Sri Lanka: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Sri Lanka was affected by the devastating [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Asian tsunami]], which left at least 35,000 people dead.<ref name="wsws1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/dec2005/sri2-d29.shtml |title=WSWS.org |publisher=WSWS.org |date=2005-12-29 |accessdate=2010-08-12}}</ref> From 1985 to 2006, Sri Lankan government and Tamil insurgents held 4 rounds of peacetalks, none of them helping a peaceful resolution of the conflict. In 2009, under the [[President of Sri Lanka|Presidency]] of [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] defeated the LTTE, and reestablished control of the entire country under the Sri Lankan Government.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1183961/Sri-Lankan-TV-broadcasts-video-body-Tamil-Tiger-leader-President-declares-country-liberated-terrorism.html | title = Sri Lankan TV broadcasts 'video of body of Tamil Tiger leader' as President declares the country liberated from terrorism | publisher = Daily Mail | date = 20 May 2009 | accessdate = 18 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka | title = Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers | publisher = [[The Guardian]] | date = 19 May 2009 | accessdate = 18 August 2011 | location = London}}</ref> The 26 year war caused upto 100,000 deaths.<ref name="ABC200509">{{cite news | title = Up to 100,000 killed in Sri Lanka's civil war: UN | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/20/2576543.htm | newspaper = [[ABC Australia]] | date = 20 May 2009}}</ref> Following the LTTE's defeat, [[Tamil National Alliance]], the largest political party in Sri Lanka dropped its demand for a [[Tamil Eelam|separate state]], in favour of a [[Federalism|federal]] solution.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news | title = Sri Lanka Tamil party drops statehood demand | date = 13 March 2010 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8566114.stm | work = [[BBC]] | accessdate = 18 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="guardn">{{cite news | title = Sri Lankan Tamils drop demand for separate independent homeland | date = 14 March 2010 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/14/tamils-drop-calls-for-separate-state | work = [[The Guardian]] | accessdate = 18 August 2011}}</ref> The final stages of the war left some 294,000 people displaced.<ref name="obs320">{{cite news | title = Sri Lanka ready for the challenge | date = 20 March 2011 | url = http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/03/20/fea01.asp | work = The Sunday Observer | accessdate = 22 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/sri-lanka-displaced-uncertain-future-government-unlock-camps-20090911 |title = Sri Lanka's displaced face uncertain future as government begins to unlock the camps |publisher=Amnesty International |date=2009-09-11 |accessdate=2011-07-17}}</ref> According to the Ministry of Resettlement, most of the displaced persons had been released or returned to their places of origin, leaving only 7,440 in the camps as of August 2011.<ref name="sitrep819">{{cite news | title = Situation Report as at 19-08-2011 | date = 19 August 2011 | url = http://www.resettlementmin.gov.lk/download/SituationReport%2019-08-2011.pdf | format = PDF | work = Ministry of Resettlement in Sri Lanka | accessdate = 22 August 2011}}</ref> Sri Lanka, emerging after a 26 year war, has become one of the [[List of countries by real GDP growth rate (latest year)|fastest growing economies]] of the world.<ref name="meryl">{{cite news | title = Lanka among fastest growing millionaire populations - report | date =24 June 2011 | url = http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/07/03/oostory.asp?sid=20110624_01&imid=SO.jpg&dt=%5BJune%2024%202011%5D | accessdate = 24 June 2011}}</ref>

==Ethnic conflict & Civil war==

In 1937, Tamil leader [[G. G. Ponnambalam]] demanded a 50-50 representation (50% for the Sinhalese and 50% for other ethnic groups) in the State Council. However, this demand was not met by the [[Soulbury]] reforms of 1944-45.

