A Study Of Indian Policy Towards The Ethnic Conflict In Sri Lanka

As an important neighbour of South Asia,Sri Lanka’s geographical proximity,coupled with cultural and religious ties,has led to close cooperation between the two countries in different areas of economy,culture,security and defence.While bilateral relations are changing,positive and strong linkages have been established in general,and Sri Lanka will continue to be a major concern in India’s strategy.In the relationship between India and Sri Lanka,the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka is the main variable throughout.Taking the change of India’s policy towards the conflict as the starting point is helpful for a more thorough understanding of the relationship between India and Sri Lanka and the transformation of India’s foreign policy in different times.Since 1983,India’s policy on the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has undergone evolution,from the initial direct armed intervention to indirect support for the Sri Lankan government against the LTTE,to the present active promotion of ethnic reconciliation.Why has India taken such a different,even diametrically opposed,attitude at different times.What role does India’s policy play in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict,what impact does it have on India-Sri Lanka relations,and where india-Sri Lanka relations will go in the future? The above content is the question that this paper tries to explore.Using literature research,historical comparison and systematic analysis,the primary and secondary factors of ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka were reviewed;Taking Black July,the assassination of Rajeev Gandhi and the defeat of the LTTE as the time point,this paper divides the India-Sri Lanka relationship into three stages: 1983-1991,1991-2009 and 2009-now,and comprehensively reviews the policy adopted by India towards the conflict since the outbreak of the civil war;It also analyzes the reasons for the policy changes from the perspectives of international system,domestic influence of Nadu,economic and security considerations,and individual factors of leaders of the two countries;As a major third party participant in the civil war,either exacerbating it or bringing it to an end,India’s policy changed the course of the conflict;Sri Lanka’s response to India’s policy has changed over three periods,and the India-Sri Lanka relations have also fluctuated with the conflict situation and the policy changes of India,which are manifested in many aspects,such as politics,economy,cultural exchanges,security cooperation and so on.Since the Sirisena government came to power,it has paid more attention to India’s concerns and strengthened cooperation with India,but disputes in sensitive areas such as political reform and ethnic reconciliation will continue to affect bilateral relations.