Explaining the Factors
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Political
◦ Armed Conflict
◦ Foreign Intervention
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Economic
◦ Unemployment
◦ Loss of Investments from other Countries
◦ Fall in the Number of Tourists
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Social
◦ Sri Lankan Tamils Driven Out of their Homeland
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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)
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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
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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 airspace and dropped the humanitarian aid into
Jaffna.
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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.
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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 Tamildominated areas to deal with the Tamil Tigers.
Due to this conflict, many Tamils have fled from
their homes and live in overcrowded refugee
camps.
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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