Lanka for bigger India role in peace process

Kadirgamar was in town en route to Colombo after attending an ESCAP meeting in Shanghai. Although New Delhi could not make a commitment because of its preoccupation with the elections, Kadirgamar pointed out that ‘‘across the political spectrum in Colombo, from the LTTE to the JVP to the Freedom Alliance to the UNP to the Buddhist clergy, everyone wanted India to play a greater role in the peace process with the LTTE.’’

The Lankan minister said the LTTE, which had recently defeated a rebellion in the ranks under local commander Karuna, had also become ‘‘much more pragmatic and realistic about the prevailing situation’’. The LTTE, he said, was equally affected by the 21-year-old civil war at home and wanted some relief to its cadres in the North and East. He said President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s party, which had been in ‘‘back-channel contacts with the LTTE for the past couple of years’’, believed the LTTE was ready to come to some sort of ‘‘arrangement, whether you call it an interim authority or a self-governing administration’’.

Asked what had changed from the previous rounds of talks, he was dismissive. ‘‘There was too much theorising then; it was a bit like a roadshow. After two years, even the LTTE didn’t know what had been achieved.’’

Similarly, he added, there was a ‘‘cautious change in mood’’ within India as well, which could ‘‘consider playing some role’’ in Sri Lanka, whether that involved credit lines, loans or other financial borrowings. India could begin with helping out in the rehabilitation of the North-East region, Kadirgamar added.

He also stressed that although Colombo had invited the Norwegians to return as a ‘‘facilitator’’, all sides would have to ‘‘seriously redefine the parameters of the Norwegian role’’.

Asked why Oslo had been invited back after having been so unceremoniously turfed out, Kadirgamar said ‘‘it was quite clear they had to be there’’ because the LTTE wanted a ‘‘facilitator’’ and because they had already been in the business for a couple of years. He added the Norwegians had been told their role was strictly one of ‘‘facilitation’’ and not ‘‘mediation’’. ‘‘The Norwegians will be on a short leash,’’ he said.