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Sunil Bastian
Books

Devolution and Development in Sri Lanka

Devolution and Development in Sri Lanka(1994) Editor, Devolution and Development. New Delhi: Konark Publishers

Papers that constitute this monograph are products of research programme undertaken by the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in November 1989, to assess the performance of the newly established Provincial Council system of Sri Lanka. It covers the historical background of the centralization and decentralization process in Sri Lanka, examines the role that judiciary can play in resolving conflicts in a plural society, and analyses the complex relationship between regional autonomy and the structural adjustment development policies that have been followed.
This survey underlines the need to look into various aspects of the Sri Lankan society in order to understand the present exercise on devolution.
The Provincial Council system has been shown to be crucial for the processes of democratic institution building and to strengthen the constitutional foundation of a multi-ethnic polity.

The research points to the importance of arbitrating and mediating centre-provincial disputes with regard to finance, the scope of devolution, and procedures of decision making within the domain of concurrent subjects. Since the judiciary has tended to legitimize the erosion of authority of the Provincial councils, alternative processes are required for the resolution of such disputes keeping in mind the broader imperatives of national reconciliation.

BOOKS

Can democracy be designed? Can democracy be designed?
(2003) Co-editor, Can Democracy be Designed? London: Zed Books.

Assessing participation - A debate from south asia Assessing participation - A debate from south asia
(1997) Co-editor, Assessing Participation: A Debate from South Asia. New Delhi: ITDG/Konark Publishers.

Sustaining a state in conflict: Politics of foreign aid in Sri Lanka, Colombo:ICES, (2018) Sustaining a state in conflict: Politics of foreign aid in Sri Lanka, Colombo:ICES, (2018)
This study focuses on politics of foreign aid to Sri Lanka from developed countries of the West, Japan and multilateral agencies during the period 1977 to end of the armed conflict in 2009. This period is characterised by economic policies that emphasised liberal economic policies and an armed conflict resulting from the Tamil demand for a separate state. The study looks at politics of foreign aid in this context. Foreign aid played a dual role. It helped to sustain a state engaged in an armed conflict, while at the same time trying to promote a negotiated settlement. Therefore it was neither a do-gooder that liberals tend to believe nor a 'foreign devil that Sinhala nationalists like to see.

The politics of foreign Aid in Sri Lanka The politics of foreign Aid in Sri Lanka
(2007) Politics of foreign aid in Sri Lanka, Promoting markets and supporting peace. Colombo: International Centre for Ethnic Studies.

ARTICLES

Some thoughts on Inequality

(1999) The Failure of State Formation, Identity Conflict and Civil Society Responses – The Case of Sri Lanka.

(2009) Politics of Social Exclusion, State Reform and Security in Sri Lanka.

Reflections on social justice and pluralism

BLOG

Post-war capitalism

Post 2015 Presidential Election-Some thoughts

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