C.V. Wigneswaran on the Rajapaksas’ Return, Tamil Rights and More

C.V. Wigneswaran, a former Supreme Court Justice in Sri Lanka, is Secretary General of the new Tamil political party Thamizh Makkal Kootani.

This interview has been edited lightly.

What does Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency mean for Tamils?

Maybe hard times ahead. But his verve to establish a Sinhala-Buddhist republic might be blunted by international norms and expectations. I have a feeling he is continuing with his anti-Tamil stance at the moment to capture the votes of the Sinhalese at the next parliamentary election for his party.

I find certain positives in him. He is not after pomp and pageantry like most politicians including his Prime Minister brother. He is vegetarian I hear. I attach much significance to what one eats. It does not mean all vegetarians are saints. The chances of such vegetarians becoming mellowed by experience and knowledge are greater. It is easy to reduce one’s hatred, prejudices and vindictiveness if one is vegetarian. It is easy to meditate if one is vegetarian. Maybe I am controversial in this regard. But, all in all, I expect Gotabaya to be different from what he has portrayed himself so far. He means business. Thereby we Tamils may have to suffer initially due to his political exigencies.