An invisible force within Sri Lanka safeguards the nation – Sri Lanka’s Path to Sustained Peace Amidst External Challenges

An invisible force within Sri Lanka safeguards the nation – Sri Lanka’s Path to Sustained Peace Amidst External Challenges 

Sri Lanka’s triumph over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorism in 2009 marked a watershed moment in its history, ending a 30-year-long civil war that claimed many lives. Under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resolute leadership, the nation eradicated one of the world’s most ruthless terrorist organizations, LTTE paving the way for reconciliation. Today, Sri Lanka’s journey toward unity faces both internal strides and external threats, as overseas Tamil diaspora groups fuel separatist agendas, complicating the fragile peace. 

Post-War Reconstruction and Reconciliation 

The Rajapaksa government prioritized rebuilding war-ravaged regions, channelling over $3 billion into infrastructure, healthcare, and education in the Tamil-majority North and East. Former LTTE cadres, except those linked to crimes, were reintegrated into society through vocational training and psychosocial support. Provincial council elections saw an 80% turnout, signalling growing trust in democratic processes. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision of a “multi-ethnic, multicultural society” emphasized inclusivity, with Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities participating in governance. However, achieving full reconciliation efforts and the expected results in the post-war period remains uncertain.

The Diaspora Dilemma: External Threats to Sovereignty 

Despite progress, Sri Lanka faces destabilizing forces from abroad. Sections of the Tamil diaspora, primarily in Western nations, have funnelled millions into campaigns reviving separatist ideologies. These groups, disconnected from on-ground realities, propagate narratives of oppression, lobbying foreign governments to pressure Colombo. Their efforts risk reigniting ethnic tensions, undermining Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who assumed office in 2022 amid economic collapse, has accused these actors of exploiting the 2022 crisis to destabilize the nation further, akin to Libya’s fragmentation. 

International Scrutiny and Sri Lanka’s Defense 

Sri Lanka has faced relentless criticism from bodies like the UN, accused of wartime human rights violations and authoritarianism. Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected these claims, asserting that military operations were necessary to dismantle terrorism. The government highlights post-war democratic strides, including free elections and media freedom, while resisting external probes into the war’s final phase. Wickremesinghe advocates for a holistic review of the 30-year conflict, arguing that isolating its end distorts context. 

The 2022 Crisis and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Stabilization Role 

When anti-government protests over economic mismanagement ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe a six-time PM, as the parliament appointed President steered the nation from brinkmanship. Securing a $3 billion IMF bailout, he restored stability but faced backlash for retaining a military presence in the North and alleged ties to the Rajapaksa regime. Pro-LTTE voices, initially hopeful of his separatist sympathies, turned hostile as he prioritized economic recovery over diaspora demands. Ordinary people have yet to grasp how quickly he shifted from supporting pro-LTTE separatist ideology to making nation-focused decisions and embracing nationalism. 

Three Foes of Wickremesinghe: Destabilizers, Separatists, and Vengeance Seekers 

• The Destabilizers: Backed by foreign NGOs, these groups sought to exploit the 2022 chaos to cripple Sri Lanka’s economy. Wickremesinghe’s swift IMF deal and security measures thwarted their aims.

• The Separatists: Diaspora-linked factions expected Wickremesinghe to advance Tamil Eelam. His focus on unity over division alienated them, driving their support to the leftist National People’s Power (NPP).

• The 1988–89 Revenge Seekers: Survivors of the JVP insurgency crackdown target Wickremesinghe over the Batalanda torture allegations, resurrecting past grievances via social media.

Wickremesinghe’s Diplomatic Stance in Al Jazeera Interview  

In a tense interview with Mehdi Hasan, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe defended his government’s handling of protests, the 2019 Easter bombings inquiry, and questions surrounding Rajapaksa accountability. Intelligence experts have hinted at possible foreign involvement in the bombings and dismissed external pressure for Rajapaksa’s accountability, arguing there was no strategic necessity for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to be linked to the incident to secure his presidential win under the SLPP. While critics claim Wickremesinghe shields allies, supporters commend his composure under global scrutiny.

