Panel No. 42

Panel Title: Sri Lankan Politics

Convenor: Alan Bullion, Research Associate, Open University, UK

    Friday 9 July, 8–12

Panel Abstract: The focus of the panel will be the current Sri Lankan peace process, conflict resolution, prospects for deeper democratization and federal solutions.

Papers accepted for presentation in the panel:

Paper Giver 1: Laura Watkins, Dept. of Politics, University of York, UK

Paper 1 Title: Capturing Capacities: An Examination of Empowerment and Development Among Muslim Women IDPs in Puttalam District, Sri Lanka

Paper Abstract: This paper focuses on the power structures that determine the activities of a women’s Community-Based Organisation (CBO) and its members. The CBO in question, the Women’s Organisation for Development, Equality, Peace and Temperance (WODEPT), comprises primarily of displaced Muslim women and works within Puttalam District north-west Sri Lanka. Based on the assumption that empowerment is essential to effective micro-development, it is argued that gender is a defining factor within this relationship. In particular, the research seeks to prove that the extent of capacities and empowerment of individual CBO members determines the organisational development of WODEPT. Following on from an overview of the case study and methodology, the paper centres on the main findings based on literature and field research. These findings are structured into two parts: those concerning individual members, and those concerning WODEPT as an organisational whole. Drawing upon Luke’s third conception of power, it is concluded that despite making some economic and social gains, existing power structures and controls have prevented WODEPT members from capturing sufficient capacity to independently further their own development.

Paper Giver 2: Dr. R.S. Gunatunge, Dept. of IT and Decision Science, and Prof. M.M. Karunanayake, Dept. of Geography, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Paper 2 Title: Information and Communication Technologies for Enhancing Socio-economic Development at the Local Level in Sri Lanka: Issues, Challenges and Strategies

Paper Abstract: Information and communication technologies (ICT) have been growing rapidly in developed countries over the last five decades. ICT has been revolutionising the way in which people in these countries live and conduct their work. ICT has changed the administration, governance, education, business competitiveness and global operations in them. The developed countries consider ICT as much vaunted technology for increased socio-economic development and depend on the “knowledge economy” for wealth creation. In contrast to the developed countries that have been steadily capitalising on the rapid pace of ICT, a large number of developing countries, particularly low-income countries have failed in the adaptation of these technologies thus contributing to the “digital-divide” between the developed and developing countries. This is predominantly so in the rural villages in that modern technology has not reached to the institutions in rural villages. Democracy, social harmony, peace and economic growth have become political issues at the grass-root level socio-economic development. ICT can be implemented within the institutions in rural villages to improve administrative processes of local level institutions, increase transparency of activities making them accountable to the public, connect villagers to the administration and socio-economic development, increase their knowledge base through greater participation, inclusion of their voices of the development programs, resolutions of their conflicts and deliver better services to improve their socio-economic conditions. However, this can be achieved only through a democratic framework and devolution of power to local level institutions. This paper presents the issues, challenges and strategies in this regard with reference to the Kotmale Divisional Secretariat Division in hill country Sri Lanka.

      Full paper to be downloaded (as a pdf-file)

Paper Giver 3: Dr.S.Manivasakan, Lecturer, and I. Hiller Armstrong, Research Scholar, Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India

Paper 3 Title: Peace Efforts in Sri Lanka Then and Now

Paper Abstract: India had been observing the emerging situation in Sri Lanka with great concern. Because, India in the directly affected neighbouring country due to the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis. The refugees’ problem created not only an economic burden but also in Socio-Political tensions within Tamil Nadu, and other part of India. India's involvement Sri Lankan issues which started since the outbreak of anti-Tamil violence in July 1983. The paper speaks on peace efforts in Sri Lanka, How best the India played a major role to mediate and intervened in the Sri Lankan issue through the Parthasarathy Mission, Bandari Mission, Thimpu Talks, Chidambaram Mission, Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord, and Karunanidhi's Mission as a first face on this paper. In continuation second face of the paper also focuses on what are all the major efforts taken by the Norwegian government in the ethnic crisis in the island.

Paper Giver 4: Camilla Orjuela, PhD Candidate, Dept. of Peace and Development Research, Göteborg University, Sweden

Paper 4 Title: Civil War, Civil Society. The third sector and ‘ethnic conflict’ in Sri Lanka

Paper Abstract: Two decades of civil war in Sri Lanka have affected all sections of society. Civil society has in many regards become weakened, and social divides along ethnic and other lines have deepened. But while a break-up of civil society has taken place in the wake of violence and hostilities, many third sector organisations have at the same time engaged in cross-ethnic dialogue and advocated for an end to the war. During the Norwegian-facilitated peace processes initiated in 2002 voices have been raised calling for increased civil society participation.
The concept and idea of civil society embraces a multitude of complex meanings, actors and struggles, which can only be understood through in-depth case studies. The aim of this paper is to problematise the civil society concept by looking at what civil society means in Sri Lanka, in the context of violent conflict. It argues that mobilisation within the civil society sphere often has contributed to deepened social divides, and that the space for independent civil society activity in the north and east of the country has dwindled during the war. The paper also discusses in what ways civil society organisations and activities matter for the current peace process.