JR’s antagonistic ties with India led to LTTE’s birth: GL

By Kelum Bandara 

The LTTE was a phenomenon created by India under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after she felt threatened by Sri Lanka’s closeness in relationship to the United States under President J.R. Jayewardene, former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said.   

Making his remarks at the function to mark the launch of the book ‘Ekata Getuma’, he said India, then, felt threatened, and therefore created the LTTE as a defensive measure to hold Mr. Jayewardene in check.   

The LTTE, later, became an uncontrollable force that even assassinated Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s son Rajiv Gandhi who served as India’s Prime Minister. The organization was finally decimated in 2009.