India's diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.

The Government of India, cannot afford to take decisions on her cordial relations with Sri Lanka, without taking the opinions of the people and Government of Tamil Nadu with brevity. The Indian Government does not entirely govern India, as much as she represents India. What I find to be a matter of fact, is that all the people of Ceylon are the descendants of Indian ethnicity, as are the ethnic Tamil's living in Sri Lanka. The differences between the Sinhalese people, and the Tamil people of Sri Lanka, are indeed a matter of concern for India. The Tamil people of Sri Lanka have the Tamil's of India, with whom they share a close bond of familiarity, and affinity. The Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, have no such ethnic identity in India, with whom they can share a similar bond of familiarity, and affinity. It might be possible, that the Sinhalese people were ethnic Tamils, before they developed their own identity. The matter which is the business of difference between the Tamil's and Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, is that these two people, live, and go about the functions of life, in what is seen as being different from each other. It would be beneficial for the Sri Lankan government to bring the Tamil speaking minority of Sri Lanka, into the mainstream of that nation. The Indian Government could then have any degree of cordiality with the Sri Lankan Government, unfettered by any other influences, in India. I see no other influence on the Sinhalese people, to better their relations with the Tamils, but by the good offices of the Indian Government, because the Indian Government has a prominent Tamil political party as a part of her national coalition. The Tamil's of Sri Lanka, do not emigrate to other nations on a comparatively large scale, as they might, if there is terrible strife in Sri Lanka, for them.

There are other factors, too, that influence the attitude of the Tamils of India, towards their Sri Lankan Tamil brothers. The Tamils of India, and of Sri Lanka, share a very strong tradition of culture, which is unique in the world, as also do the other cultural identities of India. The Tamil people of India are very mindful of their interests, and are very quick to identify situations, when they feel, that their interests may be compromised. Perhaps, they are more ambivalent about issues, which they see as influencing those influenced by their identity as Tamils. This is a natural reaction, and is particular to the Tamil, in the tenor and tone of their expression.