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7 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Who were involved in the conflict in Sri Lanka?
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Sinhalese: native (Buddhist, middle-left location)
Sri Lankan Tamils: non-native, (here since 300 BCE, Jaffna, highlands and tea plantations) Indian Tamils: non-native, brought in as workers by British in tea plantations (Hindu, here since 1800s) |
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What was life like under British rule before the conflict?
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The British favoured the Tamils due to their English proficiency, so they got more/better (government) jobs and education.
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When Sri Lanka became independent and governed by the Sinhalese, what four policies did they implement?
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Citizenship rights
University admission criteria "Sinhala Only" policy Resettlement |
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Describe the citizenship rights policy. Did it improve?
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Under the Ceylon Citizenship Act, only those who were born/forefathers were born in Sri Lanka were allowed to have citizenship, leaving Indian Tamils stateless though they contributed to the economy by planting tea. Hence they had no rights (e.g. jobs, housing, voting, education)
1964: India-SL discussion promised that Indian Tamils either be granted citizenship or returned to India. This was not carried out, leading to violence and 100k stateless. 2003: Citizenship was granted to those/forefathers who lived in SL since 1964. |
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Describe the "Sinhala Only" policy. What has it become now?
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Official Language Act '56: Sinhalese gov changed the official language to Sinhala This disadvantaged Tamils as it was hard to pursue their careers in government; they were given three years to master Sinhala or be fired. Peaceful demonstrations were disrupted; 100-death riot
1957: More fighting;Tamil became language of national minority (used in Tamil parts) Now: More recognition; national and official languages are in trilingual documents. |
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Describe the university admission policy.
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Before, there were many more Tamils making it to uni than the Sinhalese despite their smaller population. (e.g. 50% in med and engineering despite 18% pop!)
However, the government changed the criteria so that there were Sinhalese-reserved places and lower cutoffs for Sinhalese. Tamils tended to be relegated to (starving) artist places. |
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Describe the resettlement policy
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The Sinhalese areas were becoming overcrowded, so the Sinhalese peasants were moved to Tamil areas to grow padi, as well as the Buddhist monks and the Sri Lankan army. Tamils were driven out of their homes and all that. (And they felt invaded)
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