Very interesting mails are flowing on this subject.
Re Kamal's Chera Draught : In 969 AD - AK dies; 969-971 Sundara & Uthama share throne; 985 - 987 Uthama & RR share throne. 987 :: As per Udyarkudi, RR declares himself Chakravarthy (this disproves Kudavoil's theory that Uthama confiscated the lands earlier )988 : Kandalurchalai war. With 15 years out of power, 2 yrs of sharing power and finding & punishing drohins, RR's priority would not be in attending in Chera's draught.. Even if it is so, that need not be in the meykeerthi ..
Ravidasan & co were expelled from chola land but WERE NOT KILLED by the Emperor and Uthama is not there to protect them - Ex. Brahmadirayas (Ex.Ministers!). THERE IS ALWAYS A BRAHMAHATHI DOSHAM STORY AROUND CHOLAS (THIRUVIDAMARUTHUR). Who would have provided them sylum? Not Pandiyas - obviously - they were already under Chola's Oppression. It may not be Cheras as well. But Kaandalur Chalai - Academy would have provided intensive military training to all the South Indian Rulers - including Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas and may be (MAY BE) Srilankans also. There might not have been barriers of Kingdoms for such Coveted Military academy :: Consider Israel's Mossad who trained LTTE as well as Indian Army.! On these lines, as Ex.trainees, Ravidasan & Co would have been provided asylum .. Udagai or no Udaigai - ambassodor etc., were only reasons to instigate war against K.chalai. Our friends are going to ask for proof. There is none. But the theory is construed based on circumstances only. RR could not get Indiraharam and Sundaramudi of Pandiyas from the Rohana hills of Lanka. Means they continued their support to Pandyas. He has to destroy a Naval Basse - even if it is Nutral - if not enemy's. Rajendra, as Gokul observed, only could achieve this. Please go through Sundarapandiyan's meykeerthi again (archieved I suppose under Nandhipuram.) He avenges everything Cholas did.
Sastri confirms that there existed a major Armybase near Nagarkoil - Suseendram - to be more precise. That guarded the Southern tip as Melpadi / near present day Ranipet (North Arcot)guarded invasions by Chalukyas and others in the North West and Thiruvottiyur on the North East. Rajendra was the Maacanda Nayak of these Armybases in RR's period; If one takes clue from Dr.Jaybee - a very valid and interesting clue - RR would have involved the "oppressed" Pandiyas to invade K.Chalai so that Pandiyas and Cheras do not see eye-to-eye for some more time at least!