The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was penned on July 29, 1987, in Colombo. The agreement was between India's then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lanka's President J R Jayewardene. The goal of the accord was to bring the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war to a halt, and it led to the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka.
The Backstory of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord
Ethnic tensions were high in Sri Lanka from the 1980s. The Tamil community, a significant minority, demanded equal rights and treatment alongside the Sinhalese majority. More radical Tamil groups sought separation.
The roots of these tensions can be traced back to 1948 when Sri Lanka gained independence from the British. A Sinhalese government was established, and the Tamil minority began to face discrimination. There were numerous instances of violence against the Tamil minority.
The separatist movements of the eighties led to the formation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), under the leadership of V Prabhakaran.
Initially, India, under the governments of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, supported the Tamil separatists by providing military training and weapons. This support was driven by two factors: the large Tamil population in India and the desire to prevent foreign powers from intervening in the region.
However, by 1985, the Sri Lankan government began rearming its military to quell the uprising, receiving aid from Pakistan, Israel, South Africa, and Singapore.
Violence escalated, leading to many civilian casualties. In 1987, the Tamil stronghold of Jaffna was under siege by Sri Lankan forces. Civilian deaths increased, leading to a humanitarian crisis and growing demands for Indian intervention.
The Indian government, concerned about a backlash from its Tamil population, urged the Sri Lankan government to halt the military offensive and push for a political resolution.
After an unsuccessful attempt to send humanitarian aid by ship, which was intercepted by the Sri Lankan navy, India decided to airdrop relief supplies to Jaffna. This operation was known as Operation Poomalai.
Following this, the Sri Lankan President agreed to hold talks with the Indian government.
The Jaffna siege was lifted, and the Peace Accord was signed on July 29, 1987, in Colombo.
As per the accord, Sri Lankan forces would withdraw from the north, and the Tamil rebels would disarm. The IPKF was introduced in Sri Lanka to oversee this process.
During the signing of the accord, Rajiv Gandhi was attacked by a Sri Lankan sailor during the Guard of Honour.
Instead of overseeing the LTTE's surrender, the IPKF ended up fighting the LTTE.
The IPKF was withdrawn from Sri Lanka in 1990, and the conflict between the LTTE and Sri Lankan forces continued.
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the LTTE in 1991.
The conflict between the Sri Lankan and Tamil forces continued until 2009 when the LTTE was defeated and Prabhakaran was killed.
Also on this day
1904 : The birth of renowned entrepreneur and aviator J R D Tata.
The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was signed on 29th July 1987.
Who were the key figures in the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord?
The accord was signed between the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the then Sri Lankan President J R Jayewardene.
What was the main aim of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord?
The main aim of the accord was to bring the Sri Lankan civil war to an end.
What was the aftermath of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord?
The accord saw the induction of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. However, the IPKF ended up fighting the LTTE and was withdrawn in 1990. The fighting continued between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan forces until 2009.