The pronouncements of tiger terrorist spokesman Anton Balasingham in a recent TV interview recorded in Jaffna is, to say the least interesting. He reiterates that they a fighting to secure their 'homeland of Tamil speaking people'.

The government on the other hand, has apparently accepted this myth of a 'Tamil homeland' and hopes to produce a 'package of devolution' to the northern and eastern provinces based on this mythical concept. If the 'problem' of the Tamils is this so-called 'homeland' then this concept must be valid. But we are being told very categorically by experts and historians of the calibre of Prof. K. M. de Silva, Prof. Gerald Peiris and others that this 'Tamil homeland' theory is mythical and totally unacceptable. Are we to believe tiger Balasingham or these eminent Professors? In fact, Prof. De Silva’s paper was serialized in 'The Island'. Also, should the government and its policy makers (especially Prof. G. L. Peiris who is preparing the new constitution) accept a mythical concept based on which they are going to devolve separate powers to the N-E?

Demographic figures very categorically show that only Jaffna peninsula, Mannar island and a thin coastal strip of the east and a few towns in the interior are inhabited by Tamils. This was true even at the turn of this century (census figures from 1881 are available). The rest of the NP and EP (about 85% of it) was in forest or under Sinhala villages. Prof. Gerald Peiris (Professor of Geography; Peradeniya University) having carefully analysed the demography of the north and east (going into details of each Pattu, Korale etc) concludes:-

'The present study acknowledges that, !following the collapse of the Rajarata civilization in which the Sri Lankan Tamils constituted a vital element, there was a long drawn out process of 'Tamilization' in the north and in certain localities of the eastern littoral. However the population pattern which prevailed at the culmination of this process in the early decades of the present century, considered against the backdrop of earlier trends, drives us to the conclusion that this process was scarcely felt in the interior, at least of the eastern parts of the island which, indeed, remained throughout a 'traditional homeland' of the Sinhalese peasantry. Accordingly, we find no basis whatever for the assertion that the 'Tamilized' areas correspond to the Northern and Eastern Provinces of today".

"Our probe into the demographic impact of recent land settlement schemes shows that the alleged Sinhalese ‘intrusion’ into the Traditional Tamil Homeland' is a myth". (Above two paras are quoted from ICES-Ethnic Study Report; Jan. 1991, p.34).

If we are to accept facts presented by eminent experts as shown above, how could the government grant a 'package of devolution' to a particular ethnic group in this country and base it on a mythical and invalid concept. The interesting part is that there are only about 18% Tamils in Sri Lanka of which only about 6% (one-third) live in the north and east whilst the balance 12% (two-thirds) consisting of both Ceylon and Indian Tamils live in the south. Thus, the proposed 'package of devolution' will benefit only one-third the ethnic group (Tamils) that it is supposed to benefit and in addition this privileged 6% will enjoy 30% of the area of this country, including two-thirds of the coast line and one of the world's most strategic deepwater harbours in Trinco. Also this 30% of the country will be a one-hundred percent Tamil area, while the 75% Sinhalese will have to be content living in the balance 70% of the country which will be a 'Multi-ethnic, multireligious' region.

In other words, 6% Tamils will have an exclusive 'Tamil Homeland' in one-third of the country while 75% Sinhalese will have no 'Sinhala Homeland' anywhere in this country or anywhere in the world for that matter.

The President and her Ministers must read Prof. K. M. De Silva's and Prof. Gerald Peiris' papers very thoroughly and several times over. They must ponder over the above facts. Peace in this country does not necessarily mean the appeasement of a megalomaniacal Prabakaran.

We do need peace. But first start by educating the people of this country, especially the majority of Tamils, of basic history. We must show them the advantages of remaining a united Sri Lanka with an integrated society. We must point out to the Tamils the tragedy in Bosnia and Chechniya.

Any devolution of powers to a geographical region on ethnic lines will immediately polarize the country along ethnic lines and harden feelings among the Tamils and the Sinhalese. It will definitely end up in a Bosnia-type situation. Contrary to what Tamil politicians, say, the concept of 'unity in diversity' will not apply.

The government must be aware of this situation before it is too late.

'Citizen D' Kandy.