"...The bottom line which the Tamil people understand only too well,  is that Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism will not agree to a genuine federal structure unless it concluded that if it did not, it may no longer be able to prevent an independent Tamil Eelam from coming into existence..."

�I welcome the announcement of a month-long unilateral ceasefire by the LTTE. I encourage the Sri Lankan Government to follow suit and seize the opportunity offered by this initiative. I hope that this will be a genuine ceasefire and one that will be maintained.�

�For the sake of all Sri Lankans, let us hope that this will be the first step in the process towards creating the right environment for peace negotiations without pre-conditions.�

�I reiterate our support for a solution which upholds the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka whilst meeting the aspirations of all of the communities, including the Tamils.�

"...Professor Singer was right to make plain that by 'reality' he was referring to the balance of political and military power between the Tamil and Sinhala people. But he may be on less sure ground when he suggests that options unrelated to that 'reality' are 'theoretical' and should, therefore, be abandoned...There may be a need to think out of the box - a box which some would prefer to confine us in..."