This paper was commissioned as part of a research programme ‘Complex Political Emergencies: from Relief Work to Sustainable Development.’ The paper is a contribution to a larger study known as ‘NGOs in complex emergencies’, and in Sri Lanka’s case the ongoing Civil War describes the situation. The paper starts off by viewing the Sri Lankan conflict as a reflection of failure in the process of state formation during the post-independence period. The traditions of scholarship that takes into account the historical processes and experiences of particular countries form its basis. Thus a fundamental premise on which this paper is written is the need to understand the specific history of the societies in which the conflicts are taking place in order for any definite action to be taken. The paper is divided into four sections: the first two revolve around the state and conflicts while the third and fourth focus on civil society.