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Brief History Of Sri LankA before Conflict Exclusive News Today
The ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka has a
history spanning more than 100 years. It began when Sri Lanka was under
the British colonial rule, as resentment was created when the Tamil
minority was privileged over the Sinhalese for jobs and educational
opportunities. The reversed happened when Sri Lanka became
independent in 1948, as the Sri Lanka government passed the Ceylon
Citizenship Act and the 'Sinhala Only' Official Language Act, making life
increasingly difficult for the Tamils. Ethnic violence erupted during the
1950s and 1960s as a result of the perceived unfair treatment. Further
unhappiness was caused with the introduction of new and more stringent
university admission criteria for Tamils after 1970 to limit their Destruction In Sri Lanka
enrolment in university, as well as the resettlement policy implemented Pg 2 - 4
during the 1950s, when Sinhalese peasants, and even the Sri Lanka Army
moved in and took over areas occupied by Tamils. The unjust treatment of
Tamils was the impetus for the formation of the Tamil United Liberation
Front, a new political party created to fight for Tamil rights. Out of this
arose the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ,a youth militant group who
adopted violence as a means to achieve their goal - to have a separate and
independent Tamil state.
In 1948, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) enjoyed the highest literacy rate in Asia. It
did not have the problem of over-population; its educational and
transportation systems were advanced. For some years, Ceylon was a
model for the world. But, today, it is an island known for its problems, and
its reputation as a killing field only matched by that of countries such as
Rwanda. Head Rolling Moments
Pg 4 - 7
- Adapted from a comment by an editor of a Tamil newspaper in 2003.

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Factor: Citizenship Rights
When Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, the Sri Lankan government
passed the Ceylon Citizenship Act of 1948. This act granted citizenship
only to those either born in Sri Lanka or those whose forefathers were
born there. As a result, many Tamils found themselves stateless. Though
they had lived in Sri Lanka for many years, the Indian Tamils did not have
basic rights like education,jobs, housing and voting. However, they continued
to work on the tea plantations and contributed significantly to the Sri Lankan economy. The
Tamils felt resentful because they were not allowed a say in the running of the country even though
they contributed economically to it. Being denied voting rights meant that they could not vote for
politicians who could restore their rights and improve their lives. And by being denied education and
housing, they were condemned to live their lives in poverty and suffering. The oppression they suffered
led them to use violent means in order to reclaim their rights.
Factor: ‘Sinhala Only’ Policy
When Sri Lanka was under British rule, English-educated Tamils could enter government service and be
promoted. They occupied some of the most powerful jobs in the government service although they were the
minority in the country. The Sinhalese, although the majority, were disadvantaged because they could not read
and write well in English. After Sri Lanka achieved independence, English remained the official language. However,
in 1956, Sinhala was declared the country’s official language under the Official Language Act and used as the
language of administration in Sri Lanka. Tamils in the government were given three years to learn Sinhala or be
dismissed. They were upset as they found it difficult to find jobs or be promoted. The sudden change in the
language policy caught the Tamils off-guard and made them feel that it was a deliberate attempt by the
Sinhalese government to humiliate them and force them to quit their civil service jobs. This led to rising tensions
between both ethnic groups which might have led to conflict.

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Factor: ‘Sinhala Only’ Policy
Example of how Sinhala, Tamil and English are used Languages Spoken By People In Sri Lanka
in an official document such as an application form
for citizenship
Factor: University Admission Criteria
Before 1970, university admission was based on merit and the examinations were in English. This policy benefited
the English-educated Tamils and they scored well in examinations. The proportion of Tamils admitted to
university was significantly higher that their proportion in the population. After 1970, the government introduced
new university admission criteria. Tamil students had to score higher marks than Sinhalese students to enter the
same courses in universities. A fixed number of places were also reserved for the Sinhalese. Admission was no
longer based solely on academic results. When the Tamils were deprived of higher education, they were not able
to find gainful employment or land prestigious jobs. This denied them of any opportunity of improving their social
and economic status in Sri Lankan society. This made them resent the Sinhalese.

