Return to Normalcy : New Directions for Positive Peace in Sri Lanka <Research Note>

Since the ending of the war between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lanka Government, a debate has sprung up in Sri Lanka about the directions in establishing positive peace. As one can expects in a democracy this is of course a healthy discourse. Sri Lanka already has a road map to peace. The debate is taking place about the finer points. Sri Lanka from its own experience from the liberated Eastern province has somewhat a success story on rebuilding, reintegration, and peace. Though it may not be able to use the success in the East to tackle a bigger problem in the North as together the North and East represents the majority of the Tamil polity of Sri Lanka. In the absence of moderate Tamil political parties it is indeed a challenge for the government of Sri Lanka to take the necessary steps in the new direction from negative peace to positive peace and to return to normalcy. This report is an attempt to keep up with discourse on the new directions in positive peace that can be brought about in the political, social, and cultural spheres of Sri Lankan people.