Corruption and reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka - Camilla Orjuela Associate Professor at the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Corruption has grown to a major concern in societies all across the world, and is generally seen as important to combat, not least in societies which need reconstruction and reconciliation after war. This presentation discusses what the case of Sri Lanka teaches us about corruption in the aftermath of war. It takes its point of departure in interviews carried out 2009-2014, which focused on ordinary people’s experiences and views of corruption in war-affected parts of Sri Lanka. The interview material illustrates how corruption is perceived and dealt with ‘on the ground’ in a context of ethnic divides and unfinished peacebuilding. The presentation also comments on the recent shift of power in Sri Lanka and on how accusations of corruption and the pursuit of justice in relation to corruption have gained importance recently.