ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Northern Province of Sri Lanka since it is a minority Tamil populated region that was directly affected by war. The last war that took place between 2006 and 2009 recorded the majority loss in both human lives and assets mainly in the Northern Province, whereby the minority community suffered disproportionately. The war was brought to an end by the current regime headed by President Mahinda Rajapakse, with broad international support. Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka has been undertaken in these social circumstances since this regime came in to power in 2005. Regarding the promotion of local ownership in the contemporary peacebuilding programmes, distinctive issues are legal and political regulations that enforce the dominance of Sinhala in all social activities. Central Government (GoSL) capitalised on the majoritarian views for its political gain, such as acquiring autonomous rule, which became more rigid during the prolonged civil conflicts against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Northern Province.
