The document provides background information on the conflict between Tamils and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. It discusses how Tamils have faced discrimination, violations of rights, and ethnic cleansing over several decades under the centralized rule of the Sinhalese majority. While Tamils initially pursued non-violent political action, the government responded with violence and failed to address their legitimate grievances, pushing them to take up arms in their struggle for self-determination and an independent state.

1. Sri Lanka: One Island, Two Nations Presentation for: Tamil Americans and Friends (TAaF)

4. History Two different nations from a very ancient period have divided between them the possession of the Island. First the Sinhalese, inhabiting the interior of the country in its Southern and Western parts, and secondly the Malabars (Tamils) who possess the Northern and Eastern Districts. These two nations differ entirely in their religion, language and manners . The Cleghorn Minute In 1799 June, Sir Hugh Cleghorn, the first British Colonial Secretary wrote to the British Government… “ ”

7. THE PROBLEM Three Fundamental Elements

12. TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION NON-VIOLENCE (1948 – 1976) Tamils Response to State Discrimination:

13. TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION Tamil Political Leaders protested against the “Sinhala only Act”, in front of the parliament (5 June 1956) Sinhalese assaulted the picketers and the attack spread the whole island. NON-VIOLENCE

14. School Girls Marching against ethnic based standardization (1972) TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION NON-VIOLENCE

16. Systematic Genocide of Tamils 1956.. 1958.. 1961.. 1974.. 1977.. 1979.. 1981.. 1983.. .. 2008 Anti-Tamil Pogrom 1983 Government sponsored Sinhala Thugs tortured a Tamil Man, then poured gasoline on him and burnt him alive (July 1983)

17. TURNING POINT - 1976 TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION: NON-VIOLENCE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE : VIOLENCE

21. TAMIL NATIONAL MILITARY (LTTE) Today, a Conventional Tamil Armed Force. (Ground Forces, Naval Force, Air Force, Police, Intelligence Service)

22. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 2002 Ceasefire Monitored by Scandinavian Countries (Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission - SLMM) Direct Dialogue Facilitated By the Royal Norwegian Government

27. Supported by Extremist Buddhist Monks Party (JHU), view Srilanka as a Sinhala-Buddhist nation, Burning Norway Flag Associated Press Photo November 2005 November 2005 Election of President Rajapakse

29. Violence after Election of President Rajapakse Targeted Killing of Tamil Civilians Mother raped and killed. Children brutalized and Hanged. Father forced to see all these, and shot dead. ( Venkalai, 9 June 2006)

32. US Foreign Policy & Role Toward Sri Lanka and Tamils

34. The USA had placed LTTE on the FTO list R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, (Colombo, Sri Lanka - January 23, 2006) We brand LTTE as terrorist organization for using violence as a ‘political weapon’. But the Tamil population has legitimate grievances, and they must be respected by the majority population, and there has to be a way for the Tamils to be able to articulate those grievances. I must say that this long conflict is only going to come to an end when the LTTE and the government sit down and find a way forward to end this conflict. “ ”

37. US GOVERNMENT Mr. Richard Boucher Assistant US Secretary of State [Colombo; 26 June 2006] Though we reject the methods that the Tamil Tigers have used, there are legitimate issues raised by the Tamil community and they have a very legitimate desire, as anybody would, to control their own lives, to rule their own destinies, and to govern themselves in their homeland, in the areas they’ve traditionally inhabited. - “ ”

46. Kosovo & Tamil Eelam What is good for Kosovo is good for Tamil Eelam

48. Thank You! Voice of Tamils from the Land of Liberty