The Norway-initiated Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) is much in the news these days, as witnesses come before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission to talk about war incidents and wartime conduct.
Politicians and war veterans are testifying, and none has had anything good to say about the CFA. The witnesses seem to have forgotten the circumstances that led to the ceasefire agreement in the first place.
When the CFA was in place, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were launching attacks everywhere, on the armed forces and on the public. The situation in the country was deteriorating by the day, and more and more people were falling victim to the LTTE’s murderous mission.
The Elephant Pass and Katunayake International Airport attacks caused many deaths and much damage. Thousands of innocent people died in the war, and the economy plummeted.
Alarmed by the way things were going, the Norwegian government started pushing for the CFA. Without the CFA, the country would have plunged into chaos and we would have had even worse devastation. The Norwegian mediators sincerely expected to establish long-lasting peace through the CFA. Mr. Erik Solheim made a significant contribution to the peace process. This contribution should be appreciated.
We recall that President Mahinda Rajapaksa also welcomed the Norwegians’ help.
The average citizen realised the importance of the ceasefire. The CFA brought benefits. Overseas organisations pledged US$4.5 billion for the reconstruction of the country. The World Bank was ready to facilitate huge development projects in the North and the East. We enjoyed a measure of peace, and we were looking to rebuild the country.
The CFA provided a sustainable solution to a conflict that had gone on for decades. Unfortunately, neither the government nor the LTTE honoured the CFA, and both sides did not cooperate with the Norwegian mediators.
Mutual understanding and compromise are crucial for a war-ravaged country looking for long-lasting peace. Sadly, both sides used the CFA to consolidate their power. This was the main reason for the failure of the CFA.
The CFA collapsed because both sides failed to work with Erik Solheim. Who’s fault was this? Not the Norwegians’.
The allegations made against the CFA are grossly unfair. We should respect the Norwegians for their services to us during turbulent times.
M. Ifaz,
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