ICSLS 2005
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10254
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Item Negotiating Peace in Sri Lanka: Dynamics and Implications(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Singh, K.Peace in any society is primarily a contractual peace, which becomes durable with the social capital formation. The diminishing social capital generates the unrest and, thus negotiations for peace starts for revitalizing the process of social capital formation. The negotiation may take place, if the negotiating parties perceive the cost-effectiveness of the negotiating process in their favour. However, unanticipated consequences occur in the course of time before the final negotiation is reached. The parties, which are outside the negotiating process, get involved when they perceive the implications and consequences of the final outcome affect their interest and, thus they may get involved as the negotiating process advances. Negotiations for durable peace in the island-society have been initiated four times during the last two decades of unrest and ethnic conflict. Several rounds of peace talks took place every time but the efforts for negotiation could not succeed due to skepticism and suspicions which gripped the negotiating parties as well as the parties/groups which are not directly committed to negotiating the peace. The latest peace process was started with the active role of the Norwegian facilitators and changing political dispensation in the last parliamentary elections in 2001. There is a Sri Lankan think tank, which perceives Norwegian facilitation as a colonial intrusion, government’s policy as appeasement before the LTTE’s extremism. Such parties though peripheral but become an actor outside the formal process and affect or sometimes determine the whole process. Parties committed are the LTTE,the Government of Sri Lanka and the Norwegian facilitators. The parties involved are the political parties not directly committed to the peace process, non-LTTE Tamil groups, Sinhalese groups, countries like India, international donors of financial support to Sri Lanka, underworld and military establishment and so on. All such parties generate and strengthen the skepticism and suspicion, which contribute to form a public opinion against credibility of the peace process and thereby jeopardizing the whole peace process. The cumulative effect of all is that the recent hold on of the peace process. The assertions of the constitutional authority of the President, political power of the Prime Minister and, presentation of the counter-proposal by the LTTE, have aggravated the whole peace process. The parties committed for negotiating the peace are on tactical withdrawal. The efforts are on for reconciliation at various levels to resume the peace process but the situation is really complex and the final negotiation seems a distant goal.Item Indo-Sri Lankan Ties: A Long View(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Mishra, P.Indo-Sri Lankan relations during the last five decades and a half have remained topsyturvy. As a matter of fact, both the nations share a common cultural heritage because of their close proximity and a historical bondage. Both political systems have drawn inspiration from the Westministerial model and liberal democracy. And yet the ruling elites in both countries have adopted different development strategies from time to time. Besides, both nations have articulated their global and regional interests in different ways. While India in its first three decades concentrated on self-reliance, Sri Lanka took early steps towards liberalization of its economy resulting in a much faster rate of growth in the South Asian region. The paper will highlight the major irritants in Indo-Sri Lankan relations and will examine as to how the ruling elites in both countries have addressed them one by one. For instance , the issue of maritime boundary demarcation, providing citizenship to Indian Tamils and the contentious Indian involvement on Tamil militancy in the island and the subsequent demand of LTTE for a Tamil Eelam. The last demand has complicated New Delhi's involvement in the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka. Even Norway's offer of facilitation of peace dialogues has motivated India to keep a safe distance from both sides. As regards the emerging trends in Indo-Sri Lankan relations, both of them have accorded MFN status leading to a quantum jump in bilateral trade. Both have stepped up cooperation in defence, high tech, tourism and in marine research. Both of them have a stake in safeguarding the integrity of their nations. Perhaps, a proactive policy by New Delhi may ultimately help in the resolution of the ethnic conflict in the strife-torn island.