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Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Sociology / Political Science / Peace Studies / Policy Research

Book Review:
Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: Voices from former war zones is a critically important and evidence-based study that gives voice to the people most affected by Sri Lanka's long civil war. Produced by the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), this research offers a detailed and nuanced understanding of the post-war situation in the North, moving beyond elite-level policy debates to ground-level realities.

The authors—Minna Thaeher, Pradeep Peiris, and Kasun Pathiraja—have conducted rigorous fieldwork to capture the perceptions and attitudes of war-affected communities. The study covers a wide range of topics, including attitudes towards political authority, administrative services, the courts, police, security forces, and livelihood after resettlement. It highlights the radical shifts in trust along ethnic lines and the disconnect between state security and citizen security.

What makes this study particularly valuable is its focus on the voices of the people. As Professor Jayadeva Uyangoda notes in his endorsement, these voices ''deserve a constructive response from all those who define, govern, manage and even debate about the transition from war to peace.'' Dr John Gooneratne also commends the study for being evidence-based and for capturing ''ground-level realities that tend to be missed out in a lot of current studies.''

This book is essential reading for policymakers, researchers, activists, and anyone committed to building a just and lasting peace in Sri Lanka. It is a sobering and illuminating contribution to the national conversation.