Question

Why did Sri Lankan government adopt a series of majoritarian measures?

Answer 1

After independence in 1948 the democratically elected Sri Lankan Government adopted a series of Majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy by passing an Act in 1956. The measures were like;
(i) Sinhala was recognised as the only official language in Sri Lanka. Tamil language was not given due importance.
(ii) The Sri Lankan Government formulated a policy in which only Sinhala applicants were preferred for job in university and other
Government jobs.
(iii) The new constitution of Sri Lanka declared that the Buddhism would be promoted by the state.
(iv) Thus, all these government measures coming after one another, gradually increased the feeling of alienation.

Answer 2

The Srilankan govt. or better the Sinhalese Govt. decided to adapt a series of Majoritarian rules as they were the majority of Sri Lanka and believed that they had the sole right to govern Sri Lanka by their own whims and wishes non-respectant to any small religion