“Have they seen the Sri Lanka Army and Navy saving them from the barbarians who hold them as human shields and who shoot them dead and chop off their legs when they try to escape? Have they seen pictures of the Sri Lanka Air Force airlifting essentials to them? If they have, why turn a blind eye to their deeds, to their benevolent efforts — round the clock at great personal sacrifice — on behalf of the miserable Tamils who have suffered under Prabhakaran’s jackboot?”

The author’s statement above, clearly sums up the humanitarian cause extended by the patriotic security forces of the country. It is a rather unfortunate situation that illegitimate and totally fabricated propaganda material of the separatist mechanism is still allowed to “float”; thus giving air to the widespread misinformation which has plagued the international media and to a certain extent the learned circles of colombo.

Going through the comments made apparently by eminent tamil personalities, I, in my most modest sense, cannot help observing the fact that there is an air of relief in the conflict ending but seeds of dissatisfaction are still sowed deep in their sentiments. This is perhaps the most unfortunate situation that has befallen the once peaceful pearl of the indian ocean. It is only but natural that there is a feeling of mistrust between the two major communities, having logged horns for over a quarter of a century. It must be noted however that all parties have sizeable portions in the unpleasant porridge of ethical responsibility.

2. The assertions following: “even so called ‘civilized’ nations – the UK, the USA , Australia, for example – are compelled to enact Prevention of Terrorism Acts, Patriot Acts, Homeland Security Acts, and they tend to turn draconian.” can make any sense only if the author actually believes these nations are “civilized”, of which he seems be skeptical (notice the “so called”).

Facts support the author in being skeptical of the “civilized-ness” of these nations. Even simply on basis of the way the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, has been prosecuted, and the way aboriginal people are treated in Australia.

If they are then no very “civilized”, what is the point of using them as an example to emulate. The author is making a logical error in argument.

By shelving democratic norms do you mean the murder of journalists, the shoveling of Tamils into white vans, the rapes of Tamil women in internment camps, continued artillery shelling of people living in tents on a spit of beach when not tunnelled in bunkers?

There is no international conspiracy against the Sri Lankan State. Rather there seems to be an international blindness to the arms delivered to the SL state by China and Russia to fight what their governments call an internal war.

I hope the writer will enjoy his hard-won freedoms dreaming perhaps of the children amputated or killed by bombs. He may be bothered more by the amputees because they will continue to walk the streets of his united nation.