What is the agreement between Varadharaja Perumal and Gotabaya Rajapaksa?

Question: We have got to know that you are extending your support to Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Varadharaja Perumal: We will extend our support to Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He is an efficient administrator. Question: There is an allegation against you that when you were the chief minister of the North Eastern Province, you hoisted the Eelam flag. Is this true? Varadharaja Perumal: That is not true. There are no flags like that. I hoisted the flag of the Northern Province. Question: What did this flag look like? Varadharaja Perumal: This flag had three flags in it, and it had the symbol of the sun. Question: Did you want to separate the North and the East. Varadharaja Perumal: No. never! Question: Did you at any point act to divide the country. Varadharaja Perumal: I did, before. We were of that stance from 1983 to 1987. Question: There is another allegation against you, that during the war, you were in hiding in India. Varadharaja Perumal: At that time, President Ranasinghe Premadasa, the Sri Lanka Army, and the LTTE both started attacking us. Question: Where were you during the tenure of Mahinda Rajapaksa? Varadharaja Perumal: I did not come here during that time. Question: Were you India during that time? Varadharaja Perumal: I had to be in India. I did not go to Europe, I did not go to America. Question: What position will you receive, if Gotabaya becomes president? Varadharaja Perumal: I do not require anything. I want to serve the people. Question: You cannot serve the people without a position. Varadharaja Perumal: We will see at that time. There is no need to rush. Question: You seem to be having something in your mind. Varadharaja Perumal: There is nothing in my mind. A lot of people are asking for various things. I am not like that. Question: Have you discussed future plans with Karuna Amman and Pillayan. Varadharaja Perumal: We have held discussions with others as well. Question: Is Douglas Devananda also among the people you discussed with? Varadharaja Perumal: Prabha Ganeshan is there, Mr. Udayarasa is there as well Question: Are you operating as an alliance? Varadharaja Perumal: We are not an alliance. We are working together now and we will do so in the future as well. Question: Do you not think that the people of the North are with the TNA? Varadharaja Perumal: The support of the TNA has reduced. In the future, the Tamil population will defeat the TNA. Question: Be honest, did you hoist the North East Flag? The flag of the provincial council? Waradharaja Perumal: Yes. You can inspect yourself. During my time it was the North and the Eastern flag. Now it is the flag of the Northern Provincial council. Question: Are you certain that Gotabaya will develop the North and the East. Waradharaja Perumal: I believe he will. Question: Is there a plan? Waradharaja Perumal: This will not only be done by Gotabaya. There will be a Parliamentary election; Mahinda will become Prime Minister. All of us will carry out the development together. Question: There are political prisoners. Do you think that they will be released when Gotabaya becomes President? Varadharaja Perumal: He has announced that he will release the political prisoners. Question: Has Gotabaya Rajapaksa promised you that the Tamil political prisoners will be released? Varadharaja Perumal: He has no need to make that promise individually. He has made that pledge in public.