Tab Article

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: International Relations, Political Science, Law, South Asian Studies, History, Academic

Book Review:
Edited by the eminent Sri Lankan scholar Professor Shelton U. Kodikara, ''Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of July 1987'' is an indispensable academic work for anyone seeking to understand one of the most consequential and controversial events in modern South Asian history. This book is not a narrative but a rigorous, multi-perspective analysis of the accord that brought Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) to Sri Lanka.

The collection brings together expert contributions that dissect the agreement's legal and political dimensions, the complex motivations behind it (both Indian and Sri Lankan), the fierce domestic opposition it ignited, and the immense practical difficulties of its implementation, particularly regarding the provincial merger. Kodikara's own expertise in Sri Lanka's foreign policy ensures the volume is grounded in deep contextual understanding.

While it is primarily aimed at scholars, students of international relations, and serious historians, its clarity makes it accessible to informed readers interested in the roots of Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict and India's regional role. As a primary resource of contemporary analysis, it captures the immediate intellectual and political response to the accord, providing insights that are often lost in later historical summaries. A must-read for specialized collections on Sri Lankan politics and Indo-Lanka relations.