Strategic Importance of Eastern Province

Various theories, views and opinions have been expressed and published both by the Eelamists as well as those who oppose Eelam on the above subject over the past two decades of the Eelam War. I am, yet to see a proper analysis of the importance of the Eastern Province. Geographically the Eastern province has the longest coast line than any other province in Sri Lanka. This is naturally, connected to the unlimited oceanic, resources" minerals and the marine. There is no doubt that we cannot underestimate the importance of the Eastern coast for the Economy of this Country. Equally it is more important for the Eelamists, if they ever establish the Eelam. I do not have to emphasize the location of the biggest natural harbour the Trincomalee, harbour, in the Indian Ocean, perhaps in the whole World. This had been amply proved by the British and the Allied Forces in the World War II and the Japanese attempts to destroy the shipping of the Allied Forces. The latest is the obvious Indian displayed during the beginning of the Eelam War and the continuous attempt by India to have a hold on it for there commercial and strategic purposes.

The natural resources mineral and marine explored and unexplored am unlimited off the Eastern cost. Sri Lankan Government is not going to give to Eelam or any other outside nation unless they vanquish us and capture by force.

The LTTE has already completed ethnic cleansing of the Northern Province. Gradually and systematically they drove away the Sinhalese business men, bakers, transporters and the limited farming community from the North. There is- hardly any Sinhala Government servant in the Northern Province except in the enclaves well protected by Security Forces. They extended this ethnic cleansing to Muslims who were forcibly driven away with in 24 to 48 hour san their money, jewellery and all movable and immovable property

Compared to the Northern Province the heterogeneously populated Eastern province has a better chance of survival. Tamil Sinhala and Muslim communities are more or less equally balanced in numbers, although Muslims are confined to certain pockets. For centuries and generations they have been in co-existence and living happily. Even the History of our Nation has shown limited intermarriages in between races. This coexistence has not shown any bad results.