So what is to be done? First, it is imperative that the lives of the citizens caught in the war-zones are not treated as collateral damage. India, the USA, the EU, Japan and others need to ensure that trapped citizens get safe passage and humanitarian aid until they can return to their homes. Second, they should condemn the human rights violations by the LTTE and the government, and use economic measures to prevent further occurrences. Third, these countries should seize the moment when both combatants become battle-weary and negotiate a cease-fire, while ensuring that subsequent peace-talks are not used as holding patterns to build arsenals.

Only when the government and the rebels realize that a war is unwinnable, can peace limp into the embattled island. Until then, we will see the erosion of the multi-ethnic nature of Sri Lanka.

The writer is at the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi

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