5.1. The Background

♤ As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.

♤ Ethnic issues-Sri Lanka comprises of various ethnic groups- Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors or Muslims 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5%

♤ Tamils were disenfranchised in 1949. The 1956 Sinhala Only Act further institutionalised the discrimination.

♤ Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was formed in 1976 and it was involved in an armed conflict with Sri Lankan armed forces from 1983 to 2009.