Ambassador speaks on SL's reconciliation

Round table on Post-War Sri Lanka Road to Reconciliation:

Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka participated as a panelist at a round table on Post-War Sri Lanka, Road to Reconciliation on December 9. The event was organized by the French Institute of International Relations, Institut francais des relations internationales (Ifri).

In 2011, for the fourth consecutive year, Ifri was the only French research institute ranked among the 50 most influential think tanks in the world.

Ifri was founded in 1979 and is directed by Thierry de Montbrial, the first Chairman of the Foundation for Strategic Research (1993-2001) and the founder director of the Policy Planning Staff (Centre d'Analyse et de (Prevision) at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1973-1979).

The initiative at which Ambassador Jayatilleka made a presentation consisted of a panel discussion followed by a debate. Among the participants were scholars, researchers and former senior diplomats from France and the UK.

Dr. Jayatilleka opened the panel discussion and spoke on Lessons of Sri Lanka's conflict. Following his presentation the other panelists discussed the different aspects of post-war reconciliation.

The round table addressed broad topics and raised fundamental questions pertaining to reconciliation in post-war countries through a comparative analysis. What is reconciliation? Do we need to address accountability immediately? What type of reconciliation are we talking about? Issues of national sovereignty, international best practices for accountability, the need for a political solution, the role of the Diaspora and the idea that international pressure could be both constructive and counter-productive were discussed amongst other related themes.

The event was conducted under Chatham House rules of non-attribution.