ETHNIC PEACE AND HARMONY

Why it’s crucial to solve Sri Lanka’s inter-ethnic issue – Dr. Jehan Perera

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has repeatedly asserted that his primary goal as chief executive is to rescue Sri Lanka from its dire economic situation. His commitment is evident in a determination to implement unpopular economic policies such as higher taxes and the privatisation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

These measures have sparked public discontent and increased inequalities; and in spite of jeopardising his chances at the upcoming presidential election, Wickremesinghe remains resolute in his commitment to economic reform.

In addition to the economic promises made at the beginning of his term of office, the president also pledged to address Sri Lanka’s longstanding ethnic issues. He emphasised the need to resolve the conflict to prevent it from burdening future generations.

The civil war cost Sri Lanka 30 years of foreign investment and development due to the instability it caused. And the president assured the public that he would build on past efforts to implement a political solution, and promised progress in Sri Lanka’s 75th year of independence, which has since passed.

Over the past two years, the head of state outlined his vision for reconciliation in clear terms. For example, at an inter-religious symposium on peace and reconciliation organised by the National Peace Council (NPC) in March, Wickremesinghe presented his plan without referring to any notes, demonstrating his deep understanding and commitment.

Despite this, the president has not pursued reconciliation reforms with the same intensity as his economic policies – a shortcoming that has serious consequences for the country.

In recent times, police action exacerbated ethnic tensions by preventing Tamil people from publicly commemorating their loved ones lost in the war’s final phase. Misapplied court orders and heavy-handed policing deterred public gatherings, and drew negative attention both domestically and internationally.

Incidents such as the police raiding homes in the east and arresting women at night, and intimidating students at the Eastern University Sri Lanka as they sought to commemorate their lost loved ones, further strained ethnic relations and contradicted the government’s stated policy of reconciliation.

These actions undermine the government’s credibility, considering its previous commitments. In 2015, Sri Lanka – under Wickremesinghe at the time – signed a resolution with the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which led to the establishment of offices for missing persons, reparations and national unity between 2016 and 2018.

Since taking office as president in 2022, Wickremesinghe continued his efforts to establish a truth and reconciliation commission. However, recent events have damaged the government’s reputation both here and abroad.

International pressure is mounting on Sri Lanka to address its reconciliation process. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made annual statements about genocide during the war’s final stages and a US Congress resolution called for a referendum on ‘Tamil Eelam.’

Moreover, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged the government to acknowledge human rights violations by the security forces and issue a public apology.

Prompt action to ascertain the truth of what happened during the war is crucial as negative international sentiment regarding the sustainability of ethnic peace and harmony could impact Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

With some three months left in his term, time is running out for the president to redeem his government’s standing domestically and internationally.

Inasmuch as Wickremesinghe is determined to implement his economic programme through new laws that embed structural reforms, so must he establish a road map for reconciliation that can be followed in the aftermath of the election.

This road map should follow the internationally accepted four-step process: truth, accountability, compensation and political reform. By doing so, he can address the root causes of the conflict and help Sri Lanka move to a more peaceful and unified future.

On one of his many journeys to the north during Vesak, Wickremesinghe sketched out an enticing vision of economic development in the Northern Province. He also spoke about the government’s commitment to the national reconciliation process, particularly through the establishment of a truth commission.

However, a lacuna exists in terms of the vexed issue of inter-ethnic power sharing. The present model is the virtually defunct 13th Amendment and provincial councils, for which elections have not been held for five years, mostly under the president’s watch.

The president’s commitment to a political solution based on inter-ethnic power sharing needs to match his commitment to economic reform.