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Factor: Resettlement
This policy aimed to provide land for poor Sinhalese peasants to live on and cultivate rice. The Buiddhist monks
and the Sri Lankan army (mainly Sinhalese) also came from the densely populated south-western and central areas
to occupy the homeland of the Tamils in the northern and eastern part of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the resettlement
of Sinhalese to the Tamil-populated region caused conflict in Sri Lanka because it created a lot of resentment
amongst the Tamils. Many of them were left with little land and thus less food to survive on. Due to such blatant
disregard for their land, the Tamils felt justifiable to support the Tamil Tigers to go against the government.

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Consequences Of The Conflict
Consequences: Armed Conflict
In 1978, a new political party called the Tamil United Liberation Front emerged. IT called for a
separate independent state called Tamil Eelam. Their members believed that only separation
from Sri Lanka would ensure the rights of the Tamils. When the Sri Lankan government
rejected their demands, some Tamil youths decided to form a militant group called the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This was a terrorist group which used violence to
attack Tamil members of the police force, Tamils who supported the ruling party, Tamil
politicians who did not support the proposed independent state and the Sinhalese. In response,
the Sinhalese held anti-Tamil riots in which thousands of Tamils lost their lives and property.
The most serious of these riots occurred in 1983, when thousands of Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu
in southern India, forcing the Indian government to intervene. Hence, armed conflict is a
serious consequence of conflict because it led to loss of many lives and created intense
hostility, hatred and distrust amongst the Tamils and Sinhalese.

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Consequences: Foreign Intervention
The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka attracted the intervention of a third party, India. At first India
tried to play the role of a mediator in response to the 1983 riots. However, attempts to get both
the Tamils and Sinhalese to come to an agreement on certain issues failed. Then in 1987, the
Indian government sent a flotilla of 20 Indian ships to Jaffna to send food and petroleum
products to the Tamils. When they were turned back by the Sri Lankan navy, the Air Force
dropped food and medical supplies in Jaffna the following day. By doing so, it violated the Sri
Lankan airspace. In July 1987, under pressure from India, Sri lanka agreed to sign a peace accord
with India. There was to be ceasefire between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan forces.
However, in 1987, when the Tamil Tigers failed to fully surrender their weapons, the Indian
troops took control of the Tiger-controlled Jaffna by force. Most of the clashes after that were
mostly between the Tamil Tigers and the Indian peacekeeping forces in the North and East of Sri
Lanka. Finally, the peacekeeping forces were withdrawn in 1990. Hence, foreign intervention is a
serious consequence because it intensifies the armed struggle even further through the presence
of foreign troops. Instead of saving laves, the peacekeeping forces increased the death toll due
to clashes with the Tamil Tigers, hence throwing the country into greater chaos.
Signing Of The Peace
Accord In July 1987. Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi Of
India (Left) and President
P. Jayewardene Of Sri
Lanka ( Right)

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Thousands of factory workers, self-employed persons and plantation workers lost their jobs. Many
of these people were breadwinners of their families. A large number of the jobless were the
Sinhalese who took part in vandalizing, looting and burning of their places of work such as garment
factories. With the ongoing instability in the country, foreign investors did not have any
confidence to invest in Sri Lanka. As a result, investment fell from US$66 million in 1982 to
US$39 million in 1986. Lastly, the internal conflict also deters tourists from coming into Sri Lanka,
especially after the 1983 riots. This resulted in loss of jobs and earnings. There were less funds to
Consequences: Social Impact
Sri Lankan Refugees: The conflict caused more than 200, 000 Sinhalese and Tamils to migrate and
work abroad as migrant workers due to the conflict. More than 1 million Tamils had been
displaced and 64, 000 has died in the conflict. There was also a serious problem of malnutrition
and poverty in Sri Lanka. More than 50% of the population earned less than US$2 a day. Social
services are also inadequate and many schools are run-down and universities do not have sufficient
facilities.
A Refugee Camp in Sri Lanka Tamil Refugee Fleeing
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