Reading postcolonial identity: The rhetoric of devolution from Sri Lanka's president, Chandrika Kumaratunga

Abstract

Despite the seemingly benevolent gesture of the recent devolution accord by President Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka is still in the midst of ethnic turmoil. Given Sri Lanka's history, any rhetorical analysis of the situation must consider the possible effects of colonialism on the island's current state of affairs. By reflecting on the devolution speeches given by President Kumaratunga, this article argues that a postcolonial perspective best frames the current historical moment in Sri Lanka in terms of Kumaratunga's desperate rhetorical attempts at a political settlement. This article concludes that Kumaratunga's rhetoric perpetuates Sinhalese domination over the Tamil minority, that understanding Sri Lankan rhetoric is crucial for understanding the current conflict as a whole, and that a postcolonial rhetorical analysis reveals the overall cultural and political dynamics underlying the current Sri Lankan conflict.

Key words:

• colonialism
• ethnic conflict
• postcolonialism
• rhetoric
• Sri Lanka