Ever since the British left Sri Lanka in 1948, the Sinhalese people govern their country and Implemented a lot of changes. Ban Dara Nan Ke the first governor of Sri lanka made the Ceylon Citizenship act in 1948 for the Sinhalese people only, leaving out the Tamils in Sri Lanka as they were not originally from Sri lanka. Followed by the Resettlement Policy, where the poor Sinhalese people where move to the northern and southern parts of Sri Lanka where most of the Tamils lived so as to dilute the Tamil population. The Tamils were not very happy with this as their land and citizenship were taken away from them.
AMITHNAL RAHUL and his younger brother DIYON RANUGA were walking their way back home from their part time work as tea boys.
“ Boys! You are back just in time for my vegetable curry to be finish for dinner.” their mother KALATHMA SUBAJA opening her hands to welcoming them back.
“ We made 7 Ruppies today enough to pay for our school fees if we add the up with what we earn during the last three weeks.” RANUGA said excitedly
“ Ok . Boys just go and get ready to eat dinner while I close the door.” replied their mother.
As the three of them sat around the food chanting their prayers they were interrupted by a phone call rang, . Their mother went to pick it up, it was their father SUVIK VINSANDA. As their mother put down the phone she said “ Your father would be coming back rather late as he needs to do double shifts.”
“ So what are you going to do when you get your O' level results back RAHUL ?” RANUGA asked curiously.
“ Well I thought of going to Uva Wellassa University, which is one of the best university in Sri Lanka as my results are the top in the school, but my Sinhalese still needs to improve as it is needed in Sri Lanka now since the Official Language Act in 1956.” RAHUL replied while taking a sip of water. “But later after I graduate, I will find a high paying job to buy the dream house that mum always wanted , the car that dad always wanted and the toy you always wanted.” RAHUL assured RANUGA
As the days go by RAHUL got more eager and eager to see his results. Telling every body what he would do when he get it back.
“Mom, Mom, guess what I got back from school. It is my O' level slip and I got 3A2s, 2B3s and my Sinhalese got a B4” RAHUL came running back home waving a piece of paper.
At the very next day, RAHUL went to the university to apply for the school administration. When he came back his face was in a glum state, as the whole family sat around the table RAHUL explained “ The university said that I needed 4A1s and 2B3s to go in to the university and the university that accept me is the one that is nine kilometers away from home and is one of the worst university. And the Sinhalese who got lower than me got in.”
During the next few days RAHUL work as a low paying cashier in a supermarket earning up to 32 ruppies a day. This continued until RANUGA also took his O' level but cannot enter the university due to the same reason as RAHUL.
Then they both heard from some men that they have a university for them to enter , and so they both entered the university. During their time in the university they join the Tamil United Liberation fount were taught how to us guns and military combat techniques as payment for their school fees. In 1983 the Tamil United Liberation fount change their name to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and attack the local Sinhalese villagers to show their unhappiness to the Sinhalese better treatment.
What could have been done to prevent this civil war ? Could the British have treated both Tamils and Sinhalese equally when they colonies Sri Lanka ?
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