Tab Article

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Political Science, Current Affairs, Sri Lankan History, Nonfiction, Polemic

Book Review:
S.L. Gunasekara's ''Tigers, 'Moderates' and Pandora's Package'' is a fiercely argued and uncompromising critique of the political processes that aimed to resolve Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict through negotiation and constitutional devolution in the 1980s and 1990s. Coming from a prominent lawyer and politician known for his staunch defence of a unitary state, this book is an essential primary source for understanding the Sinhala nationalist viewpoint during a critical juncture.

Gunasekara dissects what he sees as the three pillars of a failed approach: the ruthless LTTE (''Tigers''), the Tamil political groups and their Sinhalese counterparts who advocated for negotiations (''Moderates''), and the various devolution proposals, culminating in the PA government's ''Package,'' which he likens to opening Pandora's Box of separatism. His writing is lucid, passionate, and backed by his personal involvement in events like the Thimphu Talks and his opposition to the Indo-Lanka Accord.

While readers may disagree with his conclusions, the book's value lies in its unvarnished presentation of a major political ideology that shaped (and continues to shape) Sri Lanka's destiny. It is not a neutral history but a persuasive polemic. For students of Sri Lankan politics, conflict studies, and constitutional law, this work is indispensable for grasping the full spectrum of debate surrounding the island's most enduring crisis.