Understanding the India - Sri Lanka Accord and IPKF

The question asks about the specific year in which the India - Sri Lanka Accord, which led to the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), was signed. This accord was a significant event in the history of relations between India and Sri Lanka, aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

Details of the India - Sri Lanka Accord

• The India - Sri Lanka Accord was an agreement signed by the Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, and the President of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayewardene.
• The primary goal of the accord was to propose a solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil militant groups, particularly the LTTE.
• A key part of the accord was the provision for the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka to disarm the militant groups and ensure the safety and security of all communities, especially Tamils in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Year of the Accord and IPKF Deployment

Historical records indicate that the India - Sri Lanka Accord was officially signed in Colombo on July 29, 1987. Following the signing of this accord, the IPKF was deployed to Sri Lanka.

Let's look at the options provided:

• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989

Based on historical facts, the accord leading to the IPKF deployment took place in the year 1987.

Therefore, the correct year for the India - Sri Lanka Accord and the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) is 1987.

Revision Table: Key Facts on India - Sri Lanka Accord & IPKF

Additional Information: Context of IPKF in Sri Lanka

The deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka was a complex and controversial mission. Initially, the IPKF was welcomed, but relations soured as fighting broke out between the IPKF and the LTTE. The mission lasted for several years and involved significant casualties on both sides before the IPKF was eventually withdrawn in 1990.

• The IPKF's mission aimed to enforce the terms of the India - Sri Lanka Accord, which included a ceasefire and the surrender of arms by militant groups.
• The failure of the LTTE to fully comply with the terms led to armed conflict with the IPKF.
• The mission had a lasting impact on India-Sri Lanka relations and on India's foreign policy approach towards its neighbours.