Ending civil war: constrains for state reconstitution in post-war Sri Lanka

Abstract

After 26 years of devastating civil war between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka’s government defeated the LTTE in May 2009. It was in this context the LTTE’s defeat is viewed as a decisive turning point in the history of the island’s ethnic conflict. As a result of the absence of LTTE caused to give up the demand of separate state which was the threat of last three decades for political solution. This situation has provided opportunity to consider political solution for national ethnic question of Sri Lanka by political elites of all community through the way of state reconstitution. This post-war backdrop provides a new prospect to re-explore in the deadlock and challenges of state reconstitution in Sri Lanka by following question: has the ending of the war between the Sri Lankan State and the LTTE provided new motivation for state reconstitution in Sri Lanka, in the direction of addressing the demand of the ethnic minorities for power-sharing? This study is based on a critical and interpretative case study of post-war state of Sri Lanka. It is formed on text analysis, qualitative interviews and supplement with observation. Data have gathered in August to October 2014. The study reveals that no considerable progress was geared up in the direction of a political solution with minorities who were affected by the conflict, and peace talk has been deadlocked between the Government and the TNA (Tamil National Alliance) caused by misperceptions and centralization of state power.