Norway to probe failed peace effort, final phase of war

Norway is preparing to launch a full scale inquiry into the failed Norwegian peace efforts in Sri Lanka from 1997 to 2009 with special emphasis on the final stage of the war between January and May 2009, while Premier Jens Stoltenberg’s government is seeking a new role in the post-war Sri Lanka, The Island learns.

The Norwegian government is likely to hire a Norwegian private consultancy firm to carry out a comprehensive examination of the peace process, whose failure led to Eelam war IV resulting in the eradication of the top LTTE leadership in May last year.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2008 withdrew from the Norwegian-arranged CFA after the army launched large scale offensive action on the Vanni front.

The investigation would focus on several key areas, including Norway’s relationship with China and India, its relationship with the Tamil Diaspora, Sri Lanka’s domestic political situation (Dec 2001 to April 2004), Norway’s relationship with civil society, media and the Muslim community, shortcomings in the CFA, limitations of the Nordic truce monitoring mission and aid as a tool to facilitate the peace process.

Of the NOK 2.5 billion spent by successive Norwegian governments from 1997 to 2009, about NOK 100 million was spent on the peace process. Among the recipients of NOK 100 million were the Norway-led truce monitoring mission and the Peace Secretariats set up by Sri Lanka, the LTTE and Muslim politicians.

Norway launched the investigation in the wake of Sri Lanka’s own inquiry headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva making headway, though a section of the international community is sceptical about the process.

Former Peace Secretariat heavyweight Dr. John Gooneratne recently told the Lessons Learnt Commission (LLRP) that the then Sri Lankan government had wanted the CFA to pave the way for talks to find a negotiated solution, prohibit smuggling of arms, ammunition and equipment, ensure freedom of movement for other political parties in LTTE-controlled Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu and prevent forcible conscription. Dr. Gooneratne said that Norway hadn’t accepted any Sri Lankan proposals.


The Island learns that the focal point of the Norwegian investigation would be its efforts during the last five months of the war beginning with the liberation of the LTTE-held Kilinochchi.

The Sri Lanka army wrested control of the Kilinochchi township in the first week of 2009. Fighting raged on several fronts in the Vanni east before troops cornered LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in the Nanthikadal lagoon on May 19.

Among the issues expected to be investigated are international efforts to secure the release of civilians in LTTE-held areas, facilitate surrender of what was left of the LTTE, international efforts to force Sri Lanka and the LTTE to abide by international humanitarian laws and the response of the international community to Sri Lanka’s military action during the last five months of the war.

The investigating team is expected to contact key stakeholders in SL, the international community, Tamil Diaspora and key foreign officials, including UN top guns involved in the process.

UN Secretary General ban-ki moon, too, has appointed a special panel to advise him on alleged war crimes charges levelled against the Sri Lankan forces during the final phase of the war. He has made his move after former army commander General Sarath Fonseka’s unsubstantiated allegation that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered the army to kill surrendering LTTE cadres on the Vanni east front.

The Norwegian investigation is expected to be finalised in April next year. Sources said that the findings of the Norwegian as well as Sri Lankan and UN investigations would give a clear picture of what went wrong with the high profile Norwegian effort, which had the backing of the US, EU and Japan as well as international INGO network and lending agencies (The Island)