Dead bodies could be seen everywhere, houses were wrecked and destroyed. The surroundings were covered with blood and remains of the wrecked buildings. Many people were grieving over their deceased relatives which had died. Gunshots could be heard from the villages where the Sinhalese lived. It was in the mid of 1976 after the Tamil United Liberation Front was formed and it started a civil war between the Sinhalese and the Tamils.
Velupillai a 14 year old teenager, inspired to be a Government Official when he grows up. In 1948, after Sri Lanka (Ceylon) had gained its independence, the Sinhalese Government issued a Ceylon Citizen Act denying the citizenships of the Indian Tamils. Thus, 1 million Tamils were left stateless as they had left India to work in Sri Lanka for a long period