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SRI LANKA : A DIVIDED ISLAND

SRI LANKA : A DIVIDED ISLAND. Sri Lankan Flag. INTRODUCTION :. Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, island republic in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of India, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannār. 3.

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SRI LANKA : A DIVIDED ISLAND

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  1. SRI LANKA : A DIVIDED ISLAND Sri Lankan Flag INTRODUCTION : • Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, island republic in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of India, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannār.

  2. 3 Demographics Of Sri Lanka • 3 major races… • (in descending order) • Sinhalese (Buddhists, speaks Sinhala) • Tamils ( Hindus, speaks Tamil) - Sri Lankan Tamils (indigenous Tamils) - India Tamils (tea/rubber plantn workers from India) • Moors (Muslims)

  3. 4 Conflicts In Sri Lanka • Conflicts in the areas of… • Citizenship Rights • Jobs in the Govt (‘Sinhala Only’ policy) • University Admission Criteria • Resettlement of Population

  4. 5 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka • 3 consequences: • political • economic • social

  5. 5.1 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka • Political consequence • A. Armed conflict • Tamils felt they were 2nd class citizens • tried to make peaceful demands • early 1950s… Federal Party asked Tamil areas to be recognised as a federation • did not ask for separate state • did not use violence • … so why was there violence used against them?

  6. 5.1 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka • till 1976, demands were not met • a new political party emerged - Tamil United Liberation Front - asked for a separate INDEPENDENT state to be called Tamil Eelam • why asked for a separate state? • believed only separation would ensure the rights of the Tamils

  7. 5.1 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka • proposal rejected by the Sinhalese govt • result: anger & dissatisfaction!!! • Tamil youths formed a militant group… • Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) • or popularly known as the Tamil Tigers, terrorist group: - attacked Tamil members of the police force - attacked members & supporters of the ruling party - attacked Tamil politicians who did not support the proposed separate state - attacked Sinhalese

  8. 5.1 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka • unfortunately, violence also came form the Sinhalese - eg 1956…1st anti-Tamil riot (as a response to a peaceful Tamil protest against the ‘Sinhala Only’ policy) • hundreds of Tamils lost their lives, millions $ worth of property • many incidents between 1981-1983 • encouraged by Sinhalese security forces (army) • consequence - thousands of Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu - Indian govt was forced to intervene

  9. 5.1 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka • B. Foreign Intervention • conflict attracted big neighbour… India • Foreign Minister sent to Sri Lanka to mediate … failed • 3 June 1987: Indian tried to help the Sri Lankan Tamils - 20 Indian ships of food and petroleum products for the Tamils - turned back by the Sri Lankan navy - 4 June 1987: Indian Air Force dropped the food and medical supplies instead and violated the Sri Lankan airspace

  10. 5.1 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka B. Foreign Intervention • July 1987: Sri Lankan signed a peace accord with India - a ceasefire between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan forces - Tigers to surrender their arms to Indian peacekeeping troops - merging of the Tamil dominated Nn and the En provinces • Oct 1987: Tigers did not surrender their weapons fully - Indian troops took control of the Tiger-controlled Jaffna by force

  11. 5.1 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka B. Foreign Intervention • Oct 1987 to Dec 1988: clashes in the N and E of Sri Lanka bet the Tigers and the Indian peacekg forces • the latter withdrew in March 1990 • the Tigers moved in to take control of the NE • tensions continued… up to now…once in a while, clashes bet the Sinhalese and the Tigers would appear in the news • no settlement in sight due to LTTE’s demand for a separate state

  12. 5.2 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka Economic consequence A. Unemployment • breadwinners killed during armed struggles • factories and plantations closed/destroyed • looting, vandalising, burning places of work by the Sinhalese • thousands of workers, self-employed persons lost their jobs (Tamils and Sinhalese alike)

  13. 5.2 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka • B. Decline in tourism • tourism was a major income earner • seriously affected by the violent internal conflict • tourist arrivals decreased, loss of jobs, fall in earnings • less funds to develop attractions, amenities and facilities (hotels, transport, housing etc)

  14. 5.2 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka C. Loss of foreign investments • foreign investment needed • but political instability is an unattractive factor • foreign investors may not have the confidence to invest in a politically unstable country • US$66m (‘82) to US$39m (‘83) to US$22m (‘86)

  15. 5.3 Impact of Conflict In Sri Lanka Social consequence Refugees • 65k Tamils fled to India after 1983 riots • creation of High Security Zones to keep LTTE away • army move into Tamil areas • refugee camps  overcrowded

  16. 6 Peace In Our Times • no sight of peace • violence is a daily happening even after the 2004 Tsunami • political assassinations (political leaders to law makers) common

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