1. Describe the ethnic composition of Belgium and Sri Lanka.
2. Describe any three majoritarian measures adopted by the democratically elected Sri Lankan government
to establish Sinhala supremacy.
3. Mention any three demands of Sri Lankan Tamils.
4. Why power sharing is desirable? Give reasons.
5. What is meant by horizontal and vertical distribution of power? Explain.
6. Highlight any three measures adopted by the Belgian Government to accommodate regional and
cultural diversities.
Answers
Answer:
1] SRI LANKA
There were two major groups SINHALAS AND TAMILS. The Sinhalas make up 74% of its total population, the TAMILS were 18% and the rest were the community of Christians. IN TAMILS there were to sub categories , Indian TAMILS whose forefathers came here as plantation workers and the Sri Lankan TAMILS.
BELGIUM
Its ethnic composition was very complex. They were The French, The Dutch and The Germans. The French had a majority in the capital (80%) and the minority in the country(40%). The Dutch had a majority in the country (59%) while a minority in the capital (20%) city of Brussels. The Germans were only 1% in the whole country.
2]The series of majoritarian measures adopted by the democratically elected government were as follows:
(i) In 1956, an act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the official language thus disregarding Tamil.
(ii) The government followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
(iii) A new Constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
3]The demands made by the Sri Lankan Tamils were as follows: 1. To recognise Tamil language as an official language. 2. Regional autonomy. 3. Equality of opportunities in securing education and jobs. 4.An independent state – Tamil Eelam – in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
4]Why power sharing is desirable? Power-sharing is desirable due to the following reasons. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict and clashes between social groups. Secondly, a democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects
5]
6]1.the Constitution prescribed that the number of Dutch speaking and French speaking minister shall be equal in the state govt.
2. Many power of the central govt had given to state govt.
3.Brussel has a separate govt in which both communities have equal representative. The French speaking community accepted equal representation in Brussels becoz the Dutch speaking community accepted equal representation in central govt.
Explanation: