Sinhalese must unite - paper

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Lankadeepa, the Sri Lankan Sinhala daily with the largest circulation, exhorted the Sinhalese in its editorial today that they should bury their differences and unite to fight the Liberation Tigers.

The editorial, among other things, said "Now it seems that the Sinhalese are split on the LTTE issue. But no doubt both sections want to see the LTTE defeated and bring peace."

"One section is narrow minded and the other is extremist. This is not good for the country and the people. Someone should identify the real problem in the country today."

"And that is the problem of the LTTE. The terrorists will heave a sigh of relief to see the split (among the Sinhalese)."

"A solution to the problem in the northeast should not only be for the minorities but for the majority as well. If the majority thinks that a solution infringes on their rights it will oppose the settlement."

"The majority want a unitary state with territorial integrity"

The editorial is commenting on the split in the Buddhist clergy on the package which has come to the fore this week over the controversial remark made by Mr.Mangala Samaraweera, one of Chandrika's cabinet strong men.

The agitations and counter agitations this week, led by the Buddhist clergy has apparently alarmed Sinhala middle class opinion and political complacency.