Genocide is the ultimate crime under international law, a crime against humanity. Bringing forward charges of genocide is a grave accusation. In the case of Sri Lanka, which ratified the Genocide Convention in 1950, these charges have been brought forward by Tamils against members of the Sinhalese majority, in particular members of successive governments. This study will not set out to determine individual guilt since this would require a thorough judicial investigation. Rather, based on the legal definition of genocide and on sociological approaches on the genocidal process and the so called genocidal society, it will focus on two inter related issues.
Firstly, what characterises a society in which genocide is likely to occur and can Sri Lanka be described as being such a society. Secondly have there been acts of genocide in Sri Lanka, and if so, who has been responsible for these as evidenced on a prima facie basis. This examination, while not ignoring the issue of punishment, will be focussing on the prevention of genocide. In this regard, enforcement mechanisms provided under the Genocide Convention and their effectiveness will be scrutinised. Finally, based on the findings of this study, a strategy will be developed with a view to prevent acts of genocide taking place in Sri Lanka in the future.
