Friday, July 17, 2009 ♥
Introduction
History of Sri Lanka
- The Sinhala or Sinhalese (74%) constitute the major ethnic group.
- The Sri Lankan Tamils, who inhabit the north and east form 12.6% and the group known as Indian Tamils.
- There are also small minorities such as Burghers, and Malays.
- Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka is the history of emergence of consciousness among the majority community, the Sinhala, which defined the Sri Lanka society as Sinhala-Buddhist, thus denying its multi-ethnic character.
Ceylon Citizenship Act 1948
- Grant citizenship only to those born in Sri Lanka or forefathers who were born in Sri Lanka
- Resulted in many Indian Tamil becoming stateless
- Indian tamils do not have the basic rights such as education, jobs ,housing and voting.
- Tamils only work in tea plantations which contributed significantly to the economy of Sri Lanka
Resettlement Policy 1950
- Sinhalese peasants were transferred from densely populated south western and centre areas to Tamil areas
- Policy for the landless Sinalese peasants to live and cultivate padi
- Tamils were not happy as the Sinhalese peasants came to live among them
- Buddist monks and the Sri Lankan Army which are mostly Sinhalese came to occupy their lands.
Official language Act 1956
- Sinhala was declared as the country's official language under the Offical Language Act
- Tamils in the government service were given three years to learn Sinhala or be dismissed
- Tamils were upset as they found it difficult to find jobs or be promoted.
New university Admission Citeria 1972
- Benefited the English-Educated Tamils and they scored well in the examinations.
- The Tamils and Sihalese students to enter the same course ( medical and engineering) were almost the same although the tamils only make up 18% of the populations.
- A new policy was set-up that the Tamil students had to score higher marks than the Sinhalese students to enter the same course.
- There are places in the university reserved for Sinhalese mainly.
Formation of the Tamil United Liberation Front 1976
- Demands of the TAmils were not met
- Created a new political party named Tamil United Liberation Front (LTTE)
- Tamil United Liberation Front was a terrorist group known as Tamil Tigers
- Asked for a Separate independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka
- State to be called Tamil Elam as they believe the separation from Sri Lanka would ensure their rights
- Killed Tamil members who opposes them and the idea of the proposed separate state
Resolution
- A country may offer to play a role as a mediator. It may also interfere directly by sending troops to resolve the conflict
- Tamils can speak their thoughts which the Sinhalese can take into serious consideration (one must give in to another)