From Colonialism to Independence

The early history of Sri Lanka was marked by a series of kingdoms in the north and western parts of the island. What little is known about the relations between the ethnic groups indicates that there was very little ethnic conflict; the ethnic communities lived alongside each

Other in relative harmony. However, the communities were largely concentrated, with the Sinhalese in the southwest and the Tamils in the north. During the period of European colonial rule, interethnic harmony continued. Although their members rarely married each other, the groups interacted in social and economic life.

Over a period lasting nearly 450 years, Sri Lanka was ruled by three European nations: the Portuguese starting in 1505, the Dutch starting in 1656, and finally the British starting in 1796. The most important legacy of British rule was the development of a parliamentary democratic system of government. While many formerly colonized countries have struggled with dictatorships, Sri Lanka is one of the strongest democracies in the world. However, colonialism was not all good.

After independence the quest for power among the ethnic groups led to conflict between them. After the British left, many Sinhalese felt anger over the way the British treated the Sinhalese Buddhist culture and the sense of discrimination they felt from the British era. They believed that the Sinhalese Buddhist culture had been severely damaged by British rule. As a majority in the country they now sought to reassert their rights. They also sought to correct a series of wrongs carried out by the British.

These wrongs included the use of English in government, the promotion of Christianity at the expense of Buddhism, the preferential hiring of Tamils in the government bureaucracy, and the importation of Tamil speakers to the island from India.

During British rule the government bureaucracy had become filled with many Tamils. The Tamils had taken advantage of Christian missionaries, who had taught the English language and British ways of life. As a result, the British often preferred Tamils over Sinhalese in government jobs. When independence came, the Sinhalese Buddhists attempted to restore their culture to its "rightful" place in the society.