The Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009)

The Sri Lankan Civil War was a brutal and protracted conflict that took place from 1983 to 2009 between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the northern and eastern parts of the island. The war resulted in significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and severe economic and social impacts on Sri Lanka. The roots of the conflict lay in deep-seated ethnic tensions between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority, exacerbated by political, social, and economic inequalities.

Background and Origins
Colonial Legacy and Ethnic Tensions:
British Colonial Rule: Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, was a British colony from 1815 until it gained independence in 1948. During British rule, the Tamils, particularly the Sri Lankan Tamils from the northern and eastern regions, were favored in the colonial administration, leading to resentment among the Sinhalese majority.

Ethnic Composition: Sri Lanka’s population is predominantly Sinhalese (around 74%), with Tamils making up about 15%. The Tamils are divided into Sri Lankan Tamils, who have lived on the island for over a millennium, and Indian Tamils, who were brought by the British to work on tea plantations. The Sinhalese are mostly Buddhist, while the Tamils are primarily Hindu, with significant Christian minorities among both groups.

Post-Independence Tensions: After independence in 1948, the Sinhalese-majority government implemented policies that favored Sinhalese culture and language, such as the Sinhala Only Act of 1956, which made Sinhala the official language of Sri Lanka. These policies marginalized the Tamil minority, fueling ethnic tensions and resentment.

Rise of Tamil Nationalism:
Political Marginalization: The Tamil population increasingly felt alienated by the Sinhalese-dominated government, leading to the rise of Tamil nationalist movements. Tamil political parties initially sought federalism and greater autonomy within a united Sri Lanka. However, continued political marginalization led some Tamil groups to demand full independence.

Formation of the LTTE: In 1976, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was founded by Velupillai Prabhakaran. The LTTE aimed to create an independent Tamil state, Tamil Eelam, in the northern and eastern provinces. The group adopted guerrilla warfare tactics and became the dominant force among Tamil militant groups, known for its discipline, effectiveness, and ruthlessness.

The Outbreak of War
Black July (1983):
Anti-Tamil Riots: The Sri Lankan Civil War is often considered to have begun with the anti-Tamil pogrom known as Black July in July 1983. The violence was triggered by an LTTE ambush that killed 13 Sri Lankan soldiers. In retaliation, Sinhalese mobs, often with the complicity of security forces, attacked Tamil homes, businesses, and individuals across the country. Hundreds of Tamils were killed, thousands were displaced, and many fled the country.

Escalation of Conflict: The violence of Black July radicalized many Tamils and swelled the ranks of the LTTE. The LTTE and other Tamil militant groups began to launch more organized and deadly attacks against the Sri Lankan government, marking the start of the civil war.

Phases of the Civil War
First Eelam War (1983–1987):
Early Battles: The initial phase of the war saw the LTTE engage in guerrilla warfare against the Sri Lankan military. The conflict was marked by brutal violence on both sides, including massacres of civilians and widespread human rights abuses.

Indian Intervention: Concerned about the growing conflict and the plight of the Tamil population, India attempted to mediate. In 1987, under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, India sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to disarm the LTTE and enforce peace. However, the IPKF soon became embroiled in fighting with the LTTE, leading to a complicated and unpopular intervention.

Second Eelam War (1990–1995):
Renewed Fighting: After the withdrawal of the IPKF in 1990, fighting resumed with even greater intensity. The LTTE expanded its control over large parts of the north and east, while the Sri Lankan government launched major offensives to retake these areas.

LTTE’s Tactics: The LTTE became notorious for its use of suicide bombings, including the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993. These tactics demonstrated the group’s ability to strike far beyond the battlefield.

Third Eelam War (1995–2002):
Major Military Operations: The mid-1990s saw significant military operations by the Sri Lankan government, including Operation Riviresa, which captured the LTTE stronghold of Jaffna. However, the LTTE continued to launch devastating counterattacks and maintain control over other areas.

Failed Peace Attempts: Despite several attempts at peace negotiations, including a Norwegian-brokered ceasefire in 2002, the conflict continued. The LTTE and the government accused each other of violating ceasefires and undermining peace efforts.

Fourth Eelam War (2006–2009):
Renewed Hostilities: In 2006, full-scale war broke out again after the collapse of the peace process. The Sri Lankan government, under President Mahinda Rajapaksa, launched a determined military campaign to defeat the LTTE. The war was characterized by fierce battles, including the capture of key LTTE strongholds.

Defeat of the LTTE: By 2008, the Sri Lankan military had regained control of most LTTE-held territory. In early 2009, the Sri Lankan army launched a final offensive that cornered the remaining LTTE fighters in a small area of northeastern Sri Lanka. On May 18, 2009, Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed, effectively ending the LTTE’s military campaign.

The Aftermath of the War
Humanitarian Impact:
Casualties and Displacement: The Sri Lankan Civil War resulted in the deaths of an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people, although some estimates are higher. The conflict caused widespread displacement, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes, many of whom remained in refugee camps long after the war ended.

Human Rights Violations: Both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE were accused of serious human rights violations during the war, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture, and the use of child soldiers. The final stages of the war, in particular, were marked by allegations of war crimes, with reports of indiscriminate shelling in civilian areas and summary executions.

Post-War Reconciliation and Reconstruction
Reconstruction Efforts: After the war, the Sri Lankan government embarked on a program of reconstruction and development in the war-torn north and east. Infrastructure was rebuilt, and displaced people were resettled. However, progress was uneven, and many Tamil-majority areas remained economically disadvantaged.

Challenges of Reconciliation: Reconciliation between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities has been slow and fraught with challenges. The government’s approach to post-war reconciliation has been criticized for focusing on economic development while neglecting issues of justice and accountability for wartime abuses.

International Pressure: Sri Lanka has faced international pressure to investigate and prosecute those responsible for war crimes during the conflict. The United Nations and various human rights organizations have called for accountability, but the Sri Lankan government’s response has been inconsistent, with efforts often hindered by political resistance and a lack of political will.

Legacy of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Ethnic Relations: The civil war deepened ethnic divisions in Sri Lanka, and while the conflict has officially ended, tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority persist. Efforts at building a cohesive national identity have been complicated by the lingering effects of the war.

Political Landscape: The war significantly altered Sri Lanka’s political landscape, with the government emerging as the dominant force. The post-war period has seen increased centralization of power and a focus on national security, often at the expense of civil liberties and minority rights.

Global Implications: The Sri Lankan Civil War is often studied as a case of ethnic conflict and insurgency, providing lessons for understanding the complexities of civil wars, counterinsurgency strategies, and post-conflict reconstruction.

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