A mistaken political judgement has lead the Sri Lankan President endanger the peace process. Sagacity is now required from both Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as Vellupillai Prabhakaran while this mess in Colombo is sorted out.
After grappling with 20 years of conflict Sri Lanka was beginning to see positive steps towards economic growth, peace and stability when President Chandrika Kumaratunga, exercising her constitutional powers, took over three ministerial portfolios and prorogued Parliament on 4 November 2003. This came in the wake of the long awaited LTTE proposals on an interim administration for the North East which were handed over on 31 October 2003 to the Norwegian facilitators to be forwarded to the government. The business climate had improved, and major foreign investors were finalising their plans for employment generating investments in the economy. It was at this juncture that power politics in Colombo rudely interrupted a process that seemed to have regained its equilibrium after a long deadlock.
Fortunately, the peace process is not yet a victim of the political changes, though the economy that has been weakened by the sudden collapse of the stock market is likely to deter long-term economic investments for some time until stability is seen to be re-established. Despite the LTTE sending in its interim administration proposals, the peace talks were not expected, in any event, to recommence before the new year. But when the President's take-over was announced, and troops brought out onto the streets, there was apprehension that the ceasefire itself might be endangered. The president responded to these concerns in a positive manner by affirming her commitment to the ceasefire, to the peace process and to the rulings of the international monitors. To a considerable extent, this was a reversal of her earlier stance in respect of each one of them. In the coming weeks until the political crisis is resolved, it will be very important for the President, the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE to act with utmost caution in relation to military matters.
There are potential flash points that could trigger off a war that the people do not want and only vested interests want. It will be difficult for Wickremesinghe's government to ensure stability in the peace process without control over the defence ministry. This may explain the decision to notify the general public and the international community that President Kumaratunga and her team should take charge of the peace process at this time. However, such a decision on the part of the government to abdicate its responsibility regarding the peace process is not a responsible one. The decision to call on President Kumaratunga to take charge of the peace process may be to show the world at large that she is unable to take on that task, but this is a dangerous political ploy that could cost the country dearly. Realistically speaking, it will be next to impossible for the President and her team to negotiate successfully with the LTTE, whom they constantly describe as terrorists and have vowed to wage war with. Further, it took them no more than two days to reject the LTTE's interim administration proposals in toto, clearly showing a certain ineptness when it comes to conflict resolution.