Media Releases

As the presidential election campaign draws to a close, the focus must shift from electoral competition to the urgent challenges facing the country. While the election outcome remains uncertain, what is clear is that the next president will inherit a country grappling with economic instability and deep-rooted problems of impunity and corruption. A pressing challenge that also needs to be at the forefront of the government that is formed is the need to resolve the long-standing ethnic conflict through a sustainable political solution based on the devolution of power. The new president must prioritize this issue to bring lasting peace and unity to the country.

Position Paper by Members of Religious and Civil Society and the Academic Community from all parts of the country to Presidential Candidates seeking their Commitment to Resolving Sri Lanka’s Ethnic Problem

A Fundamental Rights petition is pending before the Supreme Court requesting a postponement of the presidential election until a determination is made on the length of the president’s term of office. The National Peace Council welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision to consider the case as soon as possible. We believe the continuing uncertainty about the holding of the presidential election is deeply harmful to the country in every aspect. It undermines faith in the democratic process in which free and fair elections that are held regularly is an indispensable element.

Sri Lanka is witnessing a positive transformation of electoral politics in relation to its long standing ethnic conflict that commenced with the economic collapse of 2022. The notion that the country required a “system change” was promoted by the student-led protest movement that publicly eschewed racism and upheld the rights of equal citizenship in their slogans. In a manner inconceivable in the past, the three main candidates for the presidential election in October appear to be outbidding each other in support of the 13th Amendment to the constitution and devolution of power to the provinces. This is an aspect of the change that has taken place in contrast to the politics of the past when narrow ethnic nationalism was used to foment violence and harvest votes.

During a recent visit to the North, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the government would be establishing a truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) to address human rights issues that arose out of the three-decade long war. He said that the legislation was nearly finalized with the main remaining question being whether the power to prosecute war crimes should be given to the commission or to a special court. The president said, “We’re deliberating whether the TRC should wield judicial authority or if a separate court should be empowered based on TRC recommendations. This decision is paramount, and I’ve tasked relevant ministers, in consultation with parliamentarians and ambassadors, to draft legislation for parliamentary review.”

The joint commemoration event titled “Turning Point” held on May 17 at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo was in memory of the loss of life that took place 15 years ago at the war’s end for people from all sides. It is an indication that the wounds of the three-decade long war are beginning to heal. The event was organized by a civil society collective consisting of inter-religious groups, different NGOs and Diaspora groups.

On April 21, the country marked the fifth anniversary of the tragic Easter Sunday bombing that claimed the lives of approximately 300 persons and left more than 500 others injured and maimed. The enduring consequences of the Easter Sunday bombing need to be kept in mind. The economic repercussions, stemming from the decline in foreign investments and tourism, continue to haunt the country, contributing to the economic challenges faced today. The National Peace Council is particularly concerned that the erosion of trust in government leadership, exacerbated by perceived failures in accountability and transparency, remains a pressing concern for all citizens. Unfortunately, this leads to frustration and loss of faith in the system, which can also lead to further injustices.

A major problem in Sri Lanka is the gap between aspirations and reality, words and deeds, laws and their implementation. Gender relations is no exception. The Women Organised for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) Learning and Advocacy Symposium organized by the National Peace Council (NPC) brought together more than 120 women leaders and activists from seven districts across the country. One of the key observations related to the lack of knowledge of the laws on the part of citizens and implementation of them by the state.

The need for political consensus with regard to the solution to the ethnic conflict and achievement of national reconciliation was notable at the national symposium organized by the National Peace Council on the theme of “Religions to Reconcile: Strengthening Inclusive Reconciliation” with the participation of over 300 religious clergy of different religions and grassroots leaders from inter-religious committees from 17 districts including the north and east. Political party leaders representing the government and opposition who participated in the symposium emphasized on the necessary steps to be taken, new mechanisms to be established and the need for an enabling environment.

The manner in which the Online Safety Bill was passed in parliament is a matter of grave concern. The bill was passed without taking a vote at the third reading even though the opposition called for a vote. In addition, the opposition has alleged that a number of amendments to the original bill required by the Supreme Court had not been included.

Addressing a gathering of religious leaders by Religions for Peace International and its Sri Lankan chapter on December 19, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said that the majority of people do not want another conflict even though politicians cannot resist using the ethnic card. She insisted the Sri Lankan people were not racist but were provoked by politicians. She said that public opinion had turned favourable for a political solution based on inter-ethnic power sharing and devolution of power to the provincial level from 23 percent to 68 percent in a matter of two years. The National Peace Council believes that the present time is opportune for a breakthrough to a political solution. We recall President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s pledge a year ago that he would ensure a political solution in Sri Lanka’s 75th year of Independence, which is now in its 11th month. We are pleased that the cabinet has approved two major pieces of legislation to establish a Commission for Truth, Harmony and Reconciliation of Sri Lanka and also to legally establish an Office for National Unity and Reconciliation. These are to be published as government gazette notifications to enable the general public and all interested parties to further submit opinions and proposals in this regard.

The government is proposing to establish an office for national unity and reconciliation by an Act of Parliament in order to assure to every citizen is provided with equal opportunities in the economic, social, cultural and political spheres as given by the constitution whilst safeguarding the identity and to build an inclusive and equitable society in which diversity will be respected and all communities will coexist in harmony and unity. The draft law has been sent to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Reconciliation and National Unity for its observations. The National Peace Council appreciates the initiative of the Sectoral Oversight Committee to inform civil society that they are open to proposals for revision to be incorporated into the draft law.

The ongoing war in Israel-Palestine is in some crucial ways similar to what took place in Sri Lanka a decade and a half ago. The same basic features are to be seen—terrorism, unimaginable atrocities, including the bombing of a hospital in Gaza and a massacred at a music festival in Israel, military confrontations on land, sea and air, and in the last phase, a problem of civilians trapped in the battleground of epic proportions albeit with greater intensity and brutality and on a bigger geopolitical and international canvas.

The government’s failure to obtain the second tranche of IMF support is a wakeup call regarding the precarious condition of the economy. The IMF has said that Sri Lanka’s economic recovery is still not assured. It has also said that the government has not met the economic targets set for it, particularly with regard to reducing the budget deficit due to a potential shortfall in government revenue generation. The IMF’s refusal to grant the second tranche of USD 330 million at this time will erode the confidence of prospective investors in the economy. The IMF has said the second tranche under its lending programme would only be released after it reaches a staff-level agreement, and there was no fixed timeline on when that would take place.

The UK Channel 4 television documentary that details the alleged perpetrators of the Easter 2019 mass bombings in Sri Lanka, and their motivations, has reignited the debate and negative emotions over the issue of investigations done so far. A total of 269 people were killed on April 21, 2019 most of them being ordinary citizens worshipping in churches along 45 foreign nationals from 13 countries in hotels, and over 500 others were wounded in six simultaneous suicide bombings. The savagery of the bombings and uncertainty it generated in the entire population virtually shut down the country for two months and dealt a crippling blow to the national economy, the consequences of which are still being experienced today.

During the past month several events took place to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Malaiyaha Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Of symbolic significance was the march from Talaimannar to Matale that retraced the arduous trek of the original migrants. The National Peace Council and likeminded civil society organizations participated in these events that have sought to give recognition to the Malaiyaha Tamil people and their place in the country as an integral part of a plural society and with equal rights as Sri Lankan citizens.