Democratic Social Republic of
Sri Lanka
 Population
- 20,000,000
 Area
- 65,610 sq Km
 Length
- (270 Miles), (432 Km)
 Width
- (140 Miles), (224 Km)
 Language
- Sinhala 74%, Tamil 18%
English 8%
 Administrative division : Province – 9,
District -24
Nationals
 Sinhala
 Tamil
 Muslim
 Berger
 Malay
- 73.8%
- 8.5%
- 7.27%
- 0.3%
- 0.2%
Religion
 Buddhist
 Hindu
 Christians
- 69.1%
- 7.1%
- 6.2%
Colombo
Kandy
Galle
Jaffna
Sri Lanka
Ethnic Conflict
&
War
IMPORTANT MILESTONE
Ceylon gained independence on February 04, 1948. However, it was
not complete independence. In terms of the defense agreement
entered into between Britain and Ceylon, Colombo, Trincomalee
and Katunayake bases continued to remain under British control
In 1948, the very year of independence, the Parliament dominated
by the majority Sinhalese, enacted the Citizenship Act which
reduced the political strength of the Tamils by one-half. Under this
Act, one million Hill country Tamils, whom the British brought
from South India 200 years before to work in the tea and rubber
plantations, lost their citizenship rights.
In 1949 the Hill country Tamils' franchise rights were deprived by
simple amendment to the order in council. The new law Ceylon
Amendment Act defined that only citizens have the right to vote in
elections.
In 1948-50 the then Prime Minister of Ceylon D.S. Senanayake
launched massive Sinhalese colonization schemes in the Eastern
province, the traditional homeland of the Tamils. Gal Oya in the
Batticalo District, Allai and Kanthalai in the Trincomalee District
were the colonization schemes launched by him.
The Hill country Tamils who were able to elect 8 members to the
Parliament in 1947 failed to elect even a single member at the elections
held in 1952.
On June 14, 1956 Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranayake, leader of the Sri
Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minster, who won the Parliamentary
Elections help in 1956 caused Parliament, dominated by the majority
Sinhalese to enact "Sinhala Only" as the official language of Ceylon
1961 the Federal Party launched a civil disobedience campaign and
Satyagraha in front of Kachcheries in the Northern and Eastern
provinces of Ceylon which paralyzed civil administration. Mrs.
Bandaranayake's government used the military to break the peaceful
Satyragraha campaign.
The Senanayake-Chelvanayagam pact was signed on March 24, 1965.
This pact envisaged certain degree of regional autonomy to the North
and East through the establishment of District Councils. But this pact too
was abandoned in the face of opposition from the Sinhalese
In 1971 admission to the university based on merit was abandoned and
"standardization" to university admissions through G.C.E A/L
examination results was introduced. Lower qualifying marks were fixed
for Sinhalese than for Tamil students, both regarding the language of
instruction and the subjects themselves. The introduction of
"standardization" adversely affected Tamil students' access to higher
education.
May 22, 1972 a new constitution was adopted. Ceylon was renamed Sri
Lanka. Prabhakaran formed the New Tamil Tigers organization.
January 10, 1974 nine people lost their lives when the Srilankan Sinhalese
police at the instigation of Alfred Duraiappha, Mayor of Jaffna, arbitrarily
broke-up the 4th Tamil Research conference held in Jaffna by baton-charging
and firing.
On May 5, 1975 with the object of rallying the entire Tamil nation, the
"Tamil New Tigers" were re-named "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam." V.
Prabhakaran was named the Chairman and Military Commander of the
LTTE
On July 27, 1975 Tamil traitor Alfred Duraiappah was shot dead. This
marked the first attack in the history of the armed liberation struggle. The
attack was mounted by Tamil New Tigers under the leadership of V.
Prabhakaran.
On May 14, 1976 the Tamil United liberation Front (TULF) was formed.
A resolution to establish an independent Tamil Eelam was adopted at the
TULF convention held at Vaddukkodai. This is called the Vaddukkodai
Resolution
In the elections held in July, 1977 the United National Party headed by
J.R.Jayawardena came to power. The Tamil United Liberation front won 18
seats on a mandate for the establishment of an Independent, Sovereign,
Secular, Socialist state of Tamil Eelam, to become the official opposition
party. Following the election yet another racial riot was engineered and
executed against the Tamils.
In July 1978 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was established
under a new constitution. Presidential system of government came into
effect. J.R. Jayawardena became the first president.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was proscribed by the
Srilankan government as an illegal organization.
In July 1979, Parliament enacted the Prevention of terrorism Act.
On July 11th emergency was declared in Tamil areas. Innocent
youth were shot dead by the security forces in Jaffna.
In June 1981 under directions of two Sinhalese Ministers the army
and the police set fire to important buildings in Jaffna town,
specially the Jaffna Public Library considered one of the best in
South Asia was torched. This resulted in the destruction of 44,000
valuable books. In addition printing presses and shops were also
burnt down. Civilians were killed by the army . Another racial riot
broke out.
On July 24, 1983 The Liberation Tigers mounted their first guerrilla
style ambush using land mine against the Srilanka army. 13 soldiers
died in this attack.
This was followed by the worst genocidal attack by the Sinhalese on
the Tamils. Thousands of lives and property worth many millions
were lost. Tamils girls were subjected to sexual violence.
On July 27-28, 53 Political prisoners and detainees incarcerated at
the Welikada prison were brutally murdered inside the prison by
Sinhalese convicts with the connivance of the Sinhalese prison
guards. This is popularly known as the " Welikada Murder".
. In January, 1987 an economic blockade was imposed by the Sri
Lankan government on the Jaffna Peninsula. Minister for National
Security Lalith Athulathmudail announced the launching of
"Operation Liberation". The Sinhalese army attacked the
Vadamarachi regions of Jaffna district. Black Tiger captain Miller
executed a suicide attack on the Sinhalese army camped in Nelliady
Madhya Maha Vidyalayam. Hundreds of soldiers died in the attack.
Peace Talks Between Sri Lanka & LTTE
1985 in Thimbu
In July-August 1985 talks between the Srilankan government and Tamil
militants were held in Thimbu, the capital of Bhutan. The talks ended in
failure.
1987 Indu Sri lanka peace accord
In July 29, 1987 Rajiv Gandhi and J.R signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace
Accord without the consent of the LTTE. The LTTE leader who was taken
to Delhi on the eve of signing the accord was forcibly confined at Ashoka
Hotel incommunicado. Later LTTE Leader V.Prabhakaran declared at the
meeting held at Suthumalai that India had signed the agreement to
safeguard her own geopolitical interests. This is popularly known as the
Indo-Srilanka Peace Accord. But the Tamils even today believe the Accord
was a betrayal of their trust by the Indian Government.
2002 Oslo
2003 Japan