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Ethnic conflict of Sri Lanka is an conflict mainly between Sinhalese and Tamils and between Tamils and Muslims. This come to exist Kalinga Magha , a Tamil invader claiming Kalinga (Orissa) lineage invaded Kingdom of Rajarata in 1215 with a huge Pandyan army. From 1215 to 1326 significant Tamil migration happened into Sri Lanka in the form of invasions. They settled mainly in Jaffna Peninsula and small settlements were occurred in Vanni. From 1215 to 1500 many battles erupted between Sinhalese and Tamils. But during the times of Portuguese, Dutch, British; conflicts between Sinhalese and Tamils started to settle down. They tried to cooperate with each other to deal with common enemy. But since the later stage of British administration and after independence conflicts were risen again. It was started as a political battle for power in Parliament. In the 20th century, the majority Sinhala community started to discriminate the minority Tamils and the minority demands became excessive and unfair. Ultimately a civil war was erupted from 1983 to 2009. 2009 Sri Lankan armies defeated the LTTE. After the civil war still conflicts going between different ethnic groups. There is a conflict for chief minister post and majority power of Eastern province between Tamils and Muslims. Also Tamils resisting the Sinhalese settlements in districts in North province - Mannar, Vavuniya,Kilinochchi,Mullaitivu which have lowest population densities in Sri Lanka.

History

Before kingdom of Rajarata

The earliest archaeological evidence of human colonization in Sri Lanka appears at the site of Balangoda. Balangoda Man arrived on the island about 34,000 years ago and have been identified as Mesolithic hunter gatherers who lived in caves. Several of these caves, including the well known Batadombalena and the Fa-Hien Rock cave, have yielded many artifacts from these people who are currently the first known inhabitants of the island.

Ramayana, Mahabaratha, Mahavamsa revealed about early civilization of Sri Lanka. According to Ramayana and Mahavamsa Sri Lanka had 4 tribes.

• Raksha - Ravana, Indrajit
• Yaksha - Kubera, Kuveni,Pandukabhaya
• Naga - Indrajit's wife, Chulodara and Mahodara, Naga King in Kelaniya who invited Lord Buddha to visit Kelaniya
• Deva - Ravana is also describe as a god worshiper, Sumana Saman

Even though two ancient Indian epics were based on Myths, authors were aware of tribes lived within Sri Lanka at the time of writing epics. Mahavamsa which is widely accepted as a reliable source, is mentioned about existence of these tribes in Sri Lanka before Sri Lanka converted into Buddhism in 250BC. Pandukabhaya(437 BC – 367 BC), king who established the Kingdom of Anuradhapura is belonged to Yaksha tribe. Mahallaka Naga (135-141 CE), Bhatika Tissa (141-165 CE), Kanittha Tissa (165-193 CE),Cula Naga (193-195 CE) belonged to Naga tribe . There are references about people from these tribes from different sources in different countries in different eras.

Archaeological evidence for the beginnings of the Iron Age in Sri Lanka is found at Anuradhapura, where a large city–settlement was founded before 900 BC. The settlement was about 15 hectares in 900 BC, but by 700 BC it had expanded to 50 hectares. A similar site from the same period has also been discovered near Aligala in Sigiriya

Kingdom of Rajarata

Establishment of kingdom of Rajarata

It was centered around the ancient cities of Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara,Anuradhapura, Sigiriya,Polonnaruwa. First Kingdom in the Rajarata was established by Prince Vijaya in 543 BC from Sinha tribe in India. At that time Sri Lanka was ruled by several regional leaders. After killing local regional rulers with the help of local princess Kuveni, he was able to take the power of Rajarata. But administration was again come to the hand of natives when king Pandukabhaya, a price of Yaksha and Sinha tribes defeated and killed Sinha rulers and became king in 437 BC. He was able to unified Sri Lanka and unified all the tribes (Yaksha ,Naga, Raksha, Deva, Sinha) from whole Island to one administrative center.

1. Tambapanni - Prince Vijaya - Founded in 543 BC
2. Upatissa Nuwara - Founded by King Upatissa in 505 BC
3. Anuradhapura - Founded by King Pandukabhaya in 377 BC
4. Sigiriya - Built by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 CE), but after the death of the king center moved to Anuradhapura.
5. Polonnaruwa - Founded by King Vijayabahu I

Era of Rajarata

The genesis myth and early recorded history of the Sinhalese is chronicled in two documents, the Mahavamsa, written in Pali around the 4th century CE, and the much later Chulavamsa (probably penned in the 13 century CE by the Buddhist monk Dhammakitti). These records describes Kings ruled Sri Lanka, developments by the kings(reservoirs,stupas), invasions faced by the country and other significant history events. Tamil groups came to Sri Lanka during this period as wives to the King. These Tamils from royal families were powerful and they were offered higher ranks in kings court. Hindu Temples in Pollonnaruwa shows these Tamils lived within the kingdom as powerful group. At the present there are ruins of 3 ancient Shiva Temples within the castle of Pollonnaruwa. It seems they are not related to Tamils who came with Magha in 1215. Tamil came during Kingdom of Rajarata era were lived with Sinhala community. Adopted son of king Parâkramabâhu VI , Sapumal Kumaraya was a Tamil who lived with Sinhala kingdoms.

