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Sri Lanka’s strong gains in both internal and external peace enabled it to jump up 18 positions in the latest Global Peace Index, the second-largest rank improvement overall.
In a ranking of 163 countries, compiled by global think tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Syria has been named the least peaceful, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.
On the other hand, Iceland was ranked as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Austria.
Sri Lanka is ranked 97, up 18 places from last year’s rank of 114, the greatest upswing in its score in the region and the report attributed the country’s increased peacefulness to “better relations with neighbouring countries, particularly India”.
“The country successfully conducted two sets of elections in 2015— presidential in January and parliamentary in August which brought a reformist administration with a strong mandate. The country’s increased peacefulness is also due to better relations with neighbouring countries, particularly India.”
The report states that improvements in political instability, likelihood of violent demonstrations and number and duration of internal conflicts all contributed to the enhancement in Sri Lanka’s domestic situation.
“Driving these trends was a strengthening of the country’s democratic institutions during the administration of Maithripala Sirisena, who continues to make strides in combating corruption and reverse the authoritarianism of the previous administration.”
“In addition, his government has continued to pursue a strategy of ethnic reconciliation following the end of the civil war in 2009.
“Sri Lanka has improved its ties with India, which is reflected in an improvement in its score for relationships with neighbouring countries. Military expenditure has also been cut as threats to internal stability gradually dissipate, but the country’s impact of terrorism score deteriorated slightly.”
South Asia’s position remained unchanged at eighth out of the nine regions. Overall, the individual overall scores of Afghanistan (160), Nepal (78) and India (141) deteriorated, while for Bhutan (13), Sri Lanka and Pakistan (153), scores improved modestly.
Sri Lanka among top 5 risers
Panama recorded the largest score improvement in this year’s GPI, rising 24 positions in the rankings to 49th. It was followed by Thailand, which rose nine positions (albeit to a still-low 125th). Sri Lanka was up by 18 places to 97th while South Africa jumped seven slots to 126th. Mauritania was the next best improver, gaining eight positions to 123rd.
Across the top risers there was an improvement in internal peace, with indicators related to internal conflict improving in Mauritania, South Africa and Sri Lanka, and reduced likelihood of violent demonstrations in Panama, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
However, notwithstanding increased levels of internal stability, in some cases this was not accompanied with a strengthening of democracy (Thailand, South Africa and Mauritania all deteriorated in the EIU Democracy Index).
Finally, military expenditure fell in all five countries except Thailand, while relations with neighbouring countries improved in Sri Lanka and Thailand, the report said.
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