Reconciliation for Sri Lanka:My Perspective

Thas Nirmalathas

“… involves a very long and painful journey, addressing the pain and suffering of the victims, understanding the motivations of offenders, bringing together estranged

communities, trying to find a path to justice, truth and, ultimately, peace. Faced with each new instance of violent conflict, new solutions must be devised that are

appropriate to the particular context, history and culture in question.”

Desmond Tutu

Bigger and Common Threats - Governance

• Governance and politics– Questionable status of “Democracy” – Political resolution of the conflict remains open– War may be over, yet north and east remain militarised– Political resolute of the Tamils remain strong– Government sponsored militias remain a threat to a civil

society– War crimes not being investigated to deliver justice to

victims– Social inclusion and disparity issues remains a major risk

to its growth– Interference in judicial processes and civil order – Media neutrality – non existent– Development aid and resources subject to corruption

and fraud

Worldbank: map of development actvities

Country requires sound governance principles and leadership in government

Bigger and Common Threats – Economy and Development

• Economy: – Youth unemployment – officially ~22%

(females 30%)– Current account balance ~$4B– Public Debt ~80-85% of GDP ($59B in 2011) ,

External Debt ~$22B– Inflation >7%– Interest rate ~9%– Moving to a heavily “dependent society”:

Worldbank – “By 2036, more than 22% of the population will be over 60 and there will be 61 dependents per 100 adults.”

Worldbank: map of development actvities

Country requires unity and clear vision in tackling economic and development issues

Bigger and Common Threats - Environment

• Environment– A tropical island exposed to the impact of climate

change– Sustainable development must be the mantra,

instead, corruption and personal fraud out of aid and economic development activities thriving in the country

– Already suffering adverse environmental impact• deforestation; soil erosion; depletion of wildlife

populations; coastal degradation; water pollution; salinity; air pollution in cities

– 30 years of war and its impact on the environment Worldbank: map of development actvities

Country requires sustainable development under a master plan

Reconciliation need to begin with… • Recognising what has gone wrong• Willingness to consider the difficult past • Investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity• Offer justice to victims• Rehabilitation to offenders• Remove signs of war – demilitarise, disable militias, enhance civil

order, empower judicial processes and open access• Use a “deep democracy”1 principles to engage all communities and

build mutual understanding• Articulate a shared vision for a “common future” and the lasting peace

Mindell, A. (1992). The Leader as Martial Artist: An Introduction to Deep Democracy; Techniques and Strategies for Resolving Conflict and Creating Community. SanFrancisco: HarperCollins.

In the absence of a community commitment and a clear and transparent process, it can only be a “smoke screen”

Sri Lanka requires a shared vision for the future

• a long term vision that binds all communities together– Country installs an effective solution to Tamil aspirations by devolution

of power and recognition of cultural heritage and boundaries– Country adopts a national transparent reconciliation and rehabilitation

process and roadmap to implementation– Country removes any barriers to social inclusion through reform in

education, public service and government.– Country proactively celebrates multi-cultural and multi-ethnic heritage

at all levels– Country creates a multi-lingual society– Country embarks upon a 10 year Roadmap for an inclusive,

prosperous and sustainable Sri Lanka

Communities need to transition from “divided-at-heart” to “an empowered and united in force”

Reconciliation [from IDEA]Is not• an excuse for impunity;• only an individual process;• in opposition to/an

alternative to truth or justice;

• a quick answer;• a religious concept;• perfect peace;• an excuse to forget; nor• a matter of merely forgiving.

But a process for• finding a way to live that permits

a vision of the future;• the (re)building of relationships;• coming to terms with past acts

and enemies;• a society-wide, long-term

process of deep change;• a process of acknowledging,

remembering, and learning from the past; and

• voluntary and cannot be imposed.“Reconcilliation after a violent conflict, A handbook”

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) – 2003,