Explaining the Factors

Political◦ Armed Conflict◦ Foreign Intervention

Economic◦ Unemployment◦ Loss of Investments from other Countries◦ Fall in the Number of Tourists

Social◦ Sri Lankan Tamils Driven Out of their Homeland

You can be asked which is the WORST consequence:◦ Political, Social or Economic (One will be the Given

Factor and the other 2 will be the Other Factors)

OR

You can be given ONE CONSEQUENCE AS THE GIVEN FACTOR and asked which is the WORST◦ Armed Conflict, Foreign Intervention, Unemployment,

Loss of Investments from other Countries, Fall in the Number of Tourists, Sri Lankan Tamils Driven Out of their Homeland (One will be the Given Factor and the other 2 will the Other Factors)

One consequence of the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict has been an armed conflict between the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) and Sinhalese government forces.

When the Tamils’ peaceful demands were rejected, a group of youths formed the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) who believed that violence was the only way to demand and obtain rights for the Tamils.

Riots which occurred in the 1980s between the Tamils and the Sinhalese sparked off a long armed conflict between the Sinhalese government forces and the LTTE (Tamil Tigers).

This has led to a bitter 20 year war between the Sinhalese government and the LTTE and has cost more than 60,000 lives and has resulted in other economic and social consequences which have affected Sri Lanka.

Tamil villagers identify the bodies of their loved ones killed during clashes between

government forces and Tamil Tigers

1983 Riots in Sri Lanka

Aftermath of the 1983 Riots in Sri Lanka

The Sinhalese-Tamil conflict attracted the attention of India who decided to mediate between the government and the Tamil Tigers following the 1983 riots. Unfortunately, the dialogue failed because both parties could not come to an agreement.

In 1987, the Indian government wanted to help the Tamils in India and sent ships to Jaffna with humanitarian aid. The ships were turned back by the Sri Lankan Navy. However, the next day, Indian Air Force planes violated Sri Lankan air-space and dropped the humanitarian aid into Jaffna.

India also pressured Sri Lanka to sign a peace accord. In 1987, when the Tamil Tigers failed to surrender their weapons, the Indian troops took control of them by force.

Clashes broke out between the Indian peacekeeping troops and the Tamil Tigers until the Indian forces were withdrawn in 1990.

The consequences of India’s foreign intervention failed to solve the conflict and could have worsened it when its troops clashed with the Tamil Tigers. With its involvement, the Indian government showed no respect for the Sinhalese government, causing further resentment against the Indian troops and the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Indian peacekeepers on a mission against the Tamil Tigers in Jaffna

Indian peacekeepers in Sri Lanka Indian military support heading to

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan riots of 1983 lead to massive unemployment. Both Tamils and Sinhalese lost their jobs. Many of the jobless Sinhalese also took part in vandalising, looting and burning their places of work.

With unemployment and the subsequent destruction of places of work would result in suffering and economic hardship for Sri Lanka and its citizens.

Wrecked businesses following the 1983 Riots in Sri Lanka (also known as Black July)

The Sri Lankan conflict has scared off potential investors to Sri Lanka who are afraid that the instability in the country would cause them to lose their investments.

With a loss of investment, Sri Lanka cannot grow its economy, re-build damaged infrastructure or create jobs

The Sri Lankan conflict has scared off many tourists who do not dare to travel to Sri Lanka. As tourism is one of Sri Lanka’s major income earners, there has been a fall in tourism earnings and a loss of tourism-related jobs.

With a loss of foreign investment and a drop in tourist earnings, Sri Lanka cannot get the funds needed to re-build infrastructure or to develop attractive amenities and facilities causing the country to be in a state of continuous financial hardship.

Tourist Attractions in Sri Lanka

Following the 1983 riots, thousands of Tamils fled to India

In the early 1990s, the Sri Lankan Army set up High Security Zones (HSZ) where access is controlled and occupied large parts of Tamil-dominated areas to deal with the Tamil Tigers.

Due to this conflict, many Tamils have fled from their homes and live in overcrowded refugee camps.

Most Tamils have lost their homes as a result of the conflict and have to suffer in overcrowded, unhygienic conditions in refugee camps. Many families have also been broken up or separated during the fighting and many Tamils have suffered during the 20 years or so of endless conflict, robbing them of a bright future in their country.

Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka by ship following the 1983 Riots

Tamils fleeing from their homes in Jaffna, the northern part of Sri Lanka