Falling of Rajarata

In 1215 Kalinga Magha invaded Rajarata with a huge Pandyan army. Magha was a minister to Pandyan empire. Magha ruled Pollonnaruwa for several years but later drawback to Vanni and Jaffna. During next 100 years many battle occurred to take the control of Rajarata between Sinhala Kingdoms and different invaders from South India. But after the last Pandyan ruler of Madurai, was defeated and expelled in 1323 by Malik Kafur, the army general of the Muslim empire of Delhi Sultanate; Tamil power in Sri Lanka started to weaken . Rajarata area was divided into 3 areas. Jaffna peninsula was controlled by Tamils, neutralized Vanni forest and Sinhala controlled later Rajarata.

Kingdoms from Dambadeniya to Kandy

• Kingdom of Dambadeniya
• Kingdom of Yapahuwa
• Kingdom of Kurunegala
• Kingdom of Gampola
• Kingdom of Kotte
• Kingdom of Sitawaka
• Kingdom of Kandy

Kalinga Magha's invasion made Sinhalese to move toward south. Magha invaded Rajarata and Malaya-rata. During the rise of Kingdom of Dambadeniya under the king Vijayabahu III (1220- 1224 AC), Magha lost the control of south to Vanni forest. Parakramabahu II extended power to Vanni. With the strong repulse, Polonnaruwa, the capital of Rajarata was again selected as administrative center. But endless Tamil invasions from South India lead to move the Sinhala kingdom towards South East. In 1323 Sinhalese kingdoms started to dominate Island after Pandyan defeated by Delhi Sultane. In 1450 Jaffna was annexed by the Kingdom of Kotte . Death of king Parâkramabâhu VI lead to divide the Sinhala kingdom into three parts. Kotte, Sitawaka, Kandy. Sinhala power was weaken in the Island. This made a series of internal wars among 3 Sinhala kingdoms. Also Portuguese came to Sri Lanka in 1505. Since the beginning, Kandy rulers made strong links with Jaffna kingdom and aided military support against Portuguese. But Kandy fell to Sitawaka ( See the The growth picture of the kingdom of Sitawaka, in Kingdom of Sitawaka). Sitawaka dominated other kingdoms and annexed most part of them by the powerful king Rajasinghe I. Between 1591 and 1594 Vimaladharmasuriya I established a kingdom in Kandy after the death of Rajasinha I of Sitawaka. Kandy dominated as most powerful kingdom in Sri Lanka after falling of Sitawaka. In 1628 king Senerat of Kandy invaded Jaffna to terminate Portuguese administration in Jaffna. Time to Time kingdom of Kandy annexed Jaffna kingdom. East area of the Island was ruled by Kandy rulers. East was under Kandy power since the Sitawaka time. In 1626, the Portuguese expelled the Muslims from Kotte. The Muslims ran to Senerat who settled some four thousand of them in Batticaloa as farmers. Also in 1659, English sailor Robert Knox was arrested by guards of Kingdom of Kandy when his ship was ashore near Trincomalee

Jaffna Kingdom

Jaffna Kingdom was established in 1323 when it was freed from Pandyan empire. Sinhalese were expelled from the Kingdom of Rajarata which ruled the North part of Sri Lanka and Tamil expanded colonies to the boundaries of Malaya rata. It was restricted to Jaffna peninsula after Tamils were withdrawn from Vanni in 1323 . In 1450, king Parâkramabâhu VI's adopted son annexed Jaffna to Sinhala kingdom of Kotte . That was the last battle between Sinhala and Tamil kingdoms. After the death of king Parâkramabâhu, Jaffna kingdom was reestablished. Also Portuguese came to the Island in 1505. They tried to take the control of coastline areas in the Island. With less help from South India, Jaffna kings tried to cooperate with Kandy rulers against Portuguese. Kandy rulers provide aids for battles in 1560. Ports under Tamil power were provided to Kandyan rulers with out a restrictions. No more fight erupted between Sinhalese and Tamils and it was apparent that they had common alliance against power of Portuguese. But Kandy was fell to the Sitawaka in 1582. In 1591, André Furtado de Mendonça invaded isolate Jaffna, killed king Puvirasa Pandaram and installed his son Ethirimanna Cinkam as client king. Vimaladharmasuriya I established a kingdom in Kandy in 1594. Yet again Jaffna started to cooperate with kingdom of Kandy and Portuguese influence in Jaffna was neutralized. Marriages between two royal families started to occur. Princesses of Jaffna had been married to Senarat's stepsons, Kumarasingha and Vijayapala. In 1619 Portuguese defeated the last rulers of Jaffna kingdom, Cankili II with a help from Portuguese Indian unit in Goa. Later in 1628 King Senerath invaded Jaffna with his two step sons Vijayapala and Kumarasingha.King Senerath was able to limit Portuguese powers only to the Colombo fort In 1658 Dutch invaded the Jaffna which was belonged to king Wimaladharmasuria I of Senkadagala. However when the Kandyan convention was signed with British, Jaffna was a part of a Kandyan kingdom.

