The peace process in Sri Lanka

Bibliographic Data

ID8095753
AuthorsKristine Höglund (0000-0001-7167-609X, Uppsala University, corresponding author), I Svensson (0000-0002-1242-4180, Uppsala University)
Year2002
Volume5
Issue4
Pages103-118
Publication date2002-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCivil Wars (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-8249 • E-ISSN: 1743-968X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13698240208402519
OpenAlexW2022846093
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited11

This article sets out to analyse the current peace process in Sri Lanka. It is argued that the prospects for peace are better than at any other time since the inception of the armed conflict in 1983, because the parties’ concerns about the consequences of continued conflict, as well as the consequences of settlement, have changed. In the first section of the article we demonstrate how the costs — militarily, financially and politically ‐for continuing the war have drastically increased for the parties. Furthermore, with the involvement of the international community and the special approach to the peace process by the Wickremasinghe government, the perceived risks involved in a peaceful settlement have decreased. These parallel developments in the incentives structures of war and peace, explain the readiness of both primary parties to engage in serious efforts to solve the protracted conflict. From this perspective, the roles of Norway as a mediator, and the Nordic countries as ceasefire monitors, are analysed. The second section analyses the prospects for a solution, by looking at the reconciliation of positions that have taken place between the parties. The major obstacles, such as the LTTE's intentions, the Muslim minority and divisions within the Singhalese community, are also discussed. We end the analysis with the observation that even though the prospects for a stable, negotiated settlement between the adversaries appear promising, several problems related to post‐conflict reconstruction and democratic development, are likely to remain obstacles in the future

Democracy · Development economics · Economics · Government (linguistics · Incentive · Peacebuilding · Perspective (graphical · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Process (computing · Settlement (finance · Sociology · South asia · Sri lanka · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East · Public Administration

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