Breaking recurring themes in the cycles of war and peace in Sri Lanka

Liz Philipson of Conciliation Resources and the London School of Economics examines approaches to peace in Sri Lanka in this detailed paper.

Written primarily for an audience of 'Western' foreign ministry officials, it explores ways of advancing the political process towards ending the war.  Past failures of negotiations in Sri Lanka expose new possible approaches and give a practical context to conflict resolution literature. 

Prospects for advancing peace are evaluated and the discussion is designed to help identify other opportunities as they arise.  The study concludes that a negotiated agreement is just the beginning of a process for change in Sri Lanka.