In an interview with the Hindustan Times, the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa answered a wide range of questions concerning the end of the armed conflict and the time that has passed since then. See here for full interview, extracts reproduced below.

Asked about militarisation of the North-East and why a phased withdrawal was not possible, Rajapaksa commented:

"I consider Sri Lanka one country. Whether the army is in southern Hambantota or in northern Jaffna, it is the same thing for me. So why are they so worried? Besides, the geographical boundaries and the sheer tenacity of the long war in the North means that the army will never be withdrawn completely. It is the same in many other countries."

Commenting on the 'rehabilitation' of LTTE cadres, he said,

"We released the cadres because we believe that their inherent Hindu culture will help them adapt and assimilate into the culturally similar Buddhist mainstream and that society will help them too."

Asked for his opinion on the UN Human Rights Council's Commissioner, Navi Pillay's recent visit and criticisms, Rajapaksa said:

"During her courtesy call here, she seemed happy and said little. She didn't ask me anything. By then, she had seen what we have achieved in the former warzone within four years. We asked her about these allegations but she never said a word. Had she complained I would have immediately taken action. Others in my government asked her too but she gave no concrete instances. The truth is: this, too, is a campaign that was launched by the sympathisers of the LTTE even before she came to Sri Lanka. There is absolutely no evidence. Now I ask you, if we wanted to attack those people she met, why would we have let her meet them at all?"

Criticising the Swiss government's decision to halt the deportation of Tamil refugees citing human rights violations on return to Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa said,

"Most of those Tamil refugees who live there today were sent by the LTTE to earn money and give 40%-50% to the LTTE. In that sense, you could call them employees of the LTTE. But I wonder why the Swiss government doesn't just keep them there as citizens, if it feels they will be threatened here? We have no objections. If anybody wants to migrate, of course they can. Why should I worry about them? Anybody who sets foot in Sri Lanka is safe. We guarantee their safety."

Speaking to countries with strong Tamil diaspora populations, he warned,

"Don't just come to conclusions based on one- sided "evidence." I understand that those governments are under pressure because these Tamils are now voters and funders of politicians in many cases, who are willing to keep human rights allegations against us and the Eelam issue alive in every available international forum.  This is the crux of the problem. One day, the people who are harbouring them will learn a lesson too. This is a warning I can give them."