Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa, cutting short his three-day visit to Nepal by one day, left for home yesterday, after the shooting of several Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan. Some of his schedules in Nepal may have been affected, including his trip to Lumbini slated for today, his most important official engagements have been completed nonetheless, including his meetings with PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. The visit has contributed to deepening and expanding the relationship and cooperation between these two South Asian nations of similar size and population with big neighbours — Nepal being a landlocked nation and Sri Lanka an island. Frequent exchanges of visits assume greater importance against the backdrop of low intra-regional economic interactions, particularly between small members of SAARC. Among the several highlights of the visit is the inking of the agreements on air service and ministerial level joint commission. The joint commission will facilitate bilateral cooperation in sectors like trade, investment, education, tourism, culture and agriculture.

In some respects, Nepal and Lanka share similarities. For instance, both depend considerably on tourism as a major source of foreign currency and of employment. In cultural and religious aspects of life, the peoples of both countries share closeness, as Hindus and Buddhists constitute the vast majorities of their populations — in Nepal most people are Hindus, followed by Buddhists, whereas in Sri Lanka it is the other way round. In yet another major area, conflict management, both countries could share experiences and learn from each other, and at this juncture in particular, Sri Lanka could gain more. The island nation has witnessed the bloodiest guerrilla war during the past three decades, and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been spearheading the war for a separate Tamil homeland for Sri Lanka’s three million Tamils.

But Nepal has been able to find a peaceful resolution of its violent conflict, and the former rebels now head the government with popular mandate. On the contrary, despite its several attempts at a negotiated settlement, Sri Lanka has still to be pursuing a military solution, as the latest military push against the LTTE testifies. But this time around, the LTTE appears to have been decimated. In the process, Colombo has come in for its criticism from outside observers for allegedly shelling civilians. Nepal’s experience may not be transplanted in Sri Lanka, as, in Nepal, the rebels’ objective never was separatism. However, useful lessons can be learnt. Whatever the present victories of the Sri Lankan military, a permanent peace would be possible only through dialogue and mutual accommodation. The dastardly attack on Sri Lankan cricketers is the latest manifestation of the myriad terrorist attacks that have happened in South Asia in recent times. That means, on a number of issues of vital common concern to the South Asian peoples, such as terrorism, human rights, minority and ethnic rights, the SAARC members should develop and strengthen shared perceptions and strategies. Only then will success be within reach.