Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for recognition of Tamil as an official language, regional autonomy and equality of opportunity. Their demands were repeatedly denied. By the 1980s, several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam. The distrust between the two communities turned into a civil war, causing thousands of deaths and displacing many families.
(i) Identify any two specific majoritarian measures taken by the Sri Lankan government that discriminated against the Tamil community. (1 mark)
(ii) Why did the Sri Lankan Tamils ultimately demand the creation of a separate state called Tamil Eelam? (1 mark)
(iii) What does the Sri Lankan experience tell us about the consequences of refusing to share power with minority communities? (2 marks)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:17 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) Two majoritarian measures taken against Tamils:
- Sinhala was declared the only official language (1956), disregarding Tamil.
- Preferential policies favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
(ii) The Sri Lankan Tamils' demands for recognition of Tamil as an official language, regional autonomy, and equality of opportunity were repeatedly denied. This growing discrimination and alienation led several political organisations by the 1980s to demand a separate independent state — Tamil Eelam.
(iii) Sri Lanka's experience shows that refusing to share power with minorities leads to feelings of alienation and distrust. It can turn political conflict into a civil war, causing loss of lives, displacement of families, and severe setbacks to the social, cultural, and economic life of the entire country.
Source: Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka, Chapter 1
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Explanation
- (i) is 1 mark — name exactly two measures from the passage; don't elaborate.
- (ii) is 1 mark — the key cause is repeated denial of demands; keep it to 2–3 lines.
- (iii) is 2 marks — examiner expects two clear consequences: internal conflict/civil war AND broader socio-economic damage. Use passage evidence ("thousands killed," "families displaced," "setback to social, cultural and economic life"). Avoid vague statements; quote the text closely.