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| President Chandrika, Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga |
| Courtesy President’s
office |
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| Opposition parties rally
against the peace process in front of the Colombo
City Hall on March 8, 2003. |
| Photo by Alex Kersis |
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga adds
a lifetime in politics to the history of her politically
famous Sri Lankan family. The President knows Tamil
Tiger terrorism first hand; she was nearly killed
by a Tamil bomb on the last day of campaigning for
the December 1999 presidential elections. Nevertheless,
she is generally given credit for starting the current
peace process by extending a hand of friendship to
the Tamil Tigers in one of her first press conferences.
She governs in a state of “cohabitation,”
alá the French government model. In hard-fought
parliamentary elections at the end of 2001, her
party, the PA, did not win a majority in parliament.
So the prime minister is from the UDP, which forms
the cabinet and is charge of the current peace negotiations.
However, under Sri Lanka’s constitution, the
president is both head of state and head of government,
as well as head of the executive and commander-in-chief
of the armed forces.
President Kumaratunga supplied written answers
to the questions posed in this interview.
The Peace Process
All observers acknowledge
your role in getting the peace process started,
but the conduct of the negotiations now rests with
the prime minister and his government. How do you
view your role in the peace process?
President Kumaratunga: Well, firstly I am
glad that the current government is continuing where
I left off in the peace process. On the need for
a negotiated political settlement with the LTTE,
there is clear bipartisan consensus. As head of
state, it is necessary that I both advise and caution
the government regarding its handling of the peace
process. Violations of the ceasefire often have
significant national security implications, and
as commander in chief of the armed forces and executive
head of state, I am ultimately responsible for the
national security of the Sri Lankan state and all
its peoples.
Maintaining Sinhalese consensus
on the terms of an eventual peace agreement seems
fundamental, lest the LTTE have a reason to drop
negotiations and resume war. Yet your party is in
the opposition in parliament. What do you see as
the best way that your party and the government
party can maintain Sinhalese consensus on the peace
process?
President Kumaratunga: The best way to
maintain a consensus would be for an inclusive peace
process, which is why I proposed a “presidential
nominee” to the peace talks, as well as to
the several committees established thereby. However,
currently the process is very exclusive and lacking
in transparency, which is not conducive to creating
and maintaining a consensus. But my commitment to
peace remains steadfast.
In view of the serious Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ceasefire violations
taking place at the same time as the peace talks,
how can you expect the Sri Lankan public and the
international donor community to have confidence
that the LTTE can be trusted to live up to any agreements
that may be reached?
President Kumaratunga: Well, I have repeatedly
stated that the continuing and significant violations
by the LTTE deeply undermine confidence in the peace
process.
The Country’s Development
Most Sri Lankans seem anxious
for peace so that the country can turn its attention
to accelerating economic growth and development.
How do you view the relationship between economic
development and lasting peace?
President Kumaratunga: Clearly a durable
and permanent peace would significantly aid economic
development as resources committed to war can be
channeled into development. Further peace would
inspire investor confidence, improve security and
reverse the “brain drain” we experienced
as a result of war.
Sri Lanka seems blessed
with diverse natural resources, an excellent location
near large markets, and intelligent, literate and
hospitable people. In your February 4 National Day
message, you spoke of a vision for Sri Lanka as
“a peaceful country with a thriving economy
and a prosperous people.” What needs to be
done to attain that vision?
President Kumaratunga: We need to increase
our economic growth rate from its past two-decade
average of about 5.5 percent to around 8.0 percent.
I am confident that the next phase of economic reforms
and a durable peace would allow us to achieve this.
We also need to consolidate peace and ensure national
reconciliation. Further, we need to address some
core social issues, including poverty.
Sri Lanka’s Role in the World
Sri Lanka seems to live
in a dangerous neighborhood. India and Pakistan
are nuclear powers that recently, again, almost
went to war. Myanmar continues under a repressive
regime. Indonesia is unstable. How does your government
view the South Asia region, and what regional role
can Sri Lanka play?
President Kumaratunga: Well, Sri Lanka
is too small to have any vested interest in the
region other than a common or shared goal of peace,
prosperity and stability. As a genuine friend to
all our neighbors, we strive to ensure regional
cooperation. Our strong involvement in and encouragement
of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) stem from this commitment.
Even though no war with
Iraq has yet begun, Sri Lanka has already suffered
disproportionately from war fear through paying
higher oil prices and in the stagnation in tea sales,
your largest export. How do you view the possibility
of war in Iraq? Do you see it as a necessary part
of the War on Terrorism?
President Kumaratunga: Firstly, you must
not forget the nearly three-quarter million Sri
Lankan expatriate workers in the Middle Eastern
countries who will all be affected by a war in Iraq.
It will have an impact as well on global economic
growth and stability. We have clearly stated that
there must not be any war with Iraq, especially
without the sanction of the United Nations, and
that diplomatic means are best in dealing with contentious
issues and deep disputes. As a country that has
suffered from terrorism, we empathize with the American
people, as they too have become victims of terror.
How would you characterize
Sri Lanka’s relations with the United States?
President Kumaratunga: We have always had
close and friendly ties. The USA has also been very
supportive of our own war on terror, first banning
the LTTE as a foreign terrorist organization, and
also being very supportive of the peace process
while being opposed to a separate state of Tamil
Eelam. Economically, the USA is an important trading
and investment partner for us. More importantly,
perhaps, we share many common values such as democracy
and a commitment to human rights, tolerance and
a free society.
What message would you like
to convey to our readers?
President Kumaratunga: Sri Lanka has been
a long-term friend of the United States and has
much to offer American businesses and tourists.
Take a closer look at Sri Lanka and complement the
historic government-to-government ties by growing
people-to-people ties.
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