My dear Karuna,

I thought I must write to you because you seem to be always in the news these days, entering Parliament, moving with the highest in the land and being paraded before the media as the world’s most benign former terrorist!

Of course, I appreciate that you have gone through quite a few changes in recent times. It must be quite a transformation for you from the striped Tiger uniform to the lounge suit and from the bunkers of the East, first to a prison in London and now to air-conditioned comfort by the Diyawanna Oya.

Now, there is nothing wrong in someone giving up their Tiger stripes and cyanide capsule and thinking of contesting elections instead of plotting who they would assassinate next. But then you didn’t have to think of contesting elections either, did you-you were just presented with your seat in Parliament which in fact made some people suspicious that it was a reward for a favour you had done!

But Karuna, I wonder how many would still remember that you were once a Tiger who was among those who were closest to Velu and that you virtually ruled the East when hundreds of policemen were massacred in a few hours. I dread to imagine what the families of those people must be thinking now, seeing you take oaths as an honourable member!

So please do remember, Karuna, that for most people their memories of you are still that of a terrorist who fought alongside Velu and aided and abetted in the killings of many, many innocent people. We do admire you for giving up those habits but you still have a lot to do to convince us that all that is well and truly in the past, and that you are indeed a different person now...

We were also fascinated to see you with Mahinda maama, chatting to those from the media houses. Why, you even said that you enjoyed the food and drugs sent by the state while you were playing hide and seek in the jungles of the East, just to prove that the government is in fact sending them to the troubled areas. Well, well, what better certificate for the government than this endorsement from you!Of course it was surprising no one bothered to cross-examine you on what happened when you were arrested and charged in England for apparently travelling on a forged passport. And if I remember correctly, you did say in court that you got that passport from your keeper’s brother but he denied any such thing. Now that you are so close to the high and mighty, can you explain this little issue to us, Karuna?

But of course Karuna, you need to be careful because Velu must surely be gunning for you. And at the rate you are spilling the beans and condemning him on behalf of Mahinda maama, he wouldn’t grow fond of you in the near future either. But I am sure your security will be well looked after-even if some of our war heroes have to be exposed. Why, someone said the sudden decision to close the roads on days the Parliament sits is all because of you-- now, is that correct, Karuna?

But you had better be worried about our courts of law as well, Karuna. Who knows, someone might file a fundamental rights case against you for what you did in the past and very soon you could find yourself in hot water. If you have any doubts about this, Karuna, you should just ask PBJ or even CBK!

But for the time being, I am sure you will be well looked after. Well, as long as you do what you are asked to do and say what you are asked to say, I guess you would have nothing to worry about. After all, you couldn’t afford to have your security withdrawn, could you?

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha

PS-I noticed that some have started to refer to you as ‘Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan’, your real name, instead of calling you ‘Karuna’. Well, all these days we knew only of one Muralitharan and he is a much loved and respected individual. But who knows, at the rate you are progressing, you might even become more famous than the Murali we already know!