In a book called 'Gota's War', Mahinda Rajapaksa was praised for refusing to consider a ceasefire at the behest of the international community, whilst India was blamed for the rise of armed resistance during the 1980s.
The book, written by the Sinhala journalist working at the pro-government newspaper The Island, praised the determination by the Rajapaksa brothers to end the armed conflict through military means. As characterised by the title, the book pays particular attention to the role of Gotabhaya in steering the campaign.
Speaking at the launch of the book, the Presidential Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, asserted that Mahinda Rajapaksa would have acted differently to the late president, J.R. Jayawardene in the face of Indian pressure. Claiming to be present at confidential talks between Rajapaksa and international diplomats, Weeratunga stated that Rajapaksa had refused to 'give in to international pressure'.
Weeratunga stated that an Indian delegation, headed by then National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan, arrived in Colombo in April 2009, shortly after a visit by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French External Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner 'to force the government to throw a lifeline to the LTTE', reports The Island.
Weeratunga added that 'if not for Indian interference, the government could have crushed terrorism years ago'.
The launch, attended by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, Gotabhaya, was boycotted by several Western diplomats.
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