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Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority. As a result, the democratically elected government adopted a series of MAJORITARIAN measures to establish Sinhala supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism. All these government measures coming one after the other, gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture. They felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests. As a result, the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs. But their demand for more autonomy to provinces populated by the Tamils was repeatedly denied. By 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It soon turned into a CIVIL WAR. As a result, thousands of people of both the communities were killed. Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and many more lost their livelihoods.
Question (i)
What did the Sinhala leaders do?
Answer:
From the paragraph
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Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. T he leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over the government by virtue of their majority. As a result, the democratically elected government adopted a series of MAJORITARIAN measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
- The Sinhala leaders attempted to achieve authority over the government through their majority and establish Sinhala supremacy in Sri Lanka.
Question (ii)
What happened after the Act of 1956 was passed out?
Answer:
From the paragraph
In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
After the 1956 Act, was passed Sinhala became the only official language. T he government favored the Sinhala applicants and they were prioritized for universities and government positions. Buddhism was made a state religion through a new constitution.
Question (iii)
What were the reasons behind Civil War in Sri Lanka?
Answer:
From the paragraph,
The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It soon turned into a CIVIL WAR. As a result, thousands of people from both communities were killed. Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and many more lost their livelihoods.
- The distrust between the Sinhala and the Tamil communities turned into a widespread conflict and later on it caused the civil war.
- Thousand of people from both communities were killed and many families were forced to leave the country as refugees.
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