Sri Lanka: Year In Review 2011Article Free Pass
In 2011 Sri Lanka continued to recover from its 26-year civil war, which had ended in 2009. Pres. Mahinda Rajapakse enjoyed great popularity among the majority Sinhalese community for having defeated the Tamil Tigers (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; LTTE). As expected, the United People’s Freedom Alliance, led by Rajapakse, dominated local government elections held in March and July. Predominantly Tamil areas formerly held by the LTTE in the north and east of the country voted for the Tamil National Alliance.
During 2011 the president moved to consolidate political power (much of it held by members of his family) in the executive branch of government while placing limits on media freedom, the role of civil society in Sri Lankan politics, and the expression of antigovernment dissent. In August it was announced that emergency regulations in place for nearly three decades were being lifted, but this still left many powers in government hands and failed to allay fears of repression among some Sri Lankans.
International attention was directed throughout the year toward alleged violations of human rights in Sri Lanka. A highly critical report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in September charged that both the LTTE and government forces deliberately targeted civilians during the civil war. The government refused to permit an international investigation into human rights violations in Sri Lanka, and in October it announced the creation of a National Action Plan designed to protect and promote human rights and support reconciliation between the communities.
Former general Sarath Fonseka, who had commanded the Sri Lankan army in its victory over the Tamil Tigers and later had become a political rival of Rajapakse, was sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly stating that the Sri Lankan government had committed war crimes during the civil war. Fonseka was already serving a 30-month jail term after having been convicted of corruption in military procurements. He denied both charges, claiming that they were politically motivated to keep him out of politics.
Economic growth in Sri Lanka, which had continued throughout the war period, slowed in 2009 because of the global recession but then accelerated rapidly. GDP was expected to rise by at least 8% in 2011, despite floods in January that displaced more than a million people and damaged rice and other crops. Major economic issues included continued poverty, employment creation and skill provision, the reconstruction of war-damaged areas, a large deficit in the government budget, and persistent inflation. Nevertheless, an IMF mission to Sri Lanka in August–September pronounced macroeconomic conditions there satisfactory and stated that monetary and fiscal policies were appropriate. Yet many believed that to sustain high growth rates in the future, significant policy reforms would be required. Foreign aid and remittances from Sri Lankan workers employed abroad were important sources of foreign exchange. Foreign direct investment was rising, but a conference held in September suggested that fears regarding political risk were holding back that investment.
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