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Sinhalese; 73.80%
Sri Lankan Moors; 7.20%
Indian Tamil; 4.60%
Sri Lankan Tamil; 3.90%
Other; 0.50%Unspecified; 10.00%
Buddhists; 69.10%
Muslim; 7.60%
Hindu; 7.10%
Christian; 6.20%
Unspecified; 10.00%
Sinhala; 74%
Tamil; 18%
Other; 8%
Sri Lankan - Provinces
Population by religion
Population by language
Sources: CIA 2008, The World Fact Book – Sri Lanka and 2001 Census provisional data
Population by ethnicity
Percentage distribution of Tamils by district
Territorial claim of Tamil Eelam
Northern provinceCentral provinceEastern province
Percentage Distribution of Moors by district
Based on 2001 or 1981 census
Population Distribution
Debate on the Origins
Sinhalese Wanniayala-Etto (Veddahs)Language found to correlate with the Sindh and Gujarat languagesBelief that the Sinhala community emerged due to assimilation of various ethnic groupscombine Sinhalaness with Buddhism and see themselves as custodians of the land
Sri Lankan TamilsStrong Tamil presence from about the 10th century Sri Lanka has been a homeland of the Tamils, from the beginning of recorded history (Velupillai A 1996, Religious Traditions of Tamils)Tamil language belongs to the Dravidian/South Indian family of languagesMalaiyaha Tamils brought in to work in the plantations (towards the end of 19th Century)
Debate on the Origins
Sri Lankan Muslims (Moors)Trace their ancestry to Arab tradersPrimary language is Tamil, with borrowed Arabic wordsIn the south they also widely use SinhalaSettled in Sri Lanka some time between the eighth and fifteenth centuriesWhen persecuted, fled to the Central HighlandsCultural identity based on their religion, Islam
Debate on the Origins
Youth insurrections
First JVP Insurrection - 1971 by the Sinhala Youth
Continuing insurrection by the Tamil militant groups commencing late 1970s
Second JVP Insurrection - 1987-89 by the Sinhala Youth
Youth RadicalisationDue to:
Lack of appropriate political and economic developmentInequitable distribution of economic and social benefitsThe universal franchise and Lowering of the voting ageIntroduction of free education in 1945Increasing unemployment Change of the medium of instruction to local languages, expanding higher educational opportunitiesGeneral lack of university placements and employment opportunitiesDiscriminative practices of the elite
Mobilisations
The new social forces had a dual character and outlook
In the south based on class aspirationsIn the north and the east based on nationalist aspirationsThe JVP predominantly the rural young lower-middle class Sinhala BuddhistsThe Tamil militant youth the rural young lower-middle class Tamil Hindus and Christians
ReactionsThe state repressed both using brutal forceResponses of the state and the militants extended this radicalisation and alienationPolitical leaderships have opportunistically used ethnicity to:
establish, preserve and enhance their political, economic and social powerdistract people from the domestic policy and program failures
The Result: Building barriers to social and political interaction, and planting mistrust
between diverse communities
JVP Position: Pre-1971
Minimal understanding about the issues of the Tamils
Social linkages with Tamils also minimal
The social aspirations and the needs of many Tamil students were different
Room to carry out political activities among Tamils extremely limited due to:
Rumours that Rohana left the CPC-P because of its Tamil leadership
The JVP disagreements on the vanguard of the socialist revolution
International experience on the leading role of a minority community
Urban working class allied with rural peasantry will be the vanguard
“Indian Expansionism” touched upon anti-Malaiyaha sentiments
Malaiyaha workers were considered more allied to India
JVP Position: Between 1971 and 1973
Reflections on Maoist political rootsStudy the national questionExperiences of Tamil youth and the new Constitution of 1972 Low level exchange of political ideasNationalism had started crystallizing in a major way among:
the Sinhalese in the early fifties andthe Tamils in the early seventies
JVP Position: Between 1973 and 1982
The Policy Declaration and the Political ProgramRecognition of the right to self determination, andRecognition of Sinhala, Tamil and English as national languages
New Tamil contacts in the north, the east, and the plantationsFirst political cells establishedAlliances made with organisations of the plantation workersSimilar socio-economic and cultural problems Specific problems due to linguistic and cultural background and circumstancesMany young Tamil activists already committed to the nationalist causeChanging political mood among the youthThreats and attacks against the JVP activities
JVP Position: Post 1982
Two demands for:A specific campaign for the rights of Tamil people
Dropping public discussions on issues affecting the Tamil people
Presidential election results in 1982Over-assessmentInterpretation of election results
JVP Position: Post 1983
Changes to policy on the national question
1983 Black July and the aftermath
Sinhala nationalist tendency prevails
1987-89 insurrection and anti-Indian rhetoric
Safeguarding a colonial constitutional construct
Conclusions
Adherence to a mixed ideology of socialism and nationalismThe state - the common enemySuccumbed to nationalistic politicsEach see the other also as the enemyPolitical dialogue is feasibleNeed for a paradigm shift in attitudes and thinkingDiaspora - from advocates of political violence to constructive interaction