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Peace receives another impetus

In another pointer to the rising international backing and concern for the Lankan peace effort, the US and Norway have called on the government and the LTTE to turn the current cessation of hostilities into a durable and permanent peace. Reports said that the joint appeal came in the wake of a meeting in Washington between Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Heljesen and US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Armitage and Helgesen had reportedly agreed that "the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE need to grasp this opportunity to end Sri Lanka's tragic conflict and forge a durable peace." Further proof of US solidarity with Sri Lanka comes in the form of a visit by the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Christina Rocca, to the Jaffna peninsula, where she will be meeting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Such solid international backing augurs well for the peace process in Sri Lanka. It indicates that Sri Lanka is not alone in her valiant efforts to bring the conflict to a close. We also see here, growing international concern over the state of the world in the aftermath of the September 11th terror attacks in the US.

The gathering international consensus seems to be that conflicts among communities should be resolved by democratic, peaceful means and not by the force of arms. In this perspective, the cessation of hostilities agreement in Sri Lanka is an exceedingly positive first step but one which has to be transformed into a permanent peace. This peace, however, needs to be based on justice and fairplay to all communities in the country. This is the cornerstone of a durable peace.

The country could be certain that in the days ahead, the eyes of particularly the West, would be on the peace process here. Expectations of the world community are likely to be high that the current momentum in the peace effort would be maintained and taken to its logical conclusion. It follows that major disruptions of the peace effort are likely to cause international concern.

These developments should encourage the chief local parties to the conflict to work steadfastly and honestly towards resolving it. These parties should bear in mind the consideration that what should be aimed at is a just solution.

It is the interests of the communities concerned which should reign uppermost in the minds of these parties. Any attempt to undermine the interests of the people or to sacrifice them at the altar of political power and self-aggrandizement, is likely to torpedo the peace process.

Arriving at a peace formula which would win the backing of all communities in Sri Lanka should be our aim. This requires vision, courage and endurance on the part of the main domestic parties to the conflict. However, it should be always remembered that the interests of a partisan and powerful few are not anonymous with the interests of a community.

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