In 1956 ,Sri Lanka under [[Solomon Bandaranaike]] introduced the controversial [[Sinhala Only Act]], recognising [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] as the sole official language of the government. Although it was partially reveresd in 1958, the bill posed a grave concern for the Tamil community, which perceived their language and culture were threatened.<ref name=FW>{{Cite book | last1 = Ganguly| first1 = Šumit(Author)|last2 = Michael| first2 = E. Brown(Editor)|last3 = | first3 = | title =Fighting Words: language policy and ethnic relations in Asia| publisher = The MIT Press | year = 2003| pages = 136–138 | url = http://books.google.com/?id=fcoDezu1ABoC | isbn = 978-0262-523-33-2}}</ref><ref name=AV>{{Cite book | last1 = Schmidt| first1 = Bettina(Editor)|last2 = Schroeder| first2 = Ingo(Editor)|last3 = | first3 = | title =Anthropology of Violence and Conflict| publisher = Routledge | year = 2001| page = 185| url = http://books.google.com/?id=Rx-1MdUlzaUC| isbn = 9780415229050}}</ref> The [[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi|Federal Party]] (FP) launched [[satyagraha]] against the move, which prompted Bandaranaike to reach an agreement ([[Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact]]) with [[S. J. V. Chelvanayakam]], leader of the FP, to resolve the looming ethnic conflict.<ref name='peebles-history'>{{cite book | last = Peebles | first = Patrick | url = http://books.google.lk/books?id=SxO0eISluqEC | title = The History of Sri Lanka | publisher = Greenwood Press | date = 2006-08-30 | pages = 109-111 | isbn = 978-0313-332-05-0}}</ref> However the pact was not carried out due to protests by opposition and the Buddhist clergy. The bill, together with various government [[Sri Lankan state sponsored colonisation schemes|colonisation schemes]], contributed much towards the political rancor between Sinhalese and Tamil political leaders.<ref>{{cite web | title = Staff profile : Jonathan Spencer | author = [[University of Edinburgh]] | url = http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/social_anthropology/spencer_jonathan | accessdate = 20 August 2011}}</ref> Bandaranaike was [[S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike#Assassination|assassinated]] by an extremist Buddhist monk in 1959.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/Cl01Df05.html | title = Sri Lanka: The untold story - Assassination of Bandaranaike | work = Rajasingham, K. T. | publisher = Asia Times | year = 2002 | accessdate = 2011-02-05}}</ref>

The [[policy of standardization]] by Sirimavo government in 1973 to rectify disparities created in university enrollment, which was in essence an [[affirmative action]] to assist geographically disadvantaged students to gain tertiary education,<ref name="affrmact">{{Cite web | url = http://www.ices.lk/publications/esr/articles_jul97/Esr-kmdesilva.PDF | format = PDF | title = Affirmative Action Policies: The Sri Lankan Experience | author = De Silva, K. M. | month = July | year = 1997 | publisher = International Center for Ethnic Studies | accessdate= 18 september 2011}}</ref> in turn reducing the number of Tamil students within the Sri Lankan university student populace; acted as the immediate catalyst for the rise of militancy.<ref name='jej-e3w'>{{cite book | last = Jayasuriya | first =J. E. | title = Education in the Third World | publisher = Indian Institute of Education | year =1981 | location =[[Pune]] | oclc = 7925123}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://tamilnation.co/forum/sivaram/940508eelam_history.htm | title = The Exclusive Right to Write Eelam History | author = [[Taraki Sivaram]] | month = May | year = 1994 | publisher = Tamil Nation | accessdate = 2011-07-27}}</ref>

On the night of May 31,1981, according to many eyewitnesses, police and government-sponsored paramilitias did the [[burning of jaffna library]] and destroyed it completely.<ref name="ifla">http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla72/papers/119-Knuth-en.pdf </ref>Over 97,000 volumes of books along with numerous culturally important and irreplaceable manuscripts were destroyed.<ref name="priu"/> Among the destroyed items were scrolls of historical value and the works and manuscripts of philosopher, artist and author [[Ananda Coomaraswamy]] and prominent intellectual Prof. Dr. [[Isaac Thambiah]]. The destroyed articles included memoirs and works of writers and dramatists who made a significant contribution toward the sustenance of the Tamil culture and those of locally reputed physicians and politicians.<ref name="priu">http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/features/20020130jaffna_library.htm </ref>

[[Nancy Murray]] wrote in a journal article in 1984 that several high ranking security officers and two [[cabinet minister]]s were present in the town of [[Jaffna]], when uniformed [[security]] men and [[plainclothes]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1166237.stm|title=Chronology of events in Sri lanka|accessdate=2006-03-14 |format= |work=BBC | date=2009-11-05}}</ref> mob carried out organized acts of destruction.<ref>Nancy Murray (1984), ''Sri Lanka: Racism and the Authoritarian State,'' Issue no. 1, Race & Class, vol. 26 (Summer 1984)</ref> After 20 years the government-owned ''Daily News'' newspaper, in an [[editorial]] in 2001, termed the 1981 event as an act by ''goon squads let loose by the then government''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/EditorialReviews/erev200106/20010608editorialreview.html|title= EDITORIAL, DAILY NEWS |accessdate=2006-03-14 |work=Daily News}}</ref>

