Media Releases

Forty-two years after the violence of Black July, Sri Lanka continues to live in the shadow of unacknowledged violence that shattered the lives of thousands of Tamil families. Homes were burned, livelihoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Starting from Colombo, the riots and violence spread countrywide. Hundreds of innocent people were killed. Tens of thousands displaced. But there has still been no full accounting, no official truth, no justice, and no assurance that it will not happen again. The National Peace Council (NPC) marks this anniversary not only to mourn the victims, but to affirm that there can be no lasting reconciliation without first confronting the past and finding a political solution that addresses the roots of the problem.

We mourn the passing of Dr. Norbert Ropers, a visionary peacebuilder, trusted friend, and devoted practitioner of nonviolence, whose profound commitment to dialogue and reconciliation helped shape more humane and inclusive futures across divided societies. His work, especially in Sri Lanka, left an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals and communities striving for justice and peace.

The peaceful and orderly conduct of the recently concluded local government elections which were held without the large-scale abuses of state power or otherwise that marred previous electoral cycles has marked a refreshing change from the past. It demonstrates a commendable commitment by the present government to uphold electoral integrity and democratic norms. We congratulate the ruling party for emerging as the largest party across the country in 267 out of the 339 local government bodies in which polls were held with an absolute majority in 120. The test of statesmanship will be how the government forms its majorities in the local authorities and deals equitably with opposition led ones.

Sri Lanka has received a breathing space of three months to negotiate with the US government regarding tariffs to be imposed on Sri Lankan exports which is of utmost importance as the US is Sri Lanka’s largest export market. Sri Lanka faces a similar challenge to protect its export markets with regard to the EU, which is currently favouring Sri Lanka with its GSP Plus tariff concession. This tariff reduction is conditional on Sri Lanka’s adherence to 27 specified human rights conventions. Sri Lankans, including the political leadership, should come to terms with the fact that we need to have cooperative relations with major powers, whether it is America, China, Europe or India.

The UK government’s decision to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals, including three former military commanders, has ignited significant debate. This move comes at a time when large-scale violence continues unchecked in other parts of the world, raising concerns about the application of different standards to different countries. As a non-partisan civil society organization, the National Peace Council (NPC) asserts that the pursuit of truth and accountability must be universal and free from political motivations. Justice cannot be applied selectively. It is needed as much in Mullivaikkal and Batalanda where the violations took place 16 to 37 years ago, as it is in Palestine and Ukraine where they are taking place today.

Since the end of the war in 2009, Sri Lanka has faced persistent scrutiny at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva over its handling of post-war reconciliation. Key concerns include missing persons, human rights violations, war crimes, land occupation, and the continued military presence in the north and east. Addressing the UNHRC earlier this week, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to independent and credible domestic mechanisms within the constitutional framework to address these challenges. He said “Domestic institutions such as the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), Office for Reparations, and Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) will be strengthened.”

The government’s success at the presidential and general elections, which saw significant support from ethnic and religious minorities, highlights its mandate to address long-standing grievances. The predominantly Tamil and Muslim electorate in the north and east entrusted the government with resolving their issues directly. This trust needs to be met with tangible action.

The National Peace Council (NPC) extends its congratulations to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People's Power (NPP) on their election victory, which secured a two-thirds majority in parliament. This overwhelming mandate reflects the trust placed in the president and his party to lead the country towards economic development, justice, and reconciliation.

In his election manifesto, as well as in his election campaign, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to take forward the national reconciliation process through several measures, including implementation of the 13th Amendment. His election manifesto commits the government to conduct provincial council elections within a year “to provide an opportunity for the people to join the governance.”

As the presidential election campaign draws to a close, the focus must shift from electoral competition to the urgent challenges facing the country. While the election outcome remains uncertain, what is clear is that the next president will inherit a country grappling with economic instability and deep-rooted problems of impunity and corruption. A pressing challenge that also needs to be at the forefront of the government that is formed is the need to resolve the long-standing ethnic conflict through a sustainable political solution based on the devolution of power. The new president must prioritize this issue to bring lasting peace and unity to the country.

Position Paper by Members of Religious and Civil Society and the Academic Community from all parts of the country to Presidential Candidates seeking their Commitment to Resolving Sri Lanka’s Ethnic Problem

A Fundamental Rights petition is pending before the Supreme Court requesting a postponement of the presidential election until a determination is made on the length of the president’s term of office. The National Peace Council welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision to consider the case as soon as possible. We believe the continuing uncertainty about the holding of the presidential election is deeply harmful to the country in every aspect. It undermines faith in the democratic process in which free and fair elections that are held regularly is an indispensable element.

Sri Lanka is witnessing a positive transformation of electoral politics in relation to its long standing ethnic conflict that commenced with the economic collapse of 2022. The notion that the country required a “system change” was promoted by the student-led protest movement that publicly eschewed racism and upheld the rights of equal citizenship in their slogans. In a manner inconceivable in the past, the three main candidates for the presidential election in October appear to be outbidding each other in support of the 13th Amendment to the constitution and devolution of power to the provinces. This is an aspect of the change that has taken place in contrast to the politics of the past when narrow ethnic nationalism was used to foment violence and harvest votes.

During a recent visit to the North, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the government would be establishing a truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) to address human rights issues that arose out of the three-decade long war. He said that the legislation was nearly finalized with the main remaining question being whether the power to prosecute war crimes should be given to the commission or to a special court. The president said, “We’re deliberating whether the TRC should wield judicial authority or if a separate court should be empowered based on TRC recommendations. This decision is paramount, and I’ve tasked relevant ministers, in consultation with parliamentarians and ambassadors, to draft legislation for parliamentary review.”

The joint commemoration event titled “Turning Point” held on May 17 at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo was in memory of the loss of life that took place 15 years ago at the war’s end for people from all sides. It is an indication that the wounds of the three-decade long war are beginning to heal. The event was organized by a civil society collective consisting of inter-religious groups, different NGOs and Diaspora groups.

On April 21, the country marked the fifth anniversary of the tragic Easter Sunday bombing that claimed the lives of approximately 300 persons and left more than 500 others injured and maimed. The enduring consequences of the Easter Sunday bombing need to be kept in mind. The economic repercussions, stemming from the decline in foreign investments and tourism, continue to haunt the country, contributing to the economic challenges faced today. The National Peace Council is particularly concerned that the erosion of trust in government leadership, exacerbated by perceived failures in accountability and transparency, remains a pressing concern for all citizens. Unfortunately, this leads to frustration and loss of faith in the system, which can also lead to further injustices.