Question

Name the principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. How do you assess the prospects of the resolution of this conflict?

Accepted Answer

The principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka were the majority Sinhala community and the minority Tamils. Politics was dominated by Sinhala nationalists who were hostile to the Tamils and believed that Sri Lanka belonged only to the Sinhala people. This neglect led to the rise of militant Tamil nationalism, notably the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). India also became a principal player because the conflict involved people of Indian origin. The Indian government signed an accord with Sri Lanka in 1987 and sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to stabilise relations, though they eventually pulled out. Additionally, international actors, particularly Scandinavian countries like Norway and Iceland, tried to bring the warring groups back to negotiations. Assessing the prospects of resolution, the armed conflict came to a definitive end in 2009 when the LTTE was vanquished. This military outcome suggests a cessation of the violent phase of the crisis. Despite the ravages of the internal conflict, Sri Lanka has maintained a democratic political system. The country has registered considerable economic growth and recorded high levels of human development. It has successfully liberalised its economy and controlled population growth. These factors indicate that the country has the capacity to recover and progress following the end of hostilities. — The answer identifies the players based on the text: the Sinhala community (nationalists) and the Tamils…

Explanation

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