On the July 23 massacre of 13 soldiers, initially, a road-side bomb was detonated beneath the jeep that was leading the convoy, injuring at least two soldiers on board. As soldiers traveling in a truck which was following the jeep dismounted to help their colleagues, they were ambushed by a group of Tamil Tiger fighters, who fired at them with [[automatic weapons]] and hurled [[grenades]] at them. In the ensuing clashes, one officer and 12 soldiers died immediately, while two more were fatally wounded, bringing the total death toll to 15 along with number of rebels.<ref>{{cite book| last =O'Ballance| first =Edgar | title =The cyanide war : Tamil insurrection in Sri Lanka, 1973-88 | publisher =Brassey's (UK) | year= 1989 | location =London | isbn = 9780080366951}} p.21 ''see also [[Edgar O'Ballance]]''</ref>

On July 24,1983 the day the 15 servicemen were to be buried, some [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] civilians who had gathered at the cemetery, angered by news of the ambush, which was magnified by wild rumor,<ref>O'Ballance, ''The cyanide war'', p.22</ref> formed [[crowd|mobs]] and started attacking and assaulting [[Tamils]], while looting and burning their properties in retribution for what happened. Members of the underworld criminal gangs then joined in. The mobs were equipped with [[electoral roll|voter lists]], thereby giving credence to an organized attack with support at government level, burning and attacking mainly Tamil residences and business, while army and government officials were deployed late. While a number of Tamils fled the city, many of the Sinhalese and [[Islam in Sri Lanka|Muslim]] people tried to save the lives and properties of Tamils despite the activities of the gangs. Many Tamils were sheltered in government buildings, temples and Sinhalese and Muslim houses during the following days.<ref name="O'Ballance, p.23">O'Ballance, ''The cyanide war'', p.23</ref><ref name=LPbook>{{cite book | last=Piyadasa | first=L. | title=Sri Lanka: The Holocaust and After | publisher=Zed Books | year=1986 | isbn=0-906334-03-9 }}</ref><ref name=WPI16 >{{cite journal | coauthors = Social Studies Circle of the Sri Lankan Worker-Peasant Institute

| title = Anti-Tamil Riots and the Political Crisis in Sri Lanka | journal = Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars | volume = Vol. 16 | pages = 27 | publisher = Questia | year= 1984 | url = http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=97784500 | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> It is estimated that between 400 and 3000 <ref name=BBCabout>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3090111.stm </ref>Tamils were killed, tens of thousands of houses were destroyed, and a wave of [[Sri Lankan Tamils]] left for other countries.

[[Black July]] is generally seen as the start of full-scale [[Sri Lankan Civil War|armed conflict]] between Tamil militants and the government of Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web | first=Brian | last=Senewiratne |url=http://sangam.org/taraki/articles/2006/07-28_Consequences.php?uid=1866 | title=

Sri Lanka's Week of Shame: The July 1983 massacre of Tamils – Long-term consequences | date=2006-07-28 | accessdate = 2006-08-01 | publisher =Ilankai Tamil Sangam: Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA}}</ref><ref name=AJWbook>{{cite book | last=Wilson | first=A. Jeyaratnam | title=The Break up of Sri Lanka: the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict | publisher=University of Hawaii Press

| year=1989 | isbn=0-8248-1211-5 }}</ref><ref name=SJTbook >{{ cite book | last=Tambiah | first=Stanley | authorlink=Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah| title=Sri Lanka: Ethnic Fratricide and the Dismantling of Democracy | publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] | year=1984 | isbn=0-226-78952-7 }}</ref> It has become a day of remembrance for the [[Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora]] around the world.

