Beyond accountability: the struggle for co-existence in Sri Lanka

AHILAN KADIRGAMAR and MAHENDRAN THIRUVARANGAN 2 June 2015

The promised report of a UN investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka will achieve little unless accompanied by real introspection by both Tamil and Sinhala communities. தமிழ் (Tamil), සිංහල (Sinhalese)

Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in May 2009. For years, the lack of accountability for the grave human rights abuses committed during the last phase of the war has seemed for many actors to be the sole issue of concern. Powerful states, international human rights organizations, vocal sections of the Tamil diaspora, alongside some NGOs and courageous activists in the country, brought increasing international pressure to bear on the authoritarian Rajapaksa regime. This culminated in March 2014 when the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) established an investigation into the violations during the war.

Beyond Accountability the Struggle for Co-existence in Sri Lanka by Thavam Ratna