Background Information Gained independence from the British in 1948-Brits favoured Tams Sinhalese Tamils Majority (74%) Sri

ri Lankan Tamils o Hindus Buddhists (Nations primary religion) Indian Tamils o Descendants of Speak Sinhala workers brought in by British Speak Tamil and English Causes: Political: Citizenship Policies Effect: Tension, Unrest Citizenship granted to those whose fathers and grandfathers were born in SL Indian Tamils rendered stateless i.e dont have citizenship rights (to vote, housing or education) 1964--India decides to help, offers for certain number of InTams to return to India, rest to be granted citizenship Agreement not honoured about 100,000 InTams stateless though they contribute to economic growth by working on tea plantations Unhappy InTams with no power i.e feel discriminated against Economic: Unequal job opportunities and language issues Effect: Tension, Unrest, Conflict, Armed Conflict Before independence, EnglishSinhala-speaking SHL educated Tams could join civil disadvantaged service and held some of the most important posts 1956--Official Language Act Tam no job-upset-peaceful Sinhala becomes the only demonstrations. Demonstration language of administration, Tam disrupted=RIOT officers given 3 years to study or be dismissed 1957--PM of SL signs a pact with Strong protest from SHLTam leader to make Tamil the agreement withdrawn-tension language of the minority, increase-FIGHTS language of administration in Northern and Eastern SL 1978--Pact renewed Since 1978, Tam=official language but not widely used. English is encouraged. Social: Unfair educational Opportunities Effect: Tension, Unrest Before 1970, university Fairer but SHL slightly admission based on merit, disadvantaged examinations in English-

Number of SHL and Tam students admitted to more prestigious courses (medical and engineering) were almost equal 1970s--Tams must score higher marks than SHL to be admitted

SHL not happy as number was not proportional to population Tam youths unhappy and dissatisfied, difficult to qualify for admission, stats dropped from 48% in 1969 to 14.2% in 1975

Social: Resettlement of the population Effect: Tension SHL farmers resettled into Tam Tam: homeland invaded, area traditional way of life, culture, religion and language were being threatened and eroded Governments aim was to Peasants accompanied by provide land for landless SHL Buddhist monks (clash of peasants to live in and cultivate religion!) and Army (mostly SHL) rice Political: Federation Status Effect: Armed Conflict, Formation of LTTE SHL Govt rejected Tams idea of a separate and independent Tamil state Background information of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or Tamil Tigers Formed in 1976 Comprises of angry and dissatisfied Tam youths Resorts to violence and terrorism on Tams who do not support the idea of separation and attacks SHL Child conscription i.e abducting of children to be soldiers Effects: Conflict/Armed Conflict Anti-Tamil Riots in 1956,1958, 1971, 1977 and 1983

1956--Tam protests against Sinhala only policy, 4 day riot, >100 Tams died 1983--Vandalising, looting and burning too place Refugees displace into India Cannot support oneself Unemployment (especially factories and plantations) Roads and buildings destroyed in rebel areas and capital. No

Encouraged by SHL army Displacement of >250,000 Many dead (nearly 70,000), missing, injured or paralysed Destruction of places of work Devastated infrastructure

Loss of foreign investments/fall in tourism

running water or electricity in rebel areas. ->Poverty and Malnutrition Riots result in loss of order, SL instable and unsafe. Shunned by others, seen as volatile, environment not conducive for business or leisure. ->Loss of jobs, loss of income, little economic growth, less funds for development

Terrorism 1971--JVP (Peoples Liberation Party, SHL) took up arms against SL government 1983--LTTE ambushed an army convoy, killing 13 soldiers and triggering riots in which 2,500 Tams died (killed by SHL), 500,000 Tams left country 1987--Operation Liberation by government, carpet bombing of north and east SL Suicide bombings by LTTE, killed prime minister of India Rajiv Gandhi (1991), SL President Ranasinghe Premedasa (1993) 2005--LTTE assassinated SLs foreign Minister, Lasksham Kadirgamar