FAAE Committee Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

By early 2009, the long-running conflict in Sri Lanka had shifted decisively in favour of the government. As the Government of Sri Lanka attempted to achieve a complete military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, (LTTE or Tamil Tigers) over the next several months, more than 100,000 civilians were trapped in an ever-shrinking territory in the northeast of the country.  Thousands of civilians were killed as a result of actions and inactions by both the LTTE and the government, and while the majority of civilians eventually managed to escape the conflict zone, they remained at risk in inadequate camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)  administered by government security forces. By 11 May 2009, the UN estimated that at least 50,000 civilians remained in the conflict zone, while almost 200,000 were in IDP camps in desperate need of a range of humanitarian assistance.[1]

Following hearings with a wide range of witnesses, members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development have concluded that further urgent action is necessary by the Government of Canada, both with like-minded partners and on its own if necessary, to address three interrelated issues: 1) the immediate humanitarian catastrophe in the north of Sri Lanka, which threatens thousands of civilians; 2) the medium-term challenges of reconstruction, resettlement and governance after the current fighting ends; and 3) the longer-term challenges of peace-building and political reconciliation in Sri Lanka following decades of civil war.

List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

The Government of Canada should continue to call upon all parties in Sri Lanka to immediately cease fire and end hostilities.

Recommendation 2

The Government of Canada should redouble its efforts in cooperation with other states to meet the humanitarian needs of all civilians in northeastern Sri Lanka, including those still in the combat zone and those in IDP camps, by securing a sufficient humanitarian pause and through international supervision of assistance.

Recommendation 3

The Government of Canada should stand ready to increase Canadian assistance to Sri Lanka in collaboration with other partners, as on-the-ground assessments and capacity to absorb warrant, not only for relief purposes but also for development and reconstruction. In addition to ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most, the government should pursue a whole-of-government strategy to ensure that Canadian assistance of all sorts encourages longer-term reconciliation among communities in Sri Lanka.

Recommendation 4

The Government of Canada should call on the United Nations Security Council to seriously engage itself in the resolution of the conflict in Sri Lanka, and to investigate the conduct of both parties during the conflict with respect to international law. The Government of Canada should also initiate a dialogue with the Government of Sri Lanka, in conjunction with the international community, aimed at laying the groundwork for a political reconciliation between the communities. If these efforts fail, the Government of Canada should consider financial and diplomatic sanctions, including, but not limited to, advocating for Sri Lanka’s suspension from the Commonwealth, as well as incentives.