Wickremesinghe denied allegations from a government commission accusing him of knowing about illegal detentions and torture at Batalanda during the late 1980s. He questioned the report’s validity, noting it wasn’t presented in parliament.

Addressing his 2024 election defeat, Wickremesinghe highlighted his efforts to stabilize the economy amid Sri Lanka’s worst crisis. He described the economic reforms as difficult but necessary.

Al Jazeera’s revival of the 30-year-old Batalanda allegations against Ranil Wickremesinghe is akin to serving a volleyball to the JVP/NPP government, offering them an opportunity to strike back and seek revenge for the 1988–89 insurgency crackdown. Wickremesinghe, a powerful minister in the then-UNP government, played a key role during the government’s efforts to suppress the JVP uprising. 

Tamil Voting Shifts and the NPP’s Rising Influence 

For the first time, Tamil voters in the North are rallying behind Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Sinhalese leader of the NPP (formerly JVP), who pledges land reforms and anti-corruption measures. The Tamil Guardian notes this shift reflects disillusionment with traditional Tamil parties. However, suspicions linger: the JVP opposed the 2009 war against the LTTE, and some covert alliances with pro-Eelam groups. Dissanayake’s geopolitical stance—balancing relations with China and India—adds uncertainty to his pro-Tamil diaspora stance. 

Meanwhile, pro-LTTE networks, diaspora sympathizers, and select international outlets continue to amplify narratives that distort Sri Lanka’s 30-year counterterrorism struggle, framing it reductively through a lens of alleged human rights abuses while sidelining the LTTE’s atrocities. This revisionist discourse risks handing the JVP/NPP a strategic weapon: the opportunity to exploit historical grievances, mobilize Tamil voter disillusionment, and position Dissanayake’s government as a vehicle for retribution—not merely reform—against the state that crushed the LTTE. By capitalizing on these divisions, the NPP could weaponize the diaspora’s grievances to undermine national unity, turning the page on Sri Lanka’s hard-won peace to rewrite a politically expedient—and destabilizing—narrative.

Terrorism Index Triumph: A Beacon of Stability 

According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), Sri Lanka and Bhutan are South Asia’s only nations with a zero terror threat score, recording no attacks since 2019. This achievement underscores the success of counterterrorism efforts post-LTTE. Yet, vigilance remains critical as diaspora-funded separatism persists. 

Conclusion: Sovereignty, Unity, and the Road Ahead 

Sri Lanka’s resilience shines through its post-war rebirth and economic recovery. However, the interplay of diaspora machinations, geopolitical pressures, and internal political shifts demands unwavering resolve. The international community must respect Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, supporting—not sabotaging—its quest for inclusive growth. As President Wickremesinghe navigates these crosscurrents, the nation’s future hinges on uniting its ethnic mosaic against those who seek to fracture it anew. 

Editor’s note:

Sri Lanka’s lesson to the world is clear: defeating terrorism is only the first step; safeguarding peace requires eternal vigilance against division, both within and beyond its shores.

Sri Lanka is often seen as a land of resilience, with its unique way of navigating challenges. No matter how well-crafted or strategically manipulated a plan may be—whether aimed at achieving specific objectives or influencing the nation’s direction—an unseen force within the country seems to detect and dismantle harmful intentions.

Efforts that threaten the well-being of Sri Lankans or the nation itself, such as separatism, terrorism, economic crises, financial traps, social unrest, mass protests, armed conflicts, health emergencies, cybercrime, and harmful bilateral & multilateral agreements with other countries, often falter.

History has shown this time and again. From the Sinhala-dominated JVP in the south, the Tamil-dominated LTTE in the north, to the Muslim-dominated Saharan/ISIS group in the east, these movements have torn at the fabric of society, leaving deep scars. More recently, the ‘Aragalaya’ movement in the western province—an entity marked by its multi-cultural and multi-religious participation—has sought to challenge the country’s peace and stability.

Also, long-term, diaspora-driven efforts aim to paralyze Sri Lanka’s economy, intervening in political and economic matters through various forms of struggle and terrorism.

Yet, the final outcome remains consistent: no matter how strategic or carefully orchestrated these plans may be, they rarely achieve their intended objectives.

By Admin, Niroshana De Silva. You can reach him at prminds@gmail.com