Way to Go


Written by Fahmida Ashraf • Region • February 2011

Since the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 resulting in the end of the three decades of civil war in the country, the Rajapaksa government has been dealing with some major challenges. Internally, during 2010, as part of its efforts to secure the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka the Rajapaksa government worked to establish national harmony and reconciliation; rehabilitation of displaced persons; building of ethnic trust; economic, infrastructural and social development; restoration of civil liberties; and strengthening of democratic institutions of the country.

On the other hand, the international community and various international human organizations blamed the Sri Lankan government of being guilty of ‘war crimes’ and ‘crime against humanity’ because of the brutal military operations of the Sri Lankan Army against the LTTE and hard line policies adopted by the Rajapaksa government during the last phase of the civil war. There was international pressure on the Sri Lankan government for transparent approach for national reconciliation; and an independent inquiry regarding human rights violations and extra-judicial killings during the civil war.

According to a UN report issued in March 2010, more than 7,000 civilians were killed during the final days of the civil war against the LTTE. The international community also demanded suspension of all Emergency Regulations imposed during the civil war. The Rajapaksa government, however, resisted any foreign interference and rejected the appointment of the panel. In May 2010, President Rajapaksa appointed the ‘Sri Lankan Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation’ (SCLLR). The commission is to submit its report to the government after examining evidence presented by various officials, politicians, former diplomats, academics and intellectuals. Moreover, after months of negotiations President Rajapaksa agreed in December 2010 to allow the UN panel of experts to visit Sri Lanka but only to consult the members of SCLLR and not to conduct investigations.

Despite international pressures the Rajapaksa government s maintained a pragmatic foreign policy during 2010, maintaining relations with all friendly countries and international organizations, however, simultaneously had resisted all international pressures affecting its sovereignty and national interests.

The bloody civil war in Sri Lanka has resulted in a wide gap of distrust between Tamil and Sinhala community. After liberation of the Northern and Eastern Provinces from the LTTE, as part of efforts to establish trust, the main challenge was the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), mainly Tamils and Muslims, living in welfare camps in various parts of the country. For the resettlement of IDPs the immediate concern of the government was demining of the region. The LTTE had laid down mines and explosives in the two provinces during the prolonged civil war. During 2010, in the Eastern Province all land mines have been removed at a cost of over 120 billion. For the Northern Province demining machinery worth Rs. 9 million has been imported and major area has been cleared for rehabilitation. For successful demining process apart from the Sri Lankan Army the Rajapaksa government accepted assistance from various foreign countries and international organizations such as, United Kingdom, United States, Norway, Japan, Australia, India, UNHCR and UNDP.

During 2010 in the Eastern Province resettlement was successfully completed after resettling 206,000 IDPs. In the Northern Province, till September 2010, some 99% of the IDPs were successfully resettled and the process for resettlement of the remaining 3,908 families is continuing. Most of the damaged social and economic infrastructures in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, such as residential infrastructures, electricity and water supplies, national highways, roads and railway networks, bridges, irrigation, fishery harbors, academic institutions, hospitals and various government institutions have been rehabilitated during 2010 and development work in some parts in still continuing. As regards the overall development process in the country, during 2010 Sri Lanka maintained an overall growth of 8.5 % and steady progress in various sectors of the country.

For Rajapaksa government the main challenge is that of bridging ethnic and political divide between the Tamil and Sinhalese community. The promotion of national harmony and reconciliation is a difficult task as the country is highly polarized at the end of the long civil war. The feeling among the Tamils of being subjugated and among the Sinhalese of dominance and rule can not be changed overnight. There is a need to evolve some power-sharing formula to remove the feeling of isolation among the Tamils and also to bridge the divide between the two communities. President Rajapaksa started a dialogue process, during 2010, with the representatives of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) – party representing Tamils, and it is hoped that during 2011 the Rajapaksa government and TNA representatives would be able to evolve some formula for devolution of power. Moreover, during 2011 the Rajapaksa government will also have to deal with the continuing threat posed by the pro-LTTE organizations abroad and will have to adopt rational and balanced strategies to counter the activities of these organizations.

President Rajapaksa became ‘an all powerful sovereign Head of State’ when in September 2010 the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 18th Constitutional Amendment with a two-third majority. According to the 18th Amendment the President can now seek re-election for the third term. Under the new amendment President Rajapaksa enjoys more freedom for national reconciliation, development and strengthening of democratic institutions in the country. This is a great challenge for President Rajapaksa during 2011.There is also a strong feeling developing among some sections of the society in Sri Lanka that President Rajapaksa is interested in ‘extreme power’ to establish dynasty rule. Therefore, during 2011, President Rajapaksa will have to act with great responsibility, rationally, and adopt a balanced approach in dealing with various national problems and challenges.