Sri Lankan Accommodation

Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka.

The 1956 Act:

1. It recognized Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.

2. The governments followed preferential policies that favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.

3. A new constitution declared that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism as state religion.

Effect of the Act :

Feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.

• They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture and the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.

1. The relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched political parties and struggles for:

   1. the recognition of Tamil as an official language,

   2. for regional autonomy and

   3. equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.

Separatism and Civil War:

1. By 1980s, several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. ( Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam - LITTE).

2. The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It soon turned into a civil war*. Thousands were dead. Sri Lanka was the best among the south Asian nations on the social parameters like education and health but the long drawn civil war ended its advantage. This civil war engulfed India when LITTE attempted an unfortunate assassination of Indian Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi because he had sent a Peace Keeping Army in Sri Lanka. The LITTE was one of world's first terrorist's organization.

*Civil war: A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war. Sri Lanka has Better Prospects on Human Development Side

Sri Lanka is has shown better performance on many parameters (Image Courtesy: The Wire) Used here only for Educational Purpose