Addressing causes and not symptoms or outcomes

In order to come up with a solution acceptable to all communities, the following historical, political, economic and social realities must be effectively addressed in any solution collectively agreed to by the political parties;.

1. Language:
Government policy of Sinhala as the only official language resulted in optional retirement by most Tamil government employees who could not master the national language, Sinhalese, within the stipulated time.
Subsequent introduction of Tamil and English as additional official languages of communication in government service was not successfully implemented in practice due to lack of conversancy by majority Sinhalese staff. Fluency in English was poor due to emphasis on vernacular education.

2. Education:
Standardization policy of the government in respect of entrance to tertiary level education favoured geographic representation over academic merit. This resulted in deprived access to high achievers particularly from the Northern Province who represented a high percentage of university entrants in comparison to other provinces due to higher academic standards.
Textbooks on Sri Lankan history written from the Sinhala majority point of view biased against the minorities should be addressed. Historically incorrect information should be revised by academics acceptable to all communities to overcome prejudice and ignorance.

Tamil and Sinhala were not compulsory subjects at primary and secondary level resulting in the compartmentalizing and lack of communication between students of different ethnic groups. Although this omission has been rectified now, it requires a considerable lead time to overcome the problem.

3.Health
•Health hazards to civilians directly attributed to the conflict such as accidental injuries due to unexploded ordnances, cancer and lung infections due to chemical contamination as a consequence extensive bombing
•Neglect of health care services in conflict zones particularly for IDP’s and vulnerable groups such as women, children and elders

4. Land issues
Large scale colonization schemes of Sinhala communities undertaken by the government in majority Tamil and Muslim villages have resulted in a change in ethnic composition and sometimes caused most minorities to leave their traditional villages due to insecurity and marginalization by the Sinhala communities.
State land alienation processes appear to have marginalized the minority communities in the North and East resulting in the land holdings being disproportionate to the community representation.
Forest cover in conflict zones have been deforested as a consequence of extensive bombing causing adverse environmental effects.

5. Employment in government service and lack of meritocracy. Priority in the recruitment of Sinhalese over other minorities due to political expediency and language requirements.

6. Politicization of government service.
Political cronyism gradually superseded meritocracy particularly at the expense of minorities.

7. Infrastructure Development
•Limited resources received by the government via aid and investment for infrastructure development were channeled to Sinhala majority regions due to political expediency and on going conflict, resulting in asymmetric development.
•Need to develop transparent and accountable local government infrastructure to avoid perception of corruption.

8. Local government
Limited devolution and ineffective delegation of powers to local government bodies has resulted in lack of decision making authority over issues impacting the people of the area.

9. Human Rights and Personal Security
•Predominantly Sinhala Police force unable to win trust and confidence of minorities, particularly in ethnic minority populated areas due to language and cultural constraints. Hence the need to recruit Police officers from ethnic minorities to serve in such areas.

10. Judicial process led issues
The Judicial redress and action having to be addressed centrally in areas outside the north and east and language of court being a barrier to effective rights enforcement

11. Government services led issues

Lack of options and delegation of power to the periphery for effective access to infrastructure and language competent officials not being available to serve the needs of the minority communities in general and North and East residents in specific

12. National / Area representation led issues
In resource allocation, governance and other decision making processes at all levels (national, provincial, district and local government) the minority representation and minority rights being ineffectively prioritized

13. Culture and religion
Efforts by majority community to establish historical reference to control of areas traditionally populated by minorities through the identification of archaeological sites.

14. IDPs
- Address State neglect of humanitarian needs, human rights and aspirations of displaced persons.
- Address State neglect in proper channeling and utilization of aid and investment allocated for IDP’s.

15. Political, Democratic and Human Rights
•State neglect of minority human rights
•Failure by State to effectively delegate devolved
subjects
•Minority community political groups engaged in fratricidal violence has undermined their struggle against state violence and denial of minority rights
•Culture of violent confrontation by the LTTE, State and other militant groups has undermined their credibility and integrity in the eyes of the international community