The immediate task of the Sri Lankan government is to put in place a governing structure that empowers minorities. The sense of exclusion from decision making power was major contributory factor to the ethnic conflict said the Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Industrial Development, Prof. G. L. Peiris addressing the international conference on ethnic conflicts organised by the University of Bonn on Wednesday. Prof. Peiris was one of three policy makers at a round table discussion at a plenary session on the opening day of the conference which was sponsored by the Friedrick Ebert Stittung and the Konard Adenauer Stittung states an Industrial Development Ministry press release.

Explaining the efforts taken by the government to resolve the conflict in the country, Prof. Peiris said "We cannot apply foreign experiences to our country except with modifications. But the government is open to extracting elements relevant to the country. Conferences such as these were useful in providing new insights." He explained that the government had looked at several foreign constitutional arrangements including those in Canada, Australia, Northern Ireland and India. It had developed a "two-pronged approach to constitutional reform" that could empower the ministries. The first prong was to devolve power with adequate resources being ensured to enable rapid regional development. "The devolution of power would not be a sham because the regional councils would enjoy genuine autonomy from the central government except in residual areas" he said.

According to Prof. Peiris the second prong of constitutional reform relevant to the ethnic conflict and good governance in general would be the modification of the central government itself. There would be a constitutional council which would prevent nominations to sensitive posts being done by the ruling party alone. Judicial review would be strengthened so that the Supreme Court could strike down any law that was repugnant to the spirit and letter of the Constitution for a period of two years. Further, there would be two vice presidents representing the two important minority communities who would be endowed with real power and not be mere titular positions.

Responding to questions from the audience Prof. Peiris expressed optimism about the possibility of a renewed peace process. "The country is at the threshold of positive developments with the Norwegian facilitators having recently met with the LTTE leader", he said. However, he warned against undue optimism "Peace is a process, not an event. There is a need for patience and perseverance," he cautioned.

The minister said that civil society and the media in Sri Lanka were called upon to play a more positive role by advocating the middle ground. Issues became more difficult to resolve in the face of extremism and emotion. There was a growing opinion in the country that the 17 years of war must end. Chauvinistic opinion at the two ends of the spectrum did not have the resonance they had several years ago, he pointed out.

In summing up, Prof. Peiris urged the international community to provide Sri Lanka with the extra resources it needed to rebuild those areas of the country that had been ravaged by war. "Donor countries must not wait for peace to return before providing resources. They must start now with the reconstruction process even if modestly. Ethnic conflicts are easier to resolve in a context of prosperity," he said.

Over two hundred policy makers, scholars and research students attended the international conference titled "Facing Ethnic Conflicts: Perspectives from Research and Policy Making" which was organised by the Centre for Development Resolution at the University of Bonn and co-financed by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. The purpose of the Conference was to bring together top ranking policy makers and scholars to discuss the latest developments in the field of ethnic conflict and its peaceful resolution.