The atmosphere is relaxed and festive. Subhash sits and watches as the giant sacred chariot of the temple is drawn around the compound, followed by priests singing ancient songs. A military helicopter clatters overhead and showers the devotees with flowers. Elsewhere, diligent farmers are watering freshly cultivated fields of vegetables. Thomas Saundranayagam, the Roman Catholic bishop of Jaffna, compares the resilience of his people to that of the palmyra.
Nobody waters it, but it grows strong and sturdy.
The Jaffna man is like that. The LTTE have been at the forefront of that, and the government must talk to them. James expresses similar sentiments. But we want peace with dignity. We do not want people with guns here anymore.