Conflict in Sri Lanka: Ground Realities - Tamil Nation & Beyond

of the Sinhala people, there is more to Sinhala ‘intransigence’.It is vital that the Tamils seek a deeper understanding of thefactors which drive this intransigence. A clue to this is to befound in a speech by S W R D Bandaranaike, the founder of theSinhala Maha Saba and the architect of the Sinhala Only policyof 1956 which marked the beginning of the Tamil struggle forself-rule.According to the Daily News of 8, November 1955, Bandaranaikemade the case for the Sinhala Only bill by arguing that “Withtheir books and culture and the will and strength characteristic oftheir race, the Tamils (if parity were granted) would soon rise toexert their dominant power over us”It was not just the Mahavamsa inspired notions of ‘primacy’that have been the impetus, but also something else-the fear ofdomination. Kumari Jayewardene’s reference to the self perceptionof the Sinhalese of being a ‘beleaguered’ people resonates withthis fear identified by Bandaranaike.As Nadesan Satyendra put it “We cannot go forward bydismissing the fears of the Sinhala people as ‘irrational’ orby suggesting that they are simply the handiwork of corruptSinhala politicians or ‘evil’ Buddhist priests. Nor shouldthese fears be dismissed simply as a consequence of the‘Mahavamsa’ mind set” 10Conclusion:A political solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka requires reexamination of previously held views so that all parties involvedin this conflict can realise their goals by agreeing on politicalstructures to enable the two nations in the Island of Sri Lanka32