Interactions between Development Interventions and the Dynamics of Conflict and Peace in Sri Lanka

Abstract

An analysis of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka revealed that there had been serious ethnic clashes in the past. The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka contains both political and territorial dimensions. Therefore, it is important to scrutinize the current responses of the international community (donor countries, other interested countries, regional and international organizations) in dealing with on the dynamics of conflicts and finding potential for more effective, coherent or coordinated approaches for peacebuilding. The main objective of the research is to understand the actual and potential impact on the dynamics of conflict and peace, and the impact of development policies and programmes. The aim of the research is to identify conflict related risks that need to be mitigated and opportunities for programmes/policies for peacebuilding. The research was carried out using desk research methodology. The relevant information was gathered using online desk research, government published data, and customer desk research. Data analyzing was done through the interpretation of data gathered through the use of descriptive and logical reasoning to the determined patterns, relationships and trends. Assessing the impact of conflict on development policy and programmes, the researcher made the following findings: 1) macro level changes-for example, the shift from development assistance to humanitarian assistance, 2) change in aid delivery-for example, donors increasingly rely on NGOs rather than government implementing partners, and 3) changes in programming-for example, the adaptation or scaling down of operations, or complete withdrawal. Under the title of assessing the impact of development interventions on the dynamics of the conflict, the researcher found that the impacts of development policy and programmes at the macro and micro levels should be re-mapped. It is difficult to make definitive judgements of ‘impact’ on conflict and peace. International policies often undercut one another and undermine the effectiveness of conflict prevention or conflict resolution interventions. A critical challenge therefore is to develop greater complementarity between a range of policy instruments.