Towards Peace with Justice in Sri Lanka

Since the end of the armed conflict and the defeat of terrorism in May 2009, the international movement to establish Tamil political autonomy in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern regions has intensified. The faction of the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora which leads the separatist struggle has declared a virtual ‘Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam’. Tamil politicians on the island, the ‘international community’ and India are all calling for maximum political devolution along the lines of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution introduced following Indian intervention in 1987. This article juxtaposes the growing demands for secessionism and devolution with demographic and ground realities in Sri Lanka and the need for policies that are responsive to the needs and interests of all communities on the island. The article considers calls for a national referendum on devolution, the district as the unit of devolution and changes needed beyond devolution at the local, regional and international levels.