Origin of the minority issue

1. Origin of the minority issue Great Britain as colonial rulers contributed to this agony in two ways. 1.The British as part of their Colonial Administration tactic felt safer giving minority more authority than the majority and at the time of independence Tamils of Sri Lankan origin were in a privileged social setting. 2. Sri Lanka was left with a population of Indian origin Tamils who were brought in as cheap labor to work in tea plantations in the hill country (towards the end of 19th Century). These Indian origin Tamils were only 2nd class citizens when British ended their colonial rule, however post independence governments have gradually improved their living standards and social standing. As you go on with this presentation you will realize that this problem has to be taken in the pretext of a minority trying to get back the undue tactical privileges given to them by a colonial rule, or worse still a minority trying to oppress the indigenous people of a country. The British ruled Sri Lanka from 1805-1947 They found it advantageous to keep the two ethnic groups separate and to increase the social gap between them The Indian Tamils were kept as ‘second class citizens’. The situation was only changed by Sri Lankans who came into power after the British left the country Upon having to grant independence to Sri Lanka in 1948, the British ensured that the elite among the Tamils of Sri Lankan origin had more power politically than the Sinhalese major Post independence governments have worked hard to ensure that the minorities receive equal rights and protection under law In spite of this the Tamil Tiger Terrorists have been waging a war of terror, making false claims of discrimination. We will examine these claims, and show you data to disprove themThe British ruled Sri Lanka from 1805-1947 They found it advantageous to keep the two ethnic groups separate and to increase the social gap between them The Indian Tamils were kept as ‘second class citizens’. The situation was only changed by Sri Lankans who came into power after the British left the country Upon having to grant independence to Sri Lanka in 1948, the British ensured that the elite among the Tamils of Sri Lankan origin had more power politically than the Sinhalese major Post independence governments have worked hard to ensure that the minorities receive equal rights and protection under law In spite of this the Tamil Tiger Terrorists have been waging a war of terror, making false claims of discrimination. We will examine these claims, and show you data to disprove them

2. Ethnic composition

3. Religious composition

4. Claims of the Tamil Tiger Terrorists The LTTE’s campaign of violence is based on their claim that the Tamil minority is discriminated against by the majority Sinhalese in Sri Lanka The LTTE claims three key areas of discrimination: Geographical Restrictions - that the Tamils are not free to live amongst the majority Sinhalese Education - that the Tamils do not have equal access to education when compared to the Sinhalese Health facilities - that the Tamils do not have access to quality healthcare and hospitals, when compared to the Sinhalese Jobs and businesses - that the Tamils do not have access to employment and commerce when compared to the majority Sinhalese Let us bring in 1982 statistics to show that these claims are based on untruths made up by the LTTEThe LTTE’s campaign of violence is based on their claim that the Tamil minority is discriminated against by the majority Sinhalese in Sri Lanka The LTTE claims three key areas of discrimination: Geographical Restrictions - that the Tamils are not free to live amongst the majority Sinhalese Education - that the Tamils do not have equal access to education when compared to the Sinhalese Health facilities - that the Tamils do not have access to quality healthcare and hospitals, when compared to the Sinhalese Jobs and businesses - that the Tamils do not have access to employment and commerce when compared to the majority Sinhalese Let us bring in 1982 statistics to show that these claims are based on untruths made up by the LTTE

5. Why 1982 Statistics should be compared with Claims How do Tamil claims match up to the real situation in pre-war Sri Lanka? A study of 1982 statistics will show that there was no reason to start a War, Violence and suicide bombing.

