What is a minority? “the smaller in number of two groups constituting a whole” - Merriam-Webster OnLine

SERENDIB CEYLON SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka  Formerly Ceylon, now an island Republic in the Indian Ocean just southeast of India  A British colony since 1796 became independent in 1948  Marked by hostility among its ethnic groups

Sri Lanka: Demographic Factors million in population -life expectancy: 71 -Total Fertility Rate: 2.4 -Percent Urban: 15% -Percent using contraception: 68% -GDP Per Capita: $4480 -Literacy: 90.1% -School enrollment: 68.7%

With about three-quarters of the population, what ethnic group in Sri Lanka is in the majority? A. Moors B. Sinhalese C. Tamils D. Burghers

SINHALESE Language = Religion = Sinhala Buddhist

With about one-fifth of the population, what ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprises the largest minority? A. Moors B. Sinhalese C. Tamils D. Burghers

TAMILS Language = Religion = Tamil Hindu

U.S. News and World Report: August 8, 1983 Headline: “Sri Lanka’s Racial Riots Could Cost It Dearly” New York Times: November 7, 2006 Headline: “Kidnappings Return to Haunt Long Ethnic War in Sri Lanka”

Sri Lanka: 4 million Tamils Sri Lanka:15 million Sinhalese

Ethnic Geography: Who’s the minority? Sri Lanka: 4 million Tamils Sri Lanka:15 million Sinhalese India:63 million Tamils India:no Sinhalese

Religious Geography: Sri Lanka: 4 million Hindus Sri Lanka: 15 million Buddhists India:800 million Hindus India:very few Buddhists

History of the Conflict Circa 500 BC: Hindu prince from northern India establishes Sinhalese civilization on the island. Tamil Speakers from southern India arrive around the same time.

1949 Indian Tamil Plantation workers disinfranchised.

1956: Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) elected on wave of Sinhalese nationalism. Sinhala made sole official language and other measures introduced to bolster Sinhalese and Buddhist culture.

1972: Ceylon changes its name to Sri Lanka and Buddhism is given primary place as the country’s religion, further antagonizing the Tamil minority.

1983: 13 Sinhalese soldiers killed in LTTE ambush sparking anti-Tamil riots leading to the deaths of several hundred Tamils, the destruction to Tamil property, and the exodus of more than 100,000 Tamils to India.

1998: Tamil Tigers bomb Sri Lanka’s holiest Buddhist site. Tigers capture key northern town after intensive fighting. 1999: Sri Lankan President Kumaratunga of te People’s Alliance is wounded in a bomb attack at an election rally.

2004: Giant tsunami strikes southern and eastern coast, killing more than 30,000 and leaving over one million homeless.

Tamil Tiger Female Suicide Bombers

History cont… 2005: Assassination of Foreign Minister blamed on Tamil Tigers (LTTE) 2005 A Sinhala Nationalist wins Presidency 2006 Heavy fighting displaces 200,000 civilians-Peace Talks resume in Geneva 2007 First LTTE Air bomb attack 2007 Gov’t captures Tamil base in the east, 1 st time in 13 years, Tamils threaten to cripple economy with attacks on mil/eco targets

2008: Gov’t withdraws officially from cease fire 2008: Gov’t captures northern town of Kilinochchi which was the administrative headquarters for the Tamils for 10 years

2009: Gov’t declares Tamil Tigers defeated after LTTE forces overrun in the Northeast Tamil Tigers issue statement, laying down arms 2009: 1 st post-war election held in the north, candidates who supported TT receive most votes

South Asia in Transition, The Southern Center for International Studies, Atlanta, 2006.