India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour. The relationship between the two countries is more than 2,500 years old and both sides have built upon a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic intercourse. Relations between the two countries have also matured and diversified with the passage of time, encompassing all areas of contemporary relevance.
HISTORICAL RELATIONS
First Phase 1948 onwards:
- Ethnic Crisis in Sri Lanka affected Indo-Sri Lankan relation since beginning. There are two prominent ethnic groups Singhalese in majority and Tamils are minority in Sri Lankan politics.
- After Independence, Government of Sri Lanka adopted preferential treatment, aimed at strengthening interest of Singhalese majority.
- Citizenship Act 1948, de-citizenized large number of Tamilian. This Act created refugee crisis in India. [India and Sri Lanka resolved it finally in 2003 when all remaining Indian Tamilian residing in Sri Lanka got Sri Lankan citizenship.]
- In 1956, official language Act was introduced making Singhalese as only official language, attacking education, employment opportunities of Tamilian.
Second Phase 1970 onwards:
- Jayawardhane came to power in 1977. He brought constitutional changes giving extra ordinary power to president and started centralization drives.
- In 1970’s many militant organisations like LTTE, PLOTE was emerged. Tamilians also emerged themselves in Political front known as TULF.
- Against centralization drives of Jayawardhane, LTTE threatened to take complete control of civil administration of Jaffna by force.
- Against this Sri Lankan government entered into war and imposed economic blockade around Jaffna. India had airlifted the aid which was considered violation of sovereignty.
- PM Rajiv Gandhi and Jayawardhane entered into accord – India–Sri Lanka Accord (ISLA) 1987:
- Government of India is committed to preserve unity and integrity of Sri Lanka
- Government of Sri Lanka will merge northeastern province into single unit.
- Establishment of legislative council in all provinces and Tamil as second official language.
- This accord saw the induction of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka to oversee the LTTE’s surrender.
Third Phase 2007 onwards:
- Civil war broke out in 2007 – New Delhi has adopted “once bitten - twice shy” approach and limited its policy prescription to politically correct principled distance that it wants conflict to be resolved keeping in mind genuine effort of all communities in Sri-Lanka.
- Government after war constituted LLRC (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission) to-
- Investigate the facts and circumstances that led to failure of ceasefire agreement made operation in 2002.
- Promote further national unity.
FOURTH PHASE 2012:
Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka:
A UN High Commissioner’s report highlighted Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka. Its findings include:
- Increasing militarization in Sri Lanka
- Intensified surveillance against rights defenders and NGOs,
- Interference with trials in certain symbolic cases from the past, etc.
In UNHRC 46th session, the UNHRC adopted a resolution titled “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka”. The UNHRC resolution is not a legally binding one. But the resolution has a great moral significance. This includes:
- Deterioration of Country’s image in front of Global community.
- Sanctions by individual countries: For example, The European Union supported the resolution can withdraw the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) given to Sri Lanka.
- Justice in the future: It also allows the development of strategies to ensure future accountability.
India’s view:
- UNHRC resolution 2012 - UNHRC passed US led Resolution India voted in favour of resolution because of DMK pressure.
- UNHRC resolution 2013 – India again voted in favour, it was next to impossible for India to change its vote in 2013 especially in absence of any credible step by Srilanka towards Reconciliation and devolution.
- UNHRC resolution, 2014 – India abstained from voting as India acknowledges progress made in Srilanka i.e election to Northern Provincial Council. Sri Lankan also agreed to establish judicial mechanism to investigate human right violation.