Most Sri Lankans wish for a Negotiated Peace 

[July 8, 2003 - 11.00 GMT] 

Despite the hiccups in the Sri Lankan peace process, a majority of Sri Lankans continue to believe that peace can be achieved through ‘Peace talks’. 

The latest studies on various aspects of the peace process show that 79.2% of the people feel that the Ceasefire Agreement needs to be ‘strengthened and expanded’ if it were to succeed.

A majority of the Muslims, the third component in the Sri Lankan ethnic mix believe there should be a separate Muslim delegation at the peace negotiations. A majority of the Tamils out side the North and East also feel there should be a Muslim representation in the talks.

The study was carried out by the Social Indicator (SI) Unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), using a structured questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews amongst 1,302 respondent samples. The 17 administrative districts of the seven provinces, excluding the Northern and the Eastern provinces, and areas under Government control of the Amparai, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Mannar were surveyed. 

Norway’s role

The survey shows acceptance level of Norway’s role has dropped from 46.3% in November 2002 to 38% in March 2003. However the Tamil community’s approval of Norwegian assistance remains unchanged.

A majority of those aware of the task of the Nordic Monitors in the ceasefire, believe they have a positive role to play in maintaining the ceasefire agreement. Nevertheless an increasing number of people are beginning to question the impartiality of the Nordic Monitors.  

The survey also touched on current world issues, such as the war in Iraq. Most of Sri Lanka, in fact 96.5% of those surveyed said they are aware of the war on Iraq, 82% said they were against the actions of US and British forces and condemned it.

However nearly everyone appeared to be most concerned about the rising “cost of living”. The stalled peace process or the war on Iraq was of reduced in importance in comparison. The surveyors declared “The cost of living continues to be the most important issue for a majority of the people as at March 2003. For 18.9% of the people, it was the ethnic conflict, while 15.5% said it was unemployment.”

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Last Updated Date: July 08, 2003  - 11.00 GMT.