What were the reasons for the alienation of Sri Lankan Tamils? What was the effect of this on the country?
Ans. A series of majoritarian measures were adopted by the democratically elected government in Sri Lanka, after its independence in 1948. It adopted Majoritarianism to establish Sinhala supremacy.
(i) In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
(ii) The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
(iii) A new Constitution advocated that the state shall protect and promote Buddhism. All these ’ measures taken by the government gradually increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.