A series of constitutional and legislative changes fatally marginalised the Tamil community, the report argues, and led to the adoption of the Vaddukottai resolution in 1976 by all major Tamil political organisations. This declared in favour of a separate Tamil state and the Tamil people voted overwhelmingly in favour of a such a separate state in 1977. The demand for a separate state is enshrined in the 1985 Thimpu principles, which call for the recognition of Tamils as a distinct nationality, the right to self-determination and a Tamil homeland.
The report further asserts that the lack of bi-partisan commitment by the political establishment represented by the two major parties, the UNP (United National Party) and the SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) has been the single-most important obstacle in achieving a negotiated political settlement.
The report adds that international donors have an important part to play in the peace process, both in supporting and monitoring developments. There is, however, criticism that donors are too heavily influenced by their relationship with a few Colombo-based elites.
International assistance has to be delivered with sensitivity to the prejudice among a cross section of the Sinhalese in the south that the Tamils in the north have had a privileged status during and after the colonial era. There is also a prejudice among the Tamils that although the Sinhalese have systematically marginalised and inflicted pain on them, donors have been too generous towards the government with development aid.
The report has raised the issue of safeguarding human rights and providing protection to returning internally displaced persons and refugees. It has suggested a project for monitoring the human rights situation of returnees and the local population, collecting information on human rights violations and related protection issues and human rights training to a wide range of stakeholders.