While expressing my highest regards towards Gunadasa Amarasekare for his erudition and commitment to a given cause, I at times find it difficult to agree with him. In his essay captioned ‘Semantic casuistry will not hold the Diyaredda up’ appearing in ‘The Island’ of 24th April, 2002, he has once again declared his reservations regarding the on-going peace process between the LTTE and the government. He states in it ‘The diyaredda is falling down, falling down!’. As if female nudity which he compares to the peace attempt by the government, is just going to be exposed!

In the final paragraph of this essay, it is said thus. ‘We should consider India as our friend... India has over the past decades made many mistakes and committed many blunders... India has reaped the fruits of its own actions. But these sad episodes should no longer be allowed to stand in the way of renewing our historical relationship.

Well and good. Now read this passage with ‘LTTE’ substituted for ‘India’. Why cannot we adopt the same attitude towards the LTTE, too. as the attitude suggested herein towards India. without being prophets of doom all the time? True enough. The Tigers are so very unreliable and unpredictable. But why not give it a chance while we ourselves remaining precautions and circumspect? No doubt, vigilance is called for in this instance.
Dharmapala Senaratne
Attorney-at-Law