Issues and Challenges Confronted by Women War Widows in Post-Conflict Sri Lankan Society

Abstract

The prolonged ethnic conflict which spanned over more than two decades in Sri Lanka brought many socio-economic problems, one of which is the crisis of the war widows which is significant. Women were severely affected and victimized by the armed conflict. This research study analyses social issues faced by women war widows in post-conflict Sri Lankan society living in the Manmunneipattu Divisional Secretariat (DS) Division in the Batticaloa District. There are 24,800 war widows in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and among them 16,000 war widows live in the Batticaloa District. This study utilized qualitative methods to research the issues and challenges confronted by women war widows in this area. Primary data was collected through key informant interviews and case study methods. For the case studies, 20 war widows were selected randomly from the Manmunneipattu DS Division in the Batticaloa District. The findings of the study revealed that war widows face severe social and cultural challenges. As far as the war widows are concerned, women continue to struggle with the bad effects of the prolonged war, multiple displacements and social insecurity. Land and property ownership issues are some of the main problems that women face. They struggle to deal with basic rights and livelihood issues equally. Lack of opportunities for their economic empowerment has worsened the plight of these war widows and has pushed them in to backward social tier. The study confirms that male domination in the researched Tamil community hinders the independent functioning of the war widows. The war widows, who are mothers in the villages, have developed an inferiority complex since they are unable to bring up their children in the same manner as other women do. They have the pressure of ensuring that their children are brought up in an appropriate environment and given education and other basic facilities. However, the prevailing socio-economic conditions among the war widows prevent them from realizing their actual expectations. Most of the war widows stated that their social participation level is very poor. The study also found that most of the war widows experienced chronic grief. From the overall findings of this research, it has been identified that war widows in war- affected villages encounter enormous social, livelihood related, security, cultural, discrimination and health related challenges. The research study emphasizes that a durable solution should be found to the problems encountered by the war widows and that their freedom, social justice, fundamental rights and social equity should be ensured. To sum up the results of this research, it can be said that women in war-affected areas encounter enormous social issues like gender discrimination, cultural discrimination, health and society related problems. These structural causes should be addressed in order to make women’s lives better.