National Peace Council of Sri Lanka

“Five Years of Ceasefire Agreement – What Next?”

Bandaranaike International Conference Hall, Colombo, 21 February 2007

Speech by Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar

Ladies and gentlemen,

On 22 February, we will mark the five year anniversary of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. Although the CFA is under greater strain today than ever before, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of its achievements.

The CFA came about after twenty years of armed conflict. Twenty years during which thousands of people, including many innocent civilians, lost their lives.

The years following the signing of the CFA saw a dramatic improvement in the situation. The daily fear of bombs and other attacks on civilians was greatly reduced. Mothers and fathers could send their children to school and not have to worry about their school buses being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The checkpoints we see again today were largely gone, and roads all over the country were open. I remember how people from Colombo took the opportunity to spend a few days on the beautiful beach in Trincomalee, in the national parks of Batticaloa, or visiting friends in Jaffna.

Most importantly, the number of people killed was greatly reduced. There is no doubt that by stopping the vicious cycle of violence, the CFA saved thousands of lives, and prevented many people being maimed and injured.

The CFA led to direct peace negotiations between the Government and the LTTE. It made a political dialogue possible. This dialogue will have to be resumed, in order for a peaceful solution to the conflict to be found.

The parties’ commitment to the CFA has also been of clear economic benefit to Sri Lanka. A recent World Bank report shows that economic growth in the north of Sir Lanka quadrupled during the first years of the ceasefire, and doubled in the east during the same period.

The rest of the country has also benefited economically from the CFA. The CFA and the peace process were seen as a success story, and the international community wanted to be part of it. This opened the way for new financial assistance and foreign investment, and foreign tourists returned to Sri Lanka in large numbers.

The World Bank has reported that, as a consequence of the ongoing conflict, Sri Lanka’s economic growth is two to three per cent lower per year than it would otherwise be. Millions of Sri Lankans will therefore be pulled out of poverty when higher economic growth comes with peace.

Another success of the CFA has been the establishment and work of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. The SLMM, working with the parties and the civilian population, has managed to prevent many potential conflicts. In addition, it has played an important role in shedding light on issues that would otherwise have remained hidden. I am convinced that SLMM’s cooperation with the parties has prevented much violence, and prevented the escalation of many dangerous situations, during the past five years.

The CFA was meant as a temporary arrangement for a transitional period, but I am of the strong opinion that it has saved many lives and been a vital instrument for peace.

Of course, this does not mean that there have not been many violations of the CFA. It is well-documented by the SLMM, the UN and others that killings, abductions and other human rights abuses, including child recruitment, continue, and that the number of such incidents has escalated sharply over the past year.

Norway is pleased that the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) has started its work. National and international human rights efforts are of utmost importance today, and all parties should give them their maximum support.

We have also witnessed a regrettable return to large-scale fighting and military offensives in 2006 and 2007, resulting in a dire humanitarian situation for thousands of civilians.

Neither party has abrogated the CFA, and it is my strong hope that they soon will see the need to secure its full implementation.

The Norwegian Government has made it clear that it stands ready to continue to serve as a facilitator in the peace process, provided that both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE request its continued assistance, and it feels that it can make a constructive contribution. The SLMM is also continuing its valuable work.

Norway strongly believes that any efforts to bring about lasting peace in Sri Lanka must be supported by all ethnic communities. Norway has made repeated efforts to encourage multi-ethnic support, but cannot generate it alone.

It is the people of Sri Lanka and their leaders, not Norway or any other party, who are ultimately responsible for deciding the future of this country and finding a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the present conflict. Norway is ready to lend its firm support.

Thank you very much.