities are equal citizens of this country and so should be treated equally. UNEQUAL treatment of all citizens, for selfish reasons caused the situation we are facing today.

Now, one word, for those who are actually and sincerely interested in fostering a united country by supporting “devolution” as a means to achieve sustainable peace, please avoid thinking in terms of “devolution” and instead please try to think in terms of “sharing” of powers, rights, duties and responsibilities that cannot be taken back at any time by any government or individual by any method.

The best political solution would be to DILUTE the powers of all elected representatives by separating the powers of Parliament and empowering different sets of people’s representatives to administer the different sets of separated powers. It has to be devolution HORIZONTALLY where every set of representatives would be equal and NOT vertically where one set of representatives would be above the other which is the normal practice in this power-hungry world. It is because of “devolution” being done “vertically” we have all the trouble in the power-hungry world. So for sustainable peace it should not be “devolution” but “dilution of powers” or “sharing of powers” in such a way that no one – other than the common people – is superior. This system would eradicate injustice, discrimination, bribery and corruption and establish the “Rule of Law” and “Rule by ALL” for sustainable peace, tranquility and prosperity and a pleasant living with dignity and respect for all inhabitants in the country. Everyone must have “equal” powers,rights and most importantly duties and responsibilities.

Peace did not come because the IRA lay down arms, the IRA lay down arms because peace came. The moment the British put everything on the table, allowed real discussions to begin about grievances and addressed the issues that stuck in the craw of Irish people — there was no fight left.

You can kill a hundred Prabarkarans, Thamilchelvams, but others will replace them. And in all likelihood, the replacements will be far more bloodthirsty, far less inclined to think before acting, and more unwilling to find an alternate solution. At this point, the government is better off declaring outright a goal to wipe Tamils off the face of Sri Lanka.

Peace came to N. Ireland after the IRA decided to lay down arms. The LTTE has not done so and thus the correlation with the IRA is irrelevant and useless. The LTTE has little incentive to lay down arms more or less seriously talk about peace because it controls territory and thus benefits from a status quo situation.

If you want the LTTE to change its stripes, you will have to change the situation. Unfortunately that means taking away the LTTE’s control of territory. All the peace marches in the universe won’t make a difference until the peace lobby gains the courage to march in Kilinochchi.

War has never solved a thing, this blood lust only appeals to the short term ego and prejudices of the SInhala people…..who seemed to have nothing else to be proud of…apart from great feats of civilization centuries ago. In modern history, all they have been responsible for…is destroying the island on every level. Yet what fills me with dread is the fact that the country is still filled with narrow minded warmongers that allow these corrupt politicians to go on and on….

I mean it’s just hypocrisy at every level yet so many people fail to see it…at least I hope they see it. The SLFP, the JVP , the JHU, the UNP …they have all been parties full of bandits for the most part with only the odd exception to the rule…and they are either killed or forced out through sheer force. This ofcourse is not some recent development…..this as far as my education dictates…has been the political setup since independence. Sure blame it on the British…on the Indians…the the Americans for their hypocritical war on terror….but ultimately..all sledging aside…where on earth is Sri Lanka? It is no doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth…inhabited by the filthiest of crooks….who exploit…twist and plunder even more…from a largely idiot population.

Common sense is perhaps the only natural resource that the island wasn’t endowed with. Of course war will end nothing. You wipe them out militarily…you’d only have proven that the Tamil cause was worthwhile. There’d still never be peace…that defeat would serve as a constant reminder …a tool for rebellion and those regions would still in effect be a police state to keep it secure. What about the soldiers? All those traumatized soldiers will likely turn rogue as there will be no proper mechanism to reintegrate them into society. What about development? Sri Lanka…with all it’s cries about being a “nation” has done next to nothing to develop its precious South. It used to take me 8 hours to go from one end to another…and that’s on a good day…this is an island not a continent.

Even the most basic amenities are not available to the poor of the southern and central provinces, basic development in the the north and the east will surely eclipse my lifetime…and i’m 23….

I apologize for the lack of structure..but it honestly breaks my heart how people have been sucked into all this stupidity..a good three generations…arguably a fourth. Over the stupid political games..of the Govt as we call it..and the LTTE.. I would not be surprised at all…to learn that they were in cahoots (in fact weren’t they supposed to have been? what happened to that?). I cannot say I have been able to witness a single act of goodness that the LTTE have delivered to the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. From my experience they merely echo tamil prejudices, primarily through disconnected diaspora all over the world.

So in effect…it’s a circle that goes around and around, never ending? Well I’m not sure how a nation can go on like this. In fact it’s a feat of sheer persistent….that we aren’t running around naked with clubs in our hands….that we still have some sort of economy (with pretty printed notes)…and perhaps a morsel of common sense and humanity…

But pray….a single Buddhist person has not been able to justify this war to me. I do not consider myself a religious man…but I notice that most Buddhists in Sri Lanka ….hang on to their religion and its virtues like a suckling at its mother’s teat….yet where on earth did the Buddha speak of it being alright to kill people…..the mind boggles…the heart aches…hope diminishes….