Rajapaksa’s win

R.B. Easwaran

President Mahinda Rajapaksa deserved to win. Yes, terrorism is an outcome of underlying social and political problems and, in the first place, if the Governments can be sensitive to the genuine needs of people, terrorism can be prevented. Rajapaksa must start his new term with the admission that successive Governments in Sri Lanka did commit mistakes in tackling the social and political problems of the minority Tamils.

The determined action he took in eliminating the LTTE was the right thing. Now that the country is rid of terrorism, Rajapaksa should honestly and seriously aim to resolve the Tamil problems and bring all minorities on par with the majority Sinhalese. Let us not forget that the Sri Lankan Tamils, before the LTTE became a hindrance, were a highly productive segment of the Sri Lankan population and also were very prosperous.

Many Sri Lankan Tamils living abroad are, even today, very well to do and can contribute to Sri Lanka’s progress if invited.

All round economic development combined with political honesty will ensure peace in Sri Lanka and prevent another LTTE from cropping up.