INDIAN ARMY INTERVENES
AT INVITATION OF SRI LANKA
"If victory was to be achieved, it could not be done by uniting all opposing
forces but by dividing them and creating dissension among them... Sri Lankan Kings never
opposed the entirety of India. When there was conflict with the Pandyans, they sought the
aid of the Cholas and acted against the Pandyans. When the Pandyans and Cholas combined,
they sought the aid of Kalinga. Sinhala Kings had that high intelligence and knowledge of
statecraft." - National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali at the 87th
Mahapola held at the Sinhala Vidyalaya, Kahatagasdigliya on the 27 May 1984
The violence in the north) was also stopped by the Indian Peace Keeping Force. (Though
the fighting went on) no Sinhalese, no Sinhalese soldiers were killed... only the Indian
soldiers and the LTTE (were killed). Yes, (I had to invite a foreign army to do this on
our sovereign soil)... I was doing what so many Sinhala kings had done in the past in
similar circumstances." - ex President Jayawardene, Interview with Mervyn de
Silva, Lanka Guardian, 15 July 1990