But there had been several accusations and allegation of the Sri Lankan government and LTTE that they committed serious war crimes during the final stages of the civil war.The Government says it pursued a "humanitarian rescue operation" with a policy of "zero civilian casualties". In stark contrast, the Panel found credible allegations, which if proven, indicate that a wide range of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law were committed both by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, some of which would amount to [[war crimes]] and [[crimes against humanity]]. Indeed, the conduct of the war represented a grave assault on the entire regime of international law designed to protect individual dignity during both war and peace.<ref>http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/10913-summary-of-un-panel-report.html</ref>

From 1985 to 2006, Sri Lankan government and Tamil insurgents held 4 rounds of peacetalks, none of them helping a peaceful resolution of the conflict. In 2009, under the [[President of Sri Lanka|Presidency]] of [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] defeated the LTTE, and reestablished control of the entire country under the Sri Lankan Government.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1183961/Sri-Lankan-TV-broadcasts-video-body-Tamil-Tiger-leader-President-declares-country-liberated-terrorism.html | title = Sri Lankan TV broadcasts 'video of body of Tamil Tiger leader' as President declares the country liberated from terrorism | publisher = Daily Mail | date = 20 May 2009 | accessdate = 18 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-killed-sri-lanka | title = Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers | publisher = [[The Guardian]] | date = 19 May 2009 | accessdate = 18 August 2011 | location = London}}</ref>

The final stages of the war left some 294,000 people displaced.<ref name="obs320">{{cite news | title = Sri Lanka ready for the challenge | date = 20 March 2011 | url = http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/03/20/fea01.asp | work = The Sunday Observer | accessdate = 22 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/sri-lanka-displaced-uncertain-future-government-unlock-camps-20090911 |title = Sri Lanka's displaced face uncertain future as government begins to unlock the camps |publisher=Amnesty International |date=2009-09-11 |accessdate=2011-07-17}}</ref>

After the victory in the civil war the Sri Lankan government lodged the internally displaced Tamil civilians in IDP camps.On May 24, 2009, the [[UN Secretary General]], [[Ban Ki-moon]], visited the [[Sri Lankan IDP camps|Menik farm camp]] which was one of the IDP camps for Tamil civilians. He said <i>"I have traveled around the world and visited similar places, but this is by far the most ''appalling scenes'' I have seen."''</i> Regarding the access to that camps that was denied to the [[NGOs]] and International aid agencies, Ban said <i>"They should be given unimpeded access and ''freedom of movement'' within the camp. That is what I have asked the foreign minister and the president (for), and I was assured that the leaders of the Sri Lankan government will make sure (of this)". <ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/24/sri.lanka.united.nations/index.html</ref>

According to the Ministry of Resettlement, most of the displaced persons had been released or returned to their places of origin, leaving only 7,440 in the camps as of August 2011.<ref name="sitrep819">{{cite news | title = Situation Report as at 19-08-2011 | date = 19 August 2011 | url = http://www.resettlementmin.gov.lk/download/SituationReport%2019-08-2011.pdf | format = PDF | work = Ministry of Resettlement in Sri Lanka | accessdate = 22 August 2011}}</ref> Sri Lanka, emerging after a 26 year war, has become one of the [[List of countries by real GDP growth rate (latest year)|fastest growing economies]] of the world.<ref name="meryl">{{cite news | title = Lanka among fastest growing millionaire populations - report | date =24 June 2011 | url = http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/07/03/oostory.asp?sid=20110624_01&imid=SO.jpg&dt=%5BJune%2024%202011%5D | accessdate = 24 June 2011}}</ref>

Following the LTTE's defeat, [[Tamil National Alliance]], the largest political party in Sri Lanka dropped its demand for a [[Tamil Eelam|separate state]], in favour of a [[Federalism|federal]] solution.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news | title = Sri Lanka Tamil party drops statehood demand | date = 13 March 2010 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8566114.stm | work = [[BBC]] | accessdate = 18 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="guardn">{{cite news | title = Sri Lankan Tamils drop demand for separate independent homeland | date = 14 March 2010 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/14/tamils-drop-calls-for-separate-state | work = [[The Guardian]] | accessdate = 18 August 2011}}</ref>.There are ongoing bilateral talks between President Rajapaksa's [[United People's Freedom Alliance|UPFA]] government and the TNA, on a viable political solution and devolution of power.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=13002|title=Next round of Govt.-TNA talks on May 12|publisher=AdaDerana|date=30 April 2011 |accessdate=5 June 2011}}</ref>

However, in an interview to [[Headlines Today]],television channel from India [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]],Defense Secretary of Sri Lanka & brother of [[President]] [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] trashed "the political solution talk", asserting, among other things, that it was "simply irrelevant" because "we have ended this terrorism" in Sri Lanka.<ref>http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/video/sri-lanka-in-denial-over-war-crimes/1/147696.html</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article2359597.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=A brother out of control | date=16 August 2011}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==