The so called discrimination against tamils that so many commentators talk about is actually as a result of British Colonization. Brits couldn't get the sinhalese to do their dirty work. Sinhalese openly resented and resisted British rulers. Brits found it difficult to get the majority sinhalese workers in the govt. They turned to tamils and did everything possible to marginalize the majority sinhalese. Provided special privileges to the local minority community and made them their faithful collonial allies in the govt. Also, sinhalese didn't want to do any estate labor work for the brits. Brits had an answer, they imported hundreds of thousands of south indian tamils to do the slavery.
After the exit of the brits the sinhalese majority started getting the administrative power back. A correction to the system was needed to give back the majority rights. Some measures were probably over-corrections and there were enough tamil politicians to exploit the situation and level charges of discriminations.
RE:Discrimination
by The Lion on Jun 05, 2007 04:36 PM Permalink
oh! ohhh! Hold on! So this sinhalese revolted against british and tamils were not. Its plain british divide and rule tactic and that time india was hit by major famine and drought. So people struggling for living were ok when they were carried far to SA, Malaysia, South America and Carribian islands which were colonies of british. Moreover tamils were hardworkers. So when they were carried to the lanka they suffered and had to face difficult situation when they were made to travel by walk from coastal ports to the hill region. Thousands died during this 'move' infected by malaeria like disease.
