ABSTRACT

Conflict Resolution Research in Sri Lanka
S. I. Keethaponcalan

 

Conflict Resolution (CR) is both a field of study and practice. As a field of study, in comparison to other subjects, RC is in its early stages; a young discipline. But the practice of CR is as old as human relations. Conflicts occurred, when human beings began to live as communities, which in order to preserve the integrity of the community, would have attempted to resolve conflicts by violence or peaceful means. Commentators have researched and written about ancient conflicts and conflict resolution methods. The great Indian chronicles of Ramayana and Mahabaratha are about conflict and conflict resolution. The Sri Lankan Mahavamsa talks about the conflict between the Tamil King of Ellalan and the Sinhala Prince Duttugemunu. These are in a way CR research and writings. This paper, however, does not delve in to these literatures.

The centerpiece of this research is CR as a field of study, which emerged primarily in the post-world war era. Yet, it is not uncomplicated to study the field of Conflict Resolution as it still remains to be defined. It is also imperative to note that CR is essentially an interdisciplinary study, which borrows heavily from other social sciences, such as international relations, political science, economics, sociology and so on. Therefore, one cannot easily conclude that something is conflict resolution research or not. This is especially true when the research is undertaken by scholars from other more established departments. “Conflict resolution research,” therefore, cannot be strictly defined at this point in time. This research therefore, is undertaken on the assumption that conflict resolution research is investigation and writing of issues related to conflict and methods employed to resolve the conflict. Methods include violence as well.

Conflict occurs at different levels: international, national, organizations, family and interpersonal. At different levels different strategies are employed by for instance, parties to the conflict and interested third parties. This is also true to Sri Lanka. Due, however, to the intensity and the destructive nature of the ethno-political conflict between the majority Sinhala community and the minority Tamils, CR research in Sri Lanka, to a large extent focused on the ethnic conflict. Sri Lankan ethno-political conflict is an over-studies area. Since the conflict was brutal and needed to be resolved immediately, it had the attention, locally as well as internationally. Consequently financial resources were also readily available. For instance, the Strategic Conflict Assessment (2005) was undertaken with the financial assistance of five major international funding agencies. Over-focus on the ethnic conflict, naturally led to negligence of other critical areas of CR praxis. Conflict and use of violence at the community level is a very serious problem in this country and in line with the international trends, several Mediation Boards are functioning in various localities. No serious investigation on community level conflict or the operational style and the issues of the mediation boards have been so far undertaken.

In May 2009, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which spearheaded the violent struggle against the government, was decisively defeated by the Sri Lankan armed forces. With the military victory over the LTTE, the interest on ethnic conflict had waned to a large extent. First of all, many in Sri Lanka, especially within the dominant group believe that conflict had already been resolved albeit by military means. For them, an ethnic conflict no longer exists in Sri Lanka. They believe that they are in a post-conflict scenario, although it is in fact a post-war situation. Secondly, the destructive element of the conflict has obviously been removed by the elimination of the LTTE, which make the conflict less attractive for funders and researchers. Many academic have already shifted their attention to other issues, for instance, post-war development, democracy and good governance and others have started to discourage post-graduate students from undertaking conflict resolution research. In a way, CR research in Sri Lanka, currently, is facing a major challenge.

The need for CR research however, is strong as ever. Sri Lanka as a society should ideally be moving from post-war scenario or what could be termed transitional peace to stable peace. Research needs to be undertaken to identify issues of and strategies for transition from post-war to stable peace. Research should also be expanded to other levels of conflict and conflict resolution issues.

 

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