Under and after British

British administration in later stages

After short time of signing the Kandyan Convention in 1815 between British and Sinhalese chiefs to deposition Nayak king, in 1833 British introduce Colebrooke-Cameron Commission based on recommendations of King George IV appointed Royal Commission. In which there were 3 local members. One Sinhalese and two people from minor nations. Most of the administration positions in the government were filled by the Tamils since most of the Sinhalese people didn't like to serve under British rule. But British tried to bring Sinhalese to the administration since at that time Sinhalese was the majority of the country with more than 75% of the total population of Sri Lanka. The reformed legislative council "First Manning Reforms", introduced in 1921 by the British was based on principles of Communal and territorial representation. Tamils rejected the proposal and demand 50% for minorities solely based on Communal representation. They proposed Soulbury Commission. Political tension between Sinhalese and Tamils were increased due to determining constitution of the future parliament. This inter ethnic and political stress led to the first Sinhala-Tamil riot in 1939. Some words exchanged between Mr Solomon Bandaranaike and Mr G. G. Ponnambalam. British started Colonies in dry zones. Before 1900 Tamils were restricted to Jaffna Peninsula. In 1936 British started Tamil colonies south to Paranthan.

Tamil nationalism in South Asia

Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact , Dudey-Chelvanayakam pact was proposed to reduce tension between Sinhalese and Tamils but it was rejected by majority Sinhalese saying Tamils trying to divide the country. This era there was a strong support for Dravidastan/ Dravida Nadu from Tamil politicians. In a pure Hindu Tamil country it wasn't clear the future for Muslims who were 40% of Sri Lanka's Eastern population and for Sinhalese.

Dravida Nadu

Dravidastan is a proposal new country in South Asia, by dividing Tamil Nadu from India, North & East provinces of Sri Lanka from Sri Lanka to create a pure Hindu Tamil country Dravida Nadu , which later extended to more Dravida territories in India and Sri Lanka. The movement for Dravida Nadu was at its height from 1940s to 1960s. Tamil politicians in both countries publicly supported the pure Tamil country.

Existence of armed groups

With the idea of creating a Pure Tamil country in divided India and Sri Lanka , it saw emergence of more than 30 Tamil militant groups in Sri Lanka in 1970s. Later Tamil Militant groups tried to take control of Northern province. Time to Time they attacked army solders. In 1983, 13 Sri Lankan army solders worked in North were severely massacred by these groups.

Black July

Black July was the Sinhalese response to killing 13 army solders in Jaffna. Some of the innocent Tamils were attacked and some of their properties were destroyed.

Pure Tamilism in North and East

All the nations except Tamil Hindus were ordered to leave from North within 24 hours. Muslims, a community of Tamil speaking non Hindus who stayed in North and East were massacred by LTTE. In Kachchankudi mosque more than 150 Muslims were massacred. Also LTTE executed 6000 police officers who worked in North & East.

Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009)

Sri Lanka Civil war was came to exist in major scale since 1983. It was happened mainly between Sri Lankan Armies and LTTE. There are four stages of the war namely Eelam War I,Eelam War II,Eelam War III, Eelam War IV. Indian Peace Keeping Force (1987–90) also fight against LTTE. Civil war was ended on 17 May 2009 when LTTE was defeated by Sri Lankan forces.

Assassinations

After the Civil War

Conflicts between Sinhalese and Tamils

Tamils resisting Sinhalese colonization in most low populated districts in Sri Lanka. North province consist with 5 districts in which Mannar, Vavuniya,Kilinochchi,Mullaitivu are recorded as districts of lowest population density. Government has expressed the possible housing schema for disabled war heroes in Mullaitivu district. Tamil politicians give strong opposite to settling disabled war heroes in North region saying the land is only belongs to Tamils (Traditional Tamil Lands).

Conflicts between Muslims and Tamils

Also there are conflicts between Tamils and Muslims for lands in Mannar district. Muslims and Tamils claims they needed the chief minister post in Eastern province of Sri Lanka. Most influenced political parties in the Eastern province come with either Tamil or Muslim ethnic background.

References

1. kings-of-sri-lanka-131ad-to-238ad mahavamsa.org
2. The Mahávansi, the Rájá-ratnácari, and the Rájá-vali. Parbury, Allen, and Co. 1833.
3. Shiva temple, Pollonnaruwa
4. The History of Sri Lanka By Patrick Peebles page 31
5. A history of Sri Lanka by K. M. De Silva Page 82
6. A Histroy of Sri Lanka by K.M. De Silva page 87
7. King Senerat
8. A Histroy of Sri Lanka K.M. De Silva, p. 64.
9. A Histroy of Sri Lanka by K.M. De Silva page 87
10. Don – Jao, The Black Prince of Lanka
12. Sri Lanka: Current Issues and Historical Background Walter Nubin, page 114
13. Language, Religion, and Ethnic Assertiveness By Kē. En. Ō Dharmadāsa, page 295 onward
14. Asian Tribune
15. The Island
16. Asian Tribune
17. The Hindu

• Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from August 2012