Reaping the Whirlwind: Ethnic Conflict, Ethnic Politics in Sri LankaPenguin Books, 1998 - 388 pages A Critical Analysis Of The Ethnic Conflict In Sri Lanka In The Eighties, Sri Lanka, Once Considered The Model Colony, Was Torn Apart By Ethnic Strife Between The Predominantly Buddhist Sinhalas, Constituting Almost Three-Quarters Of The Island S Inhabitants, And The Numerically Fewer Tamils, Who Were A Mix Of Hindus, Christians And Muslims. Massacres Occurred After The Riots Of May 1983, And Over Time About 1,25,000 Tamils Entered India As Refugees, Fleeing From A Virtual Civil War Which Still Afflicts The North Of The Island. The Author, A Renowned Sri Lankan Analyst Of Global Ethnic Conflict, Discusses The Historical Reasons Behind The Ethnic Violence, Especially The Growth Of The Sinhalas Feeling Of Being A Beleagured Minority Despite Their Numerical Strength. Analysing The Present Conflict, He Shows How The Language Policy Of Sinhala Only , Followed By The Government In The Sixties, Supplanted Religion As A Divisive Factor And How Rivalry Over Educational And Employment Opportunities Fuelled The Schism. Bringing The Story Up To The Present, De Silva Examines The Role Played By Indian And Tamil Nadu Politicians, And President Kumaratunga S Efforts Towards A Devolution Of Power To The Tamil Provinces. But Given The Ltte S Acceptance Of Nothing Less Than Eelam, He Sees Little Hope Of An Early End To The Violence That Has Racked Sri Lanka For Almost Two Decades Now. |
Contents
An Anatomy of Ethnic Conflict | 5 |
Religion and Politics in Modern Sri Lanka | 69 |
Ethnic Politics Political Violence | 119 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Reaping The Whirlwind: Ethnic Conflict, Ethnic Politics in Sri Lanka K M de Silva Limited preview - 2000 |
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accept Accord activists administration admissions areas associated Bangladesh became bhikkhus British Buddhist campaign cent century Ceylon chapter Christian coalition Colombo colonial Congress constitution continued Councils Delhi discussions District dominance early Eastern Province election electoral emerged especially established ethnic conflict face Federal forces greater groups historical important independence Indian influence interests International island issue Jaffna Jaffna peninsula July K.M. de Silva language late latter leader leadership less LTTE majority Minister minority Muslims negotiations Northern official once opposition organizations parties period plantation political politicians population position present President Press pressure principal problems Protestant regard regional relations religion religious riots role Roman Catholics seen separatist settlement Sinhala Sinhalese situation SLFP society South Sri Lanka status Studies Tamil Tamilnadu traditional TULF United University violence workers