In a an article titled, 'Of traitors and patriots' in The Island of 8th Feb. Anura Gunasekara has analysed the political situation in the country and given reasons why he voted for Sarath Fonseka. There is no dispute as regards his views and his being one of the four million people who voted for Fonseka.

However, he has brought China into the story by saying, "... TRC is apparently assisted by a special team from China who are experts in tracking down 'disgruntled elements'. Considering the manner in which the Chinese government has dealt with political elements, particularly if one recalls the Tianamen massacre ..." 

Firstly, Anura does not seem to be quite sure if there is such a Chinese 'team' in Sri Lanka. Secondly, he seems to have overlooked the fact that  the Tianamen Square protest by students was organised by the West against the Chinese regime and subsequently the student leader were given citizenship in the western countries.

I am with those who feel that if not for China there would have been no end to our war on terror. The west refused to sell arms and armaments to us and it was China which supplied them. Further, Sri Lanka was able to withstand pressure from countries like the USA, UK, France and Canada because of the support given by friends like China.

China backed Sri Lanka against the motion brought by the USA and Uk at the UN.

It is because of friends like China that today people can travel to anywhere in the country go to work, send their children to school etc., without fear of terror attacks.

Of course, the people in the North and the East have already forgotten that with the defeat of the LTTE there is now no recruitment of children as soldiers.

So contrary to Anura's opinion on China, whatever political ideology China has adopted we have to be grateful to those who stood by Sri Lanka during the thirty year war against terrorism.