The International Crisis Group (ICG) has recently published a new report on Sri Lanka. "Sri Lanka: Jumpstarting the Reform Process" provides a thorough and straightforward look at the current government's performance and the multitude of challenges which remain unresolved.
With the 32nd session of the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) less than a month away, this detailed appraisal (which includes a range of policy-oriented recommendations) is quite timely. (During the HRC's 32nd session, Sri Lanka's compliance with an October 2015 HRC resolution will be discussed in some detail.)
The challenges facing the coalition government, a partnership between political parties which have historically been rivals, are wide-ranging. Though progress in certain areas (such as freedom of speech and reduced authoritarianism) has not gone unnoticed, many promises remain unfulfilled, including contentious issues pertaining to devolution of power and transitional justice.
Here's the penultimate paragraph of the ICG report:
Sri Lanka is not yet the success story its partners frequently praise. To become that, critical international engagement is essential. In addition to funding to build technical capacity for rule-of-law reforms and continued HRC attention beyond its March 2017 session, donors need to use their leverage - including the European Union's GSP+ trade benefits and the prospect of additional deployments of Sri Lankan troops as UN peacekeepers - to encourage the lasting, structural reforms needed for Sri Lanka to make good on its democratic promise.
Here's the last paragraph:
Rebuilding democratic institutions, reestablishing rule-of-law and addressing the legacy of war and ethnic conflict was never going to be easy. There are no quick fixes to deeply institutionalized governance problems. That patience is required is all the truer as Sri Lanka's "transition" is less a clear regime change than a reshuffling of the political deck. Key institutions, notably the security and intelligence agencies, remain unchanged and undiminished. If the president and prime minister are to preserve their partnership long enough to achieve their promises of creating a new constitution, addressing past injustices and restoring rule-of-law, however, they must distance themselves more boldly from the old political culture as they push for reforms.
Colombo's progress over the next twelve months is something to watch closely.