Norway and the peace process in Sri Lanka
This article explores the motivations and rationale behind Norway's involvement in the Sri Lankan peace process. Although Norway was originally approached by the Kumaratunga government as a facilitator, her role has since had tacit approval from regional actors such as India, global actors such as the US and Britain, and domestic protagonists such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). However, it has also encountered considerable opposition from local forces such as sections of the Sinhalese sangha (clergy) and the ultra‐nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). The article also examines issues such as the complexities of third‐party involvement in ethnic conflicts, the practical and philosophical differences between facilitation and mediation, and whether, as in Israel/Palestine and other peace processes where Norway has become a player, this really provides a potential method of achieving a lasting and viable solution in Sri Lanka.