We use several words without a proper understanding of their meaning. "Diaspora" is one such. The dictionary defines it as "The dispersion (of the Jews)". We may leave it to the sociologists and etymologists to debate the appropriateness of the word when applied to our situation. But, as used, it refers to the collective of our citizens (chiefly Tamils) who have chosen to domicile themselves abroad.

They have been cruelly cheated by the LTTE and its agents. Incontrovertible evidence that monies, voluntarily given or extorted, have largely been used to assemble an awesome quantity of deadly arms and explosives, to support a vulgarly ostentatious lifestyle for their self-styled leaders and families and to impose incredible privation and oppression on the very people they purported to support. The "investment" has come to naught.

Our citizens abroad are as humane, compassionate and able as any. Only severely duped and cruelly tricked! They must now be harnessed to support a genuine programme of infrastructure, repair and improvement and the restoration of the dignity of a populace ground into suffering for a quarter of a century. Properly informed, they are bound to respond positively, encouraged, of course, by firm mechanisms to rule out completely, the robbery and extravagance that followed the Tsunami.

The ordnance that has been captured by the Forces should enormously shrink future expenses on purchases. Without the war, consumption would be restricted to training and preparedness needs, maybe sufficient to cover a decade (estimated at US dollars 25 million, no less).

High explosives and mines would be handy for earth- shifting and rock- blasting operations. There is a sense of poetic justice in seeing the huge hauls of mortars - remembering the hijacking of a shipload of 38,000 from an army purchase (which brought forth a cheeky "Thank You" note from the LTTE to Minister Kadirgamar!).  

The Tamil migrants in some European capitals have recently displayed a dangerous propensity for violence. While greatly harming the reputation of all Sri Lankans, they are placing themselves in grave danger of being turfed out when they exceed the limits of tolerance of the other inhabitants - especially once the immediate elections are over and they become politically expendable. 

With the long drawn out revolt here, those below about 25 years have only the notion of a Sinhala people demonized by the propaganda of press and Internet, those that were at an impressionable age in 1983 and are now in the 35-50 age group can only remember the unspeakable horrors of those events. It is only those of senior years who may recall the courage and humanity of their Sinhala neighbours and friends who sheltered and cared for them in those dreadful times. Each category would warrant special handling.

What is imperative is that the "Diaspora" should be approached with sensitivity and intelligence to harness this immense resource hitherto impelled to assist destruction, to engage actively in a process of restoration which in less than a decade will elevate us all to feel truly proud as a single cleansed nation.