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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SESSION 2020-21

CLASS-X

POLITICAL SCIENCE-Ch-1-POWER SHARING

Lesson Notes

SUB-TOPIC-2

Introduction- Case Study-Sri Lanka

Sub-Topic Notes
Case Study of
Sri Lanka

Majoritarianism
in Sri Lanka:

1. Like other nations in the south Asia region, Sri Lanka has a diverse
population.
2. The Sinhala speaks are 74% and Tamil speakers are 18%
3. Among Tamils, there are two sub groups, Tamil natives of the country are
called “Sri Lankan Tamils”; the rest whose forefathers came from India as a
population workers during the colonial period, is called „Indian Tamils‟
4. Sri Lankan emerged as an independent country in 1948.
5. The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over
the government by virtue of their majority.
6. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official
language, thus disregarding Tamil.
7. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster
Buddhism.
8. All these coming measures, coming one after the other, gradually
increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
9. As a result, the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities
strained over time.
10. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles.