Reflections On Post War Five Years

By Sumanasiri Liyanage -May 19, 2014

Sumanasiri Liyanage

Although the way in which it came to an end may not be in congruence with my normative principles on the issue of ending armed conflicts, I am still happy with the fact that war to an end five years ago. Notwithstanding the fact that conventional conflict resolution theory posits that negotiated settlement rather than military victory is more favorable for peace-building or conflict transformation, I believe that war-ending in either way would have created a space for peaceful, just and harmonious Sri Lanka had the post-armed conflict been handled prudently by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). Moreover, had the GoSL acted in that manner,

 Mahinda Rajapaksawould have emerged as a genuine national leader of post-independent Sri Lanka. However, five years after the ending of the armed conflict, balance sheet is pathetic and the future is gruesome. Instead of Mahinda Rajapaksa emerging as a truly national leader, he has finally ended up being a’ tribal’ leader. A person who won the election in 2010 mainly because of the war victory may be defeated in the presidential election in 2015, if a common candidate acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka is nominated by the opposition parties and groups. Governmental coalition is in shambles and it may split into three or four factions when the presidential election is announced. Hold on! I must confess that the hopes I had in 2009 went all wrong. Will my predictions for 2015 presidential election also go wrong? May be YES for two obvious reasons.Read More