By Clarence A. Perera, U.S. Correspondent

NEW YORK - Sri Lanka’s political future, the country’s role in the international community and the resettlement of the internally displaced were among the topics discussed at the New York University (NYU) Global South Asia Conference held Feb. 13 in New York City.

The annual conference, held for the second time this year, is a platform for professionals and academics to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by globalization in South Asia.

This year’s event centered on the theme “Powers in the Periphery” and addressed current economic and political successes and struggles of all South Asian countries. A diverse panel of speakers discussed topics such as the marginalization of minority groups, the context of borders in South Asia and the major role South Asian countries will continue to play on a global scale.

Sri Lanka was the focus of two panels:  “Powers on World Stage” and “Sri Lanka:  Return of the Displaced and Political Reconciliation.” Panelists speaking on Sri Lankan issues included activist with the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum Ahilan Kadirgamar, fiction writer and journalist Vasugi Ganeshananthan, and assistant professor at The New School for Social Research Sharika Thiranagama.

Kadirgamar suggested that with the end of the war the next chapter in Sri Lanka’s history should lead to a shift in politics. Post-war politics, he said, cannot be the same as war politics. He reminded the audience that Sri Lanka faces many economic challenges ahead, in addition to challenges of resettlement and reconciliation.

Excerpt of Kadirgamar’s Statement

The most serious challenge in Lanka has been a problem of democratization. That is democratization in opposition to the abuse of power and authoritarianism as well as the refashioning of the brand of liberal democracy in Sri Lanka, which some of us have characterized as majoritarian democracy. Such a far reaching process of political reconciliation centered on democratization would have to involve reforming the state through a new constitution that allows for the devolution of power to the regions and power-sharing at the center.  It would have to advance the devolution debate in ways to address class, caste, gender and the rural-urban divide.  It would have to end the militarization of the decades of war.

Speaking to SLNN about her experience at the event, Ganeshananthan said, “I really appreciated that they dedicated a panel to Sri Lanka, especially as so much is going on there. They seem to have a genuine commitment to considering South Asia as a region.”

“It was a terrific opportunity to talk to people interested in Sri Lanka and in Sri Lankan diaspora communities,” Ganeshananthan added. “And in a year in which Sri Lanka has been much in the news, it was so valuable to have a forum for discussion. Often times, we don’t have the room to consider the complexity of what’s going on in our communities, and with this conference, we really had both the time and the interest from the audience to get into real specifics. It was exciting.”

Given the recent spotlight on Sri Lankan affairs, the NYU Global South Asia Conference is one example of how members of the diaspora and friends of Sri Lanka alike are becoming increasingly interested in seeing a brighter future for the emerging South Asian country.

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