Question

Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka?

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Answer 1

The dominant community in the Sri Lanka is Sinhalese, and their rule for majority was called as Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka.

Explanation:

• The rule of government where the government is considerate for only the majority community in the country and sidelines the state of minorities is said to be a majoritarian rule.
• The Sinhala community is the largest and the dominant community in Sri Lanka forming around 74% of the total population as in 1981.
• The Sri Lankan Tamils forms the country's largest minority group with about 17% of the total population. Other minority groups includes Muslims, and Christians.
• In 1956, an act was passed by the Sri Lankan government which made Sinhalese the official language of the country, and from then onwards all the official works of the country was to be done in Sinhalese.
• But with this, the language of the Sri Lankan Tamils, that is the Tamil language was sidelined.
• Also, in various official jobs and universities only people belonging to Sinhalese communities were admitted and Tamils were taken out. This gross discrimination led the Sri Lankan Tamils to protest against the government and to demand their rights.
• They wanted Tamil to be recognised as the official language, and equality to the Tamils in official jobs and universities.
• But the government turned all their demands, and the protest became violent which led to various clashes between these communities and finally into a Civil War of Sri Lanka.

Answer 2

Majoritarianism in Sri lanka

• The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority. • Various Majoritarian measures adopted by government.

1) Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948.

2) In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil

3) The government followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.

4) A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.