Ethnicity Versus Nationalism: The Devolution Discourse in Sri Lanka

This book constitutes a comprehensive and in-depth study of federalism and devolution in the Sri Lankan context. The author leads us on a journey of discovery spanning various phases of the evolution of the problem, from pre-independence Sri Lanka to the victory of the Kumaratunga government in 1994, and its subsequent failure to implement the much promised federal structure for the country. /-//-/How and why the Kumaratunga government failed is the main topic of this book. Partha Ghosh skilfully presents the various proposals of that government, including the draft constitution meant to convert the unitary state of Sri Lanka into a federal one. He discusses the issues involved in the debate and deals with the devolution discourse, both at the political and the intellectual level. The broad theoretical premises that govern the concept of devolution in an ethnically divided society are also examined in detail. The author concludes with an analysis of the current situation-in particular, the on-going peace talks.