What factors led to a civil war in Sri Lanka?
Answer:
- Measures taken in majoritarianism gradually increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
- They felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.
- As a result, the relations between Sinhalas and Tamil communities got strained over time.
- The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, regional autonomy and equality of opportunities in getting education and jobs.
- By the 1980s, several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Elam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
- The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It soon turned into a civil war. As a result, thousands of people of both the communities were killed.