Failure Quote by V. Navaratnam
““The failure of every one of these long line of “Pacts” is always attributable to the many divisions among the Sinhalese. When one party agrees to condescend towards some solution on the Tamil problem , the others will rise in unison to object and obstruct. They will never compromise or agree on any decision when it comes to solving the Tamil problem by consensus. It is not in the ethos or in the political character of the Sinhala leaders and governments to honour and abide by agreeements and pacts conceding rights to the Tamils as a people.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Political commentary on Sri Lankan ethnic negotiations, early 2000s
The quote argues that internal divisions among Sinhalese leaders prevent them from honoring agreements that grant rights to Tamils, leading to persistent obstruction of compromise.
In simple terms: Sinhalese divisions block agreements on Tamil rights.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address internal divisions to enable compromise.
Themes
politics
ethnic conflict
leadership
negotiation
trust
Mood
frustrated
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
political
diagnostic
When to use this quote
- government negotiations
- peace talks
- policy drafting
- inter‑ethnic dialogue
Key Concepts
consensus building
political culture
minority rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can inclusive dialogue reduce internal divisions?
- What mechanisms can enforce agreement compliance?
A Different Perspective
Even with divisions, external pressure or incentives can sometimes force compromise.
