The two-part interview by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief (Op-Ed, Nov. 22-23), was interesting. Mr. Rajapaksa comes across as a person of matchless self-confidence. His concern for the development of his country is transparent. His clear views on the role of the three languages — English, Sinhala and Tamil — are impressive. The interview has brought him out as a strong man in absolute control of his country.
I.S. Kanthimathinathan,
Tirunelveli
The Hindu has again demonstrated that resettlement of Tamils is of paramount importance to both Sri Lanka and India. That the newspaper acts as a bridge between the two governments and Tamil interests is commendable and bears testimony to the fact that the fourth estate can play an active role in resolving the core issue.
A.V. Narayanan,
Tiruchi
The interview posed some tough questions to the President and managed to draw out his innermost thoughts on the sensitive issues confronting the island nation. Mr. Rajapaksa is committed to his vision of a unified, multilingual and multiethnic Sri Lanka based on equal rights for all. With a massive electoral verdict, he is well equipped to provide a healing touch to governance, which the nation is badly in need of.
V.N. Mukundarajan,
Thiruvananthapuram
The President is quite outspoken when he asserts that he has eliminated terrorism and brought peace to the island. He is simple and straightforward, evident when he says that he has gone to villages, talked to the people and felt their warmth and friendliness. He is confident and firm in saying that everyone in camps will go back home. Again when he affirms that he will elicit the views of the people to arrive at a political solution, we find that he is a mature leader.
Mani Natarajan,
Chennai
