Conflict in Sri Lanka

1

2

• Citizenship RightsCitizenship Rights• Jobs in Government ServiceJobs in Government Service• University AdmissionUniversity Admission• Resettlement of PopulationResettlement of Population

WHY THE CONFLICT?WHY THE CONFLICT?

3

Citizenship RightsCitizenship Rights

• 1948 : Citizenship granted 1948 : Citizenship granted a.a. Those who were born in Sri LankaThose who were born in Sri Lankab.b. Those whose fathers and Those whose fathers and

grandfathers were born theregrandfathers were born there

• ExcludedExcludeda.a. Many Indian Tamils brought from India to Sri Many Indian Tamils brought from India to Sri

LankaLanka– To work on tea plantationsTo work on tea plantations– Found themselves statelessFound themselves stateless– Lived in Sri Lanka for many years yet denied Lived in Sri Lanka for many years yet denied

basic rights such as votingbasic rights such as voting


4

Citizenship RightsCitizenship Rights

• 1964 : India stepped in1964 : India stepped in• Help those Tamil Indians who were statelessHelp those Tamil Indians who were stateless• Held discussions with Sri LankaHeld discussions with Sri Lanka

• Agreed to allow a number of Indian Tamils to Agreed to allow a number of Indian Tamils to return to Indiareturn to India

• The rest granted citizenshipThe rest granted citizenship

• Problem : Till late 1980s, agreement still not Problem : Till late 1980s, agreement still not carried out in full by Sri Lankacarried out in full by Sri Lanka

• About 100,000 still statelessAbout 100,000 still stateless• Working on tea plantations and contributing to Working on tea plantations and contributing to

the economythe economy


5

Jobs in Government ServiceJobs in Government Service

• British RuleBritish Rule English-educated Tamils entered English-educated Tamils entered

government servicegovernment service Held some of the most powerful jobs Held some of the most powerful jobs

although they were a minorityalthough they were a minority Sinhalese – majority in the country Sinhalese – majority in the country

but could not read or write Englishbut could not read or write English


6


• IndependenceIndependence Sinhalese government wanted to improve position of Sinhalese government wanted to improve position of

majority Sinhalesemajority Sinhalese Made Sinhalese the only language of administration in Made Sinhalese the only language of administration in

1956 under the Official language Act1956 under the Official language Act Tamils were given 3 years to learn Sinhala or be Tamils were given 3 years to learn Sinhala or be

dismisseddismissed Tamils upset as they could not be promoted; some Tamils upset as they could not be promoted; some

could not even secure jobscould not even secure jobs A peaceful demonstartion was disrupted by Sinhalese A peaceful demonstartion was disrupted by Sinhalese

and riots occurredand riots occurred Resulted in more than 100 deathsResulted in more than 100 deaths


7


• July 1957 : Pact between Sri Lankan PM July 1957 : Pact between Sri Lankan PM Bandaranaike and Tamil leader ChelvanayakamBandaranaike and Tamil leader Chelvanayakam

• To make Tamil language of the minorityTo make Tamil language of the minority• To allow Tamil as a language of administration To allow Tamil as a language of administration

only in the northern and eastern parts of Sri only in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka where most Tamils are foundLanka where most Tamils are found

• Met with protests from the SinhaleseMet with protests from the Sinhalese• Agreement was withdrawn in 1958Agreement was withdrawn in 1958• Increased tension in the following months led to Increased tension in the following months led to

fightingfighting• Many died, more were made homelessMany died, more were made homeless


8


• 1978 : Sri Lankan Constitution granted 1978 : Sri Lankan Constitution granted more recognition to the Tamil languagemore recognition to the Tamil language

• Made Tamil language of administration Made Tamil language of administration in northern and eastern provincesin northern and eastern provinces

• English was encouraged as a link English was encouraged as a link languagelanguage

• Since 1987, Tamil has been accepted Since 1987, Tamil has been accepted as an official languageas an official language

• But still not widely usedBut still not widely used


9

University AdmissionsUniversity Admissions

• Before 1970Before 1970 University admission based on meritUniversity admission based on merit Exams held in EnglishExams held in English Number of Tamil and Sinhalese students in Number of Tamil and Sinhalese students in

medical and engineering almost equalmedical and engineering almost equal 1969 : 50% medical students Tamil1969 : 50% medical students Tamil 48% engineering students Tamil48% engineering students Tamil Sinhalese were unhappy because the ratio Sinhalese were unhappy because the ratio

was not proportionate to the numberswas not proportionate to the numbers


10

University AdmissionsUniversity Admissions

• After 1970After 1970 Change in education policiesChange in education policies Compulsory for Tamil students to score higher Compulsory for Tamil students to score higher

marks than their Sinhalese counterpartsmarks than their Sinhalese counterparts Over the next 4 years, admission criteria were Over the next 4 years, admission criteria were

changed to make it more difficult for tamil youths changed to make it more difficult for tamil youths to enter universityto enter university

Tamil student % for engineering courses fall from Tamil student % for engineering courses fall from 48% in 1969 to 24.4% in 197348% in 1969 to 24.4% in 1973

14.2& in 197514.2& in 1975 But more Sinhalese students were able to enter But more Sinhalese students were able to enter

universityuniversity


11

Resettlement of PopulationResettlement of Population

Another policy which caused resentmentAnother policy which caused resentment Resettlement of poor Sinhalese peasantsResettlement of poor Sinhalese peasants Transferred from densely populated south-Transferred from densely populated south-

western and central areas into Tamil areaswestern and central areas into Tamil areas Govt implemented this to provide land for Govt implemented this to provide land for

landless Sinhalese peasantslandless Sinhalese peasants Tamils were of course unhappyTamils were of course unhappy Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan

soldiers(mostly Sinhalese) also came to soldiers(mostly Sinhalese) also came to occupy their landoccupy their land


12

Next lessonNext lesson

We’ll discuss the consequences We’ll discuss the consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil of the Sinhalese-Tamil ConflictConflict


13

achristchurchhistory production

Copyright reserved

News & Politics

Conflict in Sri Lanka