Technically at the very least, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe duo represents a broad national consensus that was not possible or even attempted in any serious manner by the Rajapaksa leadership. There are issues that President Sirisena would still have to sort out within his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), in whose internal affairs, his predecessor still seems to have a say – and sway. Untested as yet this say-and-sway remains unproved. For the same reason it also remains disproved.

Early reports had indicated that the South African team would be led by Cyril Ramaphosa, a Vice-President in his country. Said to be a confidant of President Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa had headed the South African peace delegation to Sri Lanka the last time round. This time, instead, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ms. Nomaindia Mfeketo is heading the South African delegation. Apart from holding talks with various stake-holders to the larger ethnic issue, the team would also brief the new Government in Colombo on their nation’s experience in tackling post-apartheid socio-political reconciliation.

Available: http://www.eurasiareview.com/02032015-sri-lanka-can-south-africa-succeed-where-india-and-norway-have-failed-analysis/