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by Rashomi Silva

Public trust in the government regarding its commitment towards the peace has increased during past few months, a recent Opinion Poll on peace has revealed.

The Opinion Poll was conducted last May by the Social Indicator, the social research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA). The sample survey took into account the views of 1321 Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and upcountry Tamils countrywide. Out of those questioned, over 53 per cent believed that the government is truly committed to achieving peace through talks. This is an increase by three per cent over the quarterly survey in March (50.1 per cent) this year.

The most recent poll shows that 70.4 percent upcountry Tamils, 69.6 per cent Sri Lankan Tamils, 66.3 per cent Muslims and 50.6 per cent Sinhalese, have placed their trust in the government to succeed in the peace process.

However 44.9 per cent were of the view that the LTTE was not truly committed to find peace through talks, an increase of around five per cent over the March 2003 Opinion Poll. 8.1 per cent Tamils expressed the opinion that the LTTE is not committed to find peace through talks. To a question posed as to why the LTTE went for talks, 29.1 per cent believed that it is 'to fool the people.' However there is an increase in the opinion that the LTTE participated in talks due to international pressure (18.5 per cent in March 23.2 in May 2003) as well as in the opinion that the LTTE went in for talks due to economic hardships," the poll report quoted.

A vast majority of 87.4 per cent of the population still believes that the peace talks is the way to end the two decade long blood shed and ethnic hatred among the Sri Lankans, the Poll result showed.

The belief that the origin of war in Sri Lanka is due to 'communal politics has increased from 36.3 per cent in last March to 41.5 percent in May.

Over 63 per cent Sri Lankans believed that an international third party involvement will have a positive impact or will be essential for the peace process.

The decline since November 2002, in the approval of the Norway assisting the Sri Lankan peace process has reversed in May 2003. Over 60 per cent of the questioned were of the view that the Indian assistance is necessary or will have a positive impact in the peace process.

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