On the 15th anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war, Foreign Secretary David Cameron issued a solemn statement reflecting on the devastating toll and unfulfilled promises of the conflict’s aftermath.
His words underscore the island nation’s lingering ethnic tensions and unaddressed grievances that continue to undermine its extraordinary potential.
“As we mark this sombre anniversary, my thoughts are with the untold thousands killed, disappeared, and irreparably harmed during nearly three decades of brutal violence,”
Cameron said.
“The UK heard the Sri Lankan people’s cries for truth and accountability, and we renew our commitment to support their long struggle for justice and national healing.”
A Devastating Toll
The Sri Lankan Civil War raged from 1983 to 2009, stemming from ethnic tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority. The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fought a violent campaign for an independent homeland that was ultimately crushed by the Sri Lankan military in a final bloody offensive that likely killed tens of thousands of civilians.
Both sides were accused of grave human rights violations during the conflict:
- Extrajudicial killings
- Enforced disappearances
- Attacks on civilians
- Use of child soldiers
Key Civil War Statistics |
|
|---|---|
| Total Deaths | 100,000+ |
| Civilians Killed | 40,000-70,000 |
| Internally Displaced | 800,000+ at peak |
| Sri Lankan Refugees | 700,000+ |
Elusive Justice and Reconciliation
In the 15 years since the war’s conclusion, Sri Lanka has struggled to confront this bloody legacy and address the ROOT CAUSES of tension between the Sinhalese Buddhist majority and minority Tamil and Muslim populations.
Progress on accountability for wartime atrocities remains limited, as the former Rajapaksa government blocked attempts at a thorough accounting and reckoning. Tamils continue feeling marginalized, citing the heavy militarization of their regions and questioning the commitment to an inclusive political process.
David Cameron said:
“My visit to the war-torn north in 2013 laid bare the devastating humanitarian consequences that linger to this day. There I reaffirmed the UK’s dedication to truth, justice, and accountability – values that must be upheld for Sri Lanka to reach its full, unified potential.”
An Opportunity Missed?
Critics argue Sri Lanka squandered a vital opportunity for reconciliation and healing in the initial years after the LTTE’s defeat. Rather than addressing long-standing Tamil grievances around power-sharing and political autonomy, the government focused on cementing its military victory and restricting civil liberties.
“The war may have ended in 2009, but the ethnic and religious animosities driving the bloodshed continue poisoning Sri Lanka’s social fabric to this day,”
“Symbolic gestures from Colombo are no substitute for the kind of substantive political reforms and accountability measures required to begin closing this national wound.”
said Meera Srinivasan, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
However, some see flickers of hope. The current government under President Wickremesinghe has been more open to accountability efforts, though tangible progress remains slow. A new era of economic constraint following recent crises could raise incentives to finally unite the divided nation.
As Foreign Secretary Cameron concluded,
“Sri Lanka possesses incredible human potential across all its communities. It’s incumbent on leaders to seize this solemn anniversary as a catalyst for the justice, reconciliation and healing so long overdue.”
For continuing coverage and analysis of the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, visit Here.
Sources: THX News, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, ADST, Human Rights Watch, US Senate, Council on Foreign Relations & The Rt Hon Lord Cameron.
