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The Oldest English Newspaper in South Asia
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Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
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The politics of the A9

There is much anticipation that the main highway between Jaffna and the South, the A9 highway, would be opened tomorrow, but, uncertainty remains.

This is due to the enormous logistical problems caused by the years of devastation and neglect, as well as due to the political complexities of the current situation.

Ordinary Sri Lankans, North and South, we are sure, would wish that the land route between the Jaffna Peninsula and the Sri Lankan mainland is re-established as soon as possible. But at the level of the State and the LTTE, political and security considerations are inherent in the final decision to re-open the A9 all the way between Jaffna city and Omanthai which is, at present, the last point in the country's network of roads in the Northern mainland under Government control.

In a situation of war, security becomes all important. In a situation of intense socio-political conflict, disruption and delicate efforts to resolve the conflict, political matters too become very significant. Hence, both the Government as well as the LTTE must weigh all these considerations before arriving at a final agreement on the re-opening of the A9.

It must be remembered that the initiative to re-open this highway, either its entire length or even parts of it, is but one step of a series of moves being made by either side in this, the early stage of a renewed peace effort.

These are all only preliminary steps that are designed to lead up to the most significant part of the process - the negotiations on a political settlement of the conflict.

In this light, despite the anticipation, there is also the need for patience. Even if there is a delay in the opening of the A9, such unsteady movement must be as an inevitable feature of this complex crisis which has, anyway, rendered unsteady the whole of our society.

Delays, if they do occur, can be overcome as long as there is an overall commitment to make the peace process work.

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