Post Graduate Diploma Dissertation Proposal

Assessment of Role of Foreign Policy for the

Defence of Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2009

B.S.Tharanga Kariyawasam

Introduction
It is not easy even to think of surviving for a country on their own in current global context
because countries are interconnected by means of international relations. Hence, it is very
important to a state to find and determine a suitable foreign policy, which defends a countrys
internal affairs from foreign intimidation and secure the national interest in international
arena.
Foreign policy is a set of guidance that a country implemented in actions of promoting
national interests in others countries. This policy framework may encapsulate the process,
procedures and structures that a state used to arrive at decisions in relation to external and
internal matters involved in national interests. This research is focused to assess the role of
foreign policy, which was implemented in favour of the defence of Sri Lanka within the
considered period. Sri Lanka has suffered a lot from terrorism came out of ethnic drift.
Various regimes adopted various approaches to find solutions for terrorism.
Winning the war is not result of a military campaign but a set of measures and interactions among
contributing factors such as foreign policy, media policy, financial policy and the political leadership.
Within the period of considering from 2004 to 2009, it was evident that the foreign policy was
changed from peace era to war era with the government change. The change was manoeuvred within a
short period from one end to the other. Shifting Sri Lankas foreign policy was inevitable to prepare
along with all aspects involved in war to get the momentum against The Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) for the sake of the defence of the country.

It is apparent that Sri Lanka cannot win the protracted war, which has been internationalised
if Sri Lanka failed to get support foreign countries to ally friends and isolate enemies. Up to
the point of end of war, Sri Lanka has been successful in using the foreign policy for the
defence of country because it was proofed by having of tangible result of ending the war with
LTTE terrorists.
India is an important foreign actor among those countries involved as partisans of the war
with government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. United Nations, Europe Union, Norway, Japan,
Canada, China, Pakistan, United Kingdom and USA are also important state actors who have
influencing powers in this war and Tamil diaspora is an important non-state actor. Sri Lanka
is located in strategic location in Indian Ocean region and this has been the very reason for
being the limelight.

To which extent, the foreign policy was successful in favour of the defence of the country is
the important fact which is assessed here by analysing the role of foreign policy of Sri
Lanka within the considered era for providing insights of diplomacy in foreign policy for
future usage. Greater understanding of shifting foreign policy from peace era to war era and
favouring the defence of the country is the main objective of this research.
Research problem
Within the period of 2004 to 2009, it is noted that the foreign policy has been shifted in order to find
peaceful solution from negotiation approach to warring situation for the sake of finding solution for
the protracted war continued with government of Sri Lanka and LTTE. This research intends to assess
to how the foreign policy creates more conducive environment from peaceful era to war era and to
which extent foreign policy successfully contributes to win the war.
Research Hypothesis
The hypothesis of this study is that the foreign policy of Sri Lanka had a dramatic change in
transformation of foreign policy in favour of defence of Sri Lanka within the period from 2004 to
2009.

Research questions
This research is based on assessment of the role of foreign policy, which supports the defence in peace
era and terrorised period. Foreign policy is an important aspect that echoes the national interest of the
country. Therefore, it is essential to correlate the foreign policy in accordance with that change of
situation.
My research question are as follows.
1. Was there a shift in Sri Lankan foreign policy in favour of the defence within the considered
period and why has it occurred?
2. To which extent, the foreign policy of Sri Lanka within the considered period is successful in
favour of the defence of country.
3. How does the shift in foreign policy of Sri Lanka impact on defeating the LTTE who
terrorised almost three decades.
4. What important actions were taken to transform foreign policy from peace era to warring era
in favour of the defence of country?
What are the positive and outcomes in foreign policy transformation outcomes in relation to the
offensive actions against LTTE.
Methodology

The research is conducted as a desk study, utilising both primary and secondary printed and electronic
sources in order to fulfil the research objective. hence, in order to carry out a qualitative content
analysis of texts relevant to the research problem, the selection of sources should be based on research
questions which together specify the data required. In addition to this primary data is collected
from persons who were involved in formulating policies relating to defence and foreign affairs. The
research is expected to conduct in form of qualitative content analysis in the Sri Lankan context.
Primary data and secondary data are to be collected from the publication by the government and
reliable newspapers.
Literature review
Various polices involved in governance frameworks very important in governing a state according to
the aspiration of people. Polices enable a state to determine the course of actions or best decision
which is suitable for securing the interest of the people. In this research, mainly foreign policy and
defence policy within the considered period is focused and assessed. In a country foreign policy and
the defence, policy is inextricably linked because defence policy and foreign policy are a partnership
aimed at securing Sri Lanka physical, economic, social, and cultural wellbeing, and meeting our
regional and global responsibilities.
According to Foreign policy involves goals, strategies, measures, methods, guidelines, directives,
understandings, agreements, and so on, by which national governments conduct international relations
with each other and with international organizations and non-governmental actors (Jackson &
Srensen, 2013). Basu (2012) argues that a coherent foreign policy is a representation of national
concerns, which is the reflection of the wide interest of the people and not narrow interests of the
ruler. It implies, that the foreign policy is something what citizens are interested in and reflection of
the people. What people want and interest may vary, and the foreign policy should follow in order to
not to be obsolete.

Significance of the study.