The conflict in Sri Lanka has already consumed more than 70,000 lives, displaced 700 to 800 thousand people besides being the cause for billions for rupees worth of lost opportunities. It is of great concern to the whole world and directly affects the region in general and India in particular. Efforts over the period to resolve the politico-ethnic problem in Sri Lanka has not made much headway. It has been felt that the unitary system has not delivered. Even in the first half of the last century, the political setup in Sri Lanka had discussed federalism. However, it did not merit attention while framing the post independence constitution. Federalism was not a preferred subject of discussion even in the recent past. It was an anathema to some, foreign to some others and allergic to many. The agreement reached in Oslo in December 2002 has brought back the subject of federalism to find a political solution. The concept and idea of federalism, therefore, felt worthwhile to discuss in detail. While there can be many permutations and combinations in a federal set up, unless ideas get discussed, a move forward does not take place. With this is view the Centre for Security analysis in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation and Sri Lanka Foundation Institute organized a Seminar at Colombo on ‘Federalism and Conflict Resolution in Sri Lanka’ on 10 & 11 May 2005. The proceedings of the same are covered in this book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR V R Raghavan
Lt. Gen. (retd.) V.R. Raghavan was Director General of Military Operations from 1992 till 1994. He was Commanding General in the Siachen and Kargil sectors of Jammu & Kashmir and was involved in negotiations with Pakistan on the Siachen dispute. He played a crucial role in the planning and successful implementation of the treaty to maintain peace and stability on the Sino-Indian boundary. He has had long experience of serving on India's frontiers with China, Pakistan and Myanmar. V.R. Raghavan has written three books By the Land and Sea: A History of The Punjab Regiment; India's Need for Strategic Balance and Linfantry in India. He is at present Director of the Delhi Policy Group. One of India's most respected strategic analysts, he writes regularly in newspapers and appears often on television to comment on strategic and security issues.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Volker Bauer
Dr. Volker Bauer is the Resident Representative, Hanns Seidel Foundation, India. He was the Head of International Strategic Section (Network Services) for T-Systems International in Germany till February 2005. He was also the Senior Local Representative for Konard-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in India from 1988 to 1993 during which he was responsible for planning, budgeting, implementing, monitoring and reporting of six development projects, funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation. He has lecutred at the Schiller International University and University of Heidelberg, Germany on the subjects of Development Economics, International relations and Business Administration with special focus on India. He has conducted several projects in South Asia, some of which are, Field Study of Industrial Growth in Kerala, Project Management and due diligence exercises for acquistitions in India, Indonesia and Malaysia.
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