Abstract:
In the aftermath of the ethnic war, a major debate has taken place on
economic development and reconstruction of the war affected regions in Sri Lanka. The
ethnic conflict between Sinhalese and indigenous Tamils has been overshadowed by
this renewed interest on economic development. Development of the war-torn regions
would enable the people to reintegrate themselves with their community life, and
participate in economic and social life with a sense economic or livelihood stability.
Therefore, the emphasis placed on economic rehabilitation, reconstruction and
development seems to be worthwhile from the Government's point view since the
people of the war affected areas are now under its control. However, this kind of
reintegration of a people hitherto lived under military's control into the system of
hegemonic political control of the majority Sinhalese rule without a proper devolution
of powers to the regions would not guarantee jus post bellum. Also the overemphasized
project of economics in the post war Sri Lanka seemingly has worked as an erasure of
the political problem. This paper aims to restate the importance of political activity over
economics as the major way of guaranteeing peace for the ethnic minority. The paper
uses the whole war affected north and east as a case study and studies the development
activities taking place there. Then it analyses the political consequences of development
in the long run, while arguing that political solution to the conflict gives the state a
chance to provide jus post bellum.
