The seemingly unending war did not obliterate Sri Lankan resolve to fight back, and the government did show stoic courage to reorganise and annihilate the demons. Astoundingly, they not only defeated the LTTE, but also uprooted it completely. The whole world, including India, watched their victory. Sri Lanka has won the war, but it has to win the hearts and minds of Tamils now.

The victory does not mean the end of problems and hostilities. The demography of this sea-locked nation is heavily slated toward the Singhalese, who make up 74 per cent of the total population. Sri Lankan Tamils constitute 12.6 per cent of the population, whereas Indian Tamils and Muslims make up for 5.5 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. The war is definitely over, but the issue is still unresolved.

The ethnic issue was very much alive, but was in hibernation, even before Sri Lanka became independent in February 1948. After their independence, the issue came to the fore, and its non-redressal led to constant reopening and ripening of the issue. The Tamil sentiments got injured due to the persistence of an idea in which the hardliner Singhalese group believed that there should be a Singhalese hegemony over the Tamil minorities.

Gradually, the counter theory germinated that Tamils should have a separate Tamil Eelam state. In this backdrop, the concept of a peaceful coexistence got gradually blurred and seeds of hatred began to be sown.

Post war tasks – The war has left Sri Lanka with scars of economic destruction, emotional trauma, ruined hopes and shattered dreams. The government has the huge, if not insurmountable, responsibility of picking the rubbles and debris, knitting the nest and rehabilitating the Tamils. There are more than 2,50,000 internally displace persons, who are to be fed and attended to. The numbers of seriously physically injured persons are innumerable. The northern and eastern part of Sri Lanka is in rubbles; roads, hospitals, houses, churches, temples, schools – everything has been ruined and turned into debris. It has to be reconstructed without any inordinate delay. The government can no longer afford euphoria and a recalcitrant attitude towards it all.

The tattered Island is in desperate need of huge international aid, both in terms of cash, and kind. Hopefully, the international community – especially the US and other western countries – will extend a generous helping hand to see that Sri Lanka is taken out of this catastrophic situation.

Mahinda Rajapaksa may start off from the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, made in 1987 – a landmark in the history of Tamil ethnic agitation in Sri Lanka. For the first time, a serious effort was made through this amendment which got the President’s nod on November 14, 1987. Tamil was given the status of official language, and English was made a link language. It also provided for the establishment of Provincial Councils and devolution of some powers into them.

Although it was not a big deal for the Tamils because by now the concept of a separate Tamil Eelam had crystallised and Tamil tiger had taken to the jungles, the importance of this step cannot be trivialised. Mahinda has to pick up the thread from here itself and proceed further. The work of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction has to be started with utmost precision and fineness. Any apathy or lackadaisical approach will mar the entire process of healing.

Bringing Tamils in the political mainstream – The defeat of the LTTE may be pushing hardliners to the corners, but complacency on the part of political leadership in this regard may give time to the hardliners to realign and spread discontent among the Tamil population which is already passing through a period of unprecedented social, economic and political turmoil. The process of economic reconstruction and political resolution should go side by side; else, the initial euphoria may burst like bubbles. The sky-high confidence of the government and the Sri Lankan army should be channelised in a positive and constructive direction.