Inside Story

Is Sri Lanka on the path to reconciliation?

President Sirisena is under pressure to fulfill his post-civil war promises of accountability and justice.

It’s been seven years since the civil war in Sri Lanka ended.

The 30-year conflict fell largely along ethnic lines. 

President Maithripala Sirisena has said reconciliation is one of his top priorities, but thousands of ethnic Tamils from the country’s north still have not been able to return to their homes.

The government had promised to resettle them by the end of last month.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights gave a report on Sri Lanka’s efforts last week.

He said progress has been made, but not quickly enough.

So what’s hampering Sri Lanka’s efforts to bring reforms and justice?

Presenter: Laura Kyle

Guests:

D M Swaminathan – Sri Lankan Minister of Resettlement

Subramaniam Senthilkumar – British Tamils Forum

Bhavani Fonseka – Senior Researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives