Sir, - With regard to the escalating conflict in Sri Lanka, there is considerable scope for Ireland, North and South, to offer assistance. The parallels between Ireland and Sri-Lanka are remarkable. In the north of both islands there exists a minority ethnic-religious group which sees its proper place as an affiliate of a much larger and more powerful neighbour (Britain and India respectively). In both cases the legitimate government of most of the island wishes to establish a pluralist, diverse nation which welcomes all creeds and traditions. In both cases, the minority holds fast to distrust of the majority government.
Where Ireland and Sri Lanka differ, however, is in the area of conflict resolution. After 80 years of low-intensity war between the two great Irish traditions, we seem at last to have reached an historic accommodation. Certainly, the Belfast Agreement is a long way away from full implementation, but maybe, just maybe, it contains truths which could serve as a blueprint for conflict suspension in other war-torn regions. As such, might not the Irish Government and the Belfast Assembly initiate contacts with Colombo and offer to act as an intermediary between the warring parties in Sri Lanka? - Yours, etc.,
Conor Meade, Phibsboro, Dublin 7.