The issue of the traditional homeland of the Tarnils has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in the ethnic conflict of Sri Lanka. A peaceful resolution of the conflict is not possible without a conclusion of the debate on.tlle issue relating to homeland.
The basic research for this work was carried out between 1985 1988. However, the research work came to an abrupt end after the Undo Lanka Accord and my subsequent decision to join the North East Provincial Council Administration. Such was euphoria round the Accord and the establishment of the North East Provincial Council, I felt the project has been rendered unnecessary.
However, the renewal of conflict has overshadowed that development and in the present circumstances, I feel obliged to put on record the results of my study which was delayed owing to interruptions years ago. The appearance of this work at this juncture is intended to make a useful contribution to the ongoing political debate on constitutional restructuring. It is not possible to arrive at a peaceful resolution of the constitutional conflict without the restructuring the historical mind set of the people in such a manner so as to seek congruence with the political realities and inculcate attitudes conducive to a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Such a process is not possible without dismantling the existing stereotypes which lie at the root of the conflict, though this may be a painful affair for a section of the people.
The plan of the work is to publish a series of books under the common theme "The Missing Pages of Sri Lankan History" which will be finally made into one book. The order of the series will be decided by their relative importance in respect of the imperatives of political deVoltltion process. The next contribution will be on the Political Foundations of the Tamil statehood and the Sri Lankan nationhood.
Though some of the subjects in this book need more elaborate treatment from an academic point of view, I leave it to the students and researchers to investigate further and take forward some of the views expressed here.
I wish to acknowledge the encouragement and help of the many friends which has enabled me to complete the book.
The objective of the work is such, the book contains more than the usual share of quotations. Care has been taken that no individual authors are affected. Since the burning down of the Library inJaffna in 1981 and the systematic destruction of historical records by war, these documents have become unavailable to the Tamil people. The translation of the work will make the document available to Tamil and Sinhalese readers.
P. O. Box 57, Sri Jawawardane Pura, Kotte A.R. Arudpragasam , March 1996.