6. Claim 1: Tamils do not face geographical restrictions. They are able to live where they choose within Sri Lanka For administrative purposes the British divided the Island into 9 provinces. Adding insult to injury a racially discriminatory law (‘Thesawalama Law’) that is a total violation of the sovereignty of the Hela was introduced. This ‘apartheid' type law that is still enforced today for the benefit of the non-indigenous ethnic Tamil community and deprives any indigenous Hela from purchasing land in the northern province of their Island.  Tamils claim that the only place they can live in is the North East of the country But Tamils are able to, and do, live throughout various regions of Sri Lanka 33% of Tamils lived in Sinhalese areas [see map] On the other hand, it is the Sinhalese who are prevented from living their due to the violence directed at them by the terrorists Only 3% of Sinhalese lived in the North East While Tamils are able own land anywhere in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese are unable to own land in the North and the East Tamils own a majority of prime land in many localities in the City of Colombo The terrorists do not allow Sinhalese to own land and establish residences in the North and the East A law still in force (called the “Theevalmai”) which prevents Sinhalese from purchasing L:and in the Jaffna peninsula Tamils enjoyed such an elite position in the legislature and in the government that they were able to pass law like thisTamils claim that the only place they can live in is the North East of the country But Tamils are able to, and do, live throughout various regions of Sri Lanka 33% of Tamils lived in Sinhalese areas [see map] On the other hand, it is the Sinhalese who are prevented from living their due to the violence directed at them by the terrorists Only 3% of Sinhalese lived in the North East While Tamils are able own land anywhere in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese are unable to own land in the North and the East Tamils own a majority of prime land in many localities in the City of Colombo The terrorists do not allow Sinhalese to own land and establish residences in the North and the East A law still in force (called the “Theevalmai”) which prevents Sinhalese from purchasing L:and in the Jaffna peninsula Tamils enjoyed such an elite position in the legislature and in the government that they were able to pass law like this

7. Fact 1: Tamils do not face geographical restrictions. They are able to live where ever they choose within Sri Lanka Tamils are able to, and do, live in areas other than the North-East 33% of Tamils lived in Sinhalese areas [see map] Only 3% of Sinhalese lived in the North East Tamils are able own land anywhere in Sri Lanka they own a majority of prime land in and around Colombo A law still in force (called the “Theevalmai”) prevents Sinhalese from purchasing Land in the Jaffna peninsula Tamils claim that the only place they can live in is the North East of the country But Tamils are able to, and do, live throughout various regions of Sri Lanka 33% of Tamils lived in Sinhalese areas [see map] On the other hand, it is the Sinhalese who are prevented from living their due to the violence directed at them by the terrorists Only 3% of Sinhalese lived in the North East While Tamils are able own land anywhere in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese are unable to own land in the North and the East Tamils own a majority of prime land in many localities in the City of Colombo The terrorists do not allow Sinhalese to own land and establish residences in the North and the East A law still in force (called the “Theevalmai”) which prevents Sinhalese from purchasing L:and in the Jaffna peninsula Tamils enjoyed such an elite position in the legislature and in the government that they were able to pass law like thisTamils claim that the only place they can live in is the North East of the country But Tamils are able to, and do, live throughout various regions of Sri Lanka 33% of Tamils lived in Sinhalese areas [see map] On the other hand, it is the Sinhalese who are prevented from living their due to the violence directed at them by the terrorists Only 3% of Sinhalese lived in the North East While Tamils are able own land anywhere in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese are unable to own land in the North and the East Tamils own a majority of prime land in many localities in the City of Colombo The terrorists do not allow Sinhalese to own land and establish residences in the North and the East A law still in force (called the “Theevalmai”) which prevents Sinhalese from purchasing L:and in the Jaffna peninsula Tamils enjoyed such an elite position in the legislature and in the government that they were able to pass law like this

8. Fact 2: Tamils do not face education-based discrimination - they are able to study in their mother-tongue and enjoy high acceptance levels to Universities

9. Moreover, while being able study in their native tongue (Tamil), they had access to better educational facilities

10. Fact 3: Tamils did not face discrimination in any professional sphere - they hold a disproportionate share of public service employment

11. Contrary to LTTE claims, the Tamils in North enjoyed better access to healthcare

12. Moreover, Tamils in Sri Lanka enjoy equal rights and receive equal protection and attention in every day matters Tamil is an official language of Sri Lanka along with Sinhala All government documents are printed in all three languages

13. Tamils have also held prominent roles in the government and public sector. In 1983 3 0ut of 15 Cabinet Ministers were Tamils

14. LTTE activities 1 - killing of politicians and other as part of their strategy and also for financial gain (Contract killing) The LTTE is the only terrorist organization that has been able to assassinate two heads of state Indian Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi was killed by LTTE suicide bomber Sri Lankan President R. Premadasa was killed by a LTTE suicide bomber The LTTE was paid $10M by Bangladeshi dissidents to assassinate Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina Wajed in year 2000. The LTTE was selected based on the fact that they hardly left a a trace Luckily, this plot was foiled by officials before the contract could be carried out