ABSTRACT
The Indian intervention ended the phase of the war between the Tamil militants and the Sri Lankan Security Forces. It also led to the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord, which brought the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka. Under the accord, the Sri Lankan government agreed to establish provincial councils as the unit of devolution. The accord was the result of discussions and negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and India since at least late 1985. The Sri Lankan government's offensive in Jaffna Peninsula allowed them to re-enter the process and persuade Colombo to accept their proposals based on the provincial council model. The Tigers wanted the lion's share of the proposed Interim Administrative Council and were opposed to the resettlement of Sinhalese refugees who had been displaced in the East. The assault on Jaffna, however, demonstrated what might have awaited the Sri Lankan army had it ventured into Jaffna during Operation Liberation.
