I have talked to several tamil and Sinhalese people from Srilanka. Unfortunately, the impression I got is that, Tamils consider themselves as elite class and intellectually superior. Sinhalese people think, Tamils are invaders. The division is more cultural. Other things are symptoms of this fundamental desease. As long as you cannot respect people of different culture this is what happens.
Whatever be the reasons for it, what LTTE are doing now is horrible, barbaric and stupid. As long as they follow this route they are not going to win the war. LTTE is doing harm not only for their cause, but Tamils worldwide.
Splitting a country is not a solution. That is historically proven.