Post conflict reconstruction: Resettlement issues and challenges in the peace-building process in Sri Lanka
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Date
2021
Authors
Wanninayake, S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
The protracted armed conflict in Sri Lanka between the government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) ended in May 2009. The three-decades-old conflict displaced over half a million people and devastated their lives; particularly during its final stage (2006–2009). Post-conflict resettlement initiatives are hardly considered the permanent resettlements of these displaced people in their traditional villages. This study sets out to explore the resettlement issues and challenges to the post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building process in Sri Lanka. The process of reconstruction and peace building has come under several programs and projects. Nevertheless, the internal displacement has become a dreadful outcome of armed conflict in Sri Lanka and resettling IDPs in their places of origin became a prime task under the reconstruction programs to rebuild the peaceful life of the people. The study focuses on understanding the role of the various factors that negatively affected the resettlement of people in their original places of residence. The study has revealed a mixture of factors that have negatively influenced the entire process of return, resettlement, reconstruction and peace-building in conflict affected areas. As a result, multiple factors need to be understood about the rebuilding of their normal lives in the respective areas. Fieldwork was carried out in villages in the district of Vavuniya. The paper is based on qualitative methods. Long interviews and key informant interviews were mainly used for the qualitative data.
Description
Keywords
Return , resettlement , IDPs , challenges , original villages
Citation
Modern Sri Lanka Studies, 2021, XII(1), P 73-104