My dream is to educate the children of the North - KP
By Shanika Sriyananda in Kilinochchi
Speculations and criticisms pour in with the news that three former
LTTE frontliners including its ex-leader Kumaran Padmanathan alias KP
are preparing to contest the forthcoming Northern polls.

Kumaran Padmanathan
Pic: Susantha Wijegunasekara |
While the news is getting hotter and arguments are brewing, the
Sunday Observer secured an exclusive interview with KP early this week.
Sitting on a mat in the palm thatched hut, KP was enjoying a
story-telling session with a few dozen small girls when we entered the
Senchcholai Orphanage for Girls, in Kilinochchi. With no concern for the
recent petition in the Madras High Court requesting to pressure Sri
Lanka for the extradition of KP and his interrogation for his connection
with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the man tells stories and
sings songs with war orphans.
"Appa (father) I an hungry", says the youngest in the orphanage,
embracing him. She is too young to realise that she was sitting on the
lap of the LTTE's chief arms procurer who smuggled massive loads of
explosives and arms to kill thousands of innocents.
His two mobile phones ring every minute. " These calls are from the
media asking my views about the 13th Amendment and the northern polls
and when I would hand in my nominations ", he giggles while putting the
phones to silent mode.
" I am now spending the happiest days of my life. It is no easy task
looking after these little girls. It is one of the most challenging
tasks I have ever faced", says KP, who travelled to over 40 countries in
secret missions, smuggling arms and explosives to the most ruthless
terrorist organisation in the world.
Responding to a question with regard to the Tamil National Alliance's
(TNA) decision to withdraw from the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC)
he said they should not deviate from the process at this juncture and
should be with the PSC if they genuinely wish to solve the issues.
He said withdrawing from the PSC was not a timely action and would
cause much damage as the process would lead to more delay. " To solve
the issues related to the Tamils they should talk with the government
and not with India or any other country. I believe solutions lie in our
soil and not somewhere else", he said.
Following are the excerpts of the interview:
"My life is spent happily. I have over 250 children in three Homes -
two in Mullaithiv and one in Kilinochchi. I always thank the Secretary
of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa for giving me the chance without having to
waste my life in Colombo. I remember him every moment and want to do my
best to pay my gratitude.
"I am proud as it is a rare chance for a human being. I had my own
plans to have an orphanage even before the war on terrorism ended. When
I was in Thailand, I always made it a point to celebrate our birthdays
in orphanages and there I recalled the children in my own country and
their suffering. But I was helpless. My wife and I decided to open an
orphanage in Thailand as I never dreamt of a chance to return to Sri
Lanka.
I now see Kilinochchi after 40 years and I see a massive development
everywhere. With no gun fire, explosions, bloodshed or terror, the
people of Kilinochchi are now enjoying the peace. They are happy and
live a fear free life.
The children who couldn't dream of a tomorrow are going to school. My
only mission is to educate the children in the North. It is the only
weapon the younger generation should strive for. We are victims of
political dilemmas. Our generation was misled by politicians at their
own whims and fancies.
I want to empower the present younger generation with education. When
they are properly educated they will choose the correct path. In this
mission, my friends in the Tamil diaspora, who were also misled, are
helping to run the orphanage to give these orphans care, protection,
love and education.
We learnt lessons in the hard way and as human beings we should put
them into practice to correct ourselves. We thought we could achieve our
mission through an arms struggle but it took 30- long years to prove
otherwise. It is never late to create a better world for the future
generation.
When the younger generation lacks education it is easy for
politicians to mislead them and use them to achieve their ends.
I become emotional when I hear the stories and dreams of these
children. If I wished I could have chosen to stay in Colombo in a
different environment with a comparatively comfortable lifestyle than
this. But, I am genuine in my mission. I don't have any other motives. I
enjoy the simple happiness being with these innocent children who cry
for love. On the other hand it is a stressful job to look after small
girls. If I had a hidden mission, why would I take to this stressful
life?
I don't have any long term plans to enter politics. I always believe
in God. He has given me a beautiful family and a chance to serve my
children. I believe He will be fair by me and show me the correct path
in the future.
I hope time and the people will decide whether I should enter into
politics or not. I am waiting and watching the developments in the
Northern politics.
I don't speak lies and whatever missions I am engaged in, I will do
my best to keep the promises. Some people think the only way to serve
the people is politics but there are many other ways.
My dreams are big and I want to look after all the war affected
children in the North. I will slowly but steadily move towards achieving
my dream.
What I want to say to the 'so-called politicians' is , they should
first think about the nation and the people. The war on terrorism is
over and we need to move forward to have a brighter future for the
children. We need to enter the international arena.
For over 30-years, the people of this country suffered and this is
the time they enjoy their lives. Let them be happy in a united country.
They need no division.
I always dream of Sri Lanka to be the 'Wonder of Asia' as President
Mahinda Rajapaksa designed the country's future. If we are united and
genuine in our efforts, we could be the Wonder of Asia.
The soldiers in the North are engaged in a massive task and they have
built a good rapport with the people while helping them in their
day-to-day lives. They are involved in upgrading education by giving
scholarships to poor children to continue their education. People have
faith in the Army and they do a better service than the politicians. For
the first time in the Kilinochchi history, the Army has organised an
exhibition for the Kilinochchi schools. It helped to build a bridge
between schools in the South and the North.
I am not really interested in the Northern elections as I am fully
engaged with these children. Though I have no intention to become a
politician, if the Defence Secretary, whom I respect most, asks me to
contest, I will contest in the future. I can't say no to him". |