Origins of the North-South Conflict

Why the North South conflict and not the ethnic conflict?
There are 3 Tamil speaking communities: Jaffna Tamils of the North Muslims of the East Indian Tamils of the central hills of Sri Lanka

BBC Timeline: Sri Lanka

A chronology of key events: 1505 - Portuguese arrive in Colombo, marking beginning of European interest. 1815 - British become first European power to win control over whole island, known as Ceylon. Start bringing in Tamil labourers from southern India to work tea, coffee and coconut plantations. 1833 - English made official language. 1931 - British grant the right to vote and introduce power sharing. 1948 - Ceylon gains full independence.

Sinhala nationalism
1949 - Indian Tamil plantation workers disenfranchised. 1956 - Solomon Bandaranaike elected on wave of Sinhalese nationalism. Sinhala made sole official language and other measures introduced to bolster Sinhalese and Buddhist feeling.

Amended BBCTimeline: Sri Lanka

A chronology of key events: 1948 - Ceylon gains full independence. 1949 - S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, father of Jaffna Tamil separatism, launched the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi, or THE TAMIL STATE PARTY

Sinhala nationalism
1949 - Indian Tamil plantation workers disenfranchised with the consent of G. G. Ponnambalam, the acknowledged Tamil leader of the time, heading the All Ceylon Tamil Congress. He was a member of the Cabinet of the first multi-ethnic government of independent Ceylon. Every state has a right to define who its citizens are and in the Sirima-Shastri Pact India agreed to take back its citizens. 1956 - Bandaranaike elected on a wave of Sinhala nationalism.

1956 Onwards
1956 - Solomon Bandaranaike elected on wave of Sinhalese nationalism. Sinhala made sole official language and other measures introduced to bolster Sinhalese and Buddhist feeling.
Please note the phrase to bolster Sinhalese and Buddhist feelings. What is implied here is that there is something obscene, immoral or unacceptable to restore the rights denied by five centuries of colonialism to the SinhalaBuddhist who constitutes 70 per cent of the population. This phrase is a denial of the rights of all peoples to reclaim their heritage.

It does not mention the passing of the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Act of 1958 The Sinhala Only Act was to replace the English language introduced in 1833 as the official language. It was not designed or meant to be a racist act against the Tamils. The right of the people to communicate with the elected government in the mother tongue These two acts recognise the right of the indigenous people to communicate with the administration in their mother tongue

The accusation of discrimination against the Tamils

It was the Sinhala youth who took up arms against the so called Sinhaladominated government in 1971 - long before the Tamil youth took up arms also against the Sinhala-dominated government. Both groups accused the governments of discrimination, lack of opportunities for upward social mobility and other inequalities. Sinhala youth took up arms claiming that they were victims of oppression and discrimination by the English educated class. The Tamil youth took up arms claiming that they were the victims of racial discrimination by a Sinhala-dominated government. Neither the Marxist interpretation of the Sinhala youth nor the racist interpretation of the Tamil youth explain the underlying realities. Underlying the violence of both groups is the stagnant economy which did not absorb the educated youth coming out of schools and universities.

How valid are the accusations of discrimination by the Tamils?

It was not only the Tamils, all communities experienced discrimination and inequities in the post independence period. Example: More Sinhala youth were killed by the state than the Tamils. Rival parties in power discriminated against those in opposition. What was projected as discrimination by the Tamils was the restoration of the rights lost by the majority under colonial rule. For instance 32 percent of the public service jobs were in the hands of the 12 percent of the Jaffna Tamils. This is called affirmative action but in SL it was branded as chauvinism, racism etc. When the Tamil leadership told the Solbury Commission that there was discrimination against the Tamils on a racial basis the commissioners devoted a whole chapter chapter8 to dismiss this complaint as an unfounded allegation. This proves that the Jaffna Tamils was in the habit of accusing the Sinhala community of pursuing discriminatory policies even before they had total control of power in the pre-independence era. The demonising of the Sinhala people in the South has been a common practice of the Northern political leadership to cover-up their own mono ethnic extremism. (Two slides below position given to the Tamil community)

The Sri Lankan National Flag

Is this discrimination? Consider it from a global perspective: Seventy five million Tamils including 55 million in Tamil Nadu the original and the only homeland of the Tamil diaspora 191 flags flying at the UN. Only the Sri Lankan flag has given the Tamils their dignity, respect and due place. The orange strip is for the Tamils and the green strip is for the Muslims. Not even the Indian flag has given special representation to the Tamils in their only homeland.

Tamil is given pride of place with Sinhala on all state documents, currencies, stamps etc. Is this discrimination?

1976 Onwards
Vaddukoddai Resolution passed. Tamil youth asked to take up arms against the Sinhalese a declaration of war. Muslims and the Indian Tamils did not join. If it was discrimination and oppression of the Tamil speaking people why didnt the other two communities join the North? Dr G C Mendis: the political objective of the Tamils from 1921 was to prevent the majority acquiring the democratic right to govern. They opposed all constitutional changes initiated from 1920s to democratise the political system leading to selfgovernment. They failed. Hence the V. R. endorsing violence. If the majority principle is wrong for governing how can it be applied to Eelam? 50/50 cry raised by G.G.Ponnambalam to grab 50 percent of the seats in the Legislature to 25% of Tamils and Muslimis. Which democracy in the world would accept this? Nevertheless, Sinhalayos offered 57% to 43% but was rejected. The 50-50 cry in the forties & the Thamil Illankai Arasu Kachchi (Tamil State Party) launched on December 18th 1949 did not come out of discrimination, or Sinhala chauvinism of 1956..It came out of mono-ethnic extremism of the Jaffna political culture. 1956 and 1976 are two decisive dates for the two communities. The violence endorsed in V.R. of 1976 produced Prabhakaran. Ironically, the sons of V. R. massacred the political fathers who worded and passed V. R. And the nation is stuck in the violence of V. R.

Proportionality of ethnic groups in Sri Lanka - 1981

Professionals by ethnic groups in public sector - 1982

Percentage of Tamil students admitted to Universities in 1978

Students admitted to Universities in 1981

During the time of British, more English Schools were opened in the North, so that there were more English-educated Tamils than the English-educated Sinhalese. When the British left in 1948, most of the well paid jobs such as Doctors, Engineers, Solicitors, Accountants, Bank Managers, University Teachers etc were Tamils, while Sinhalese had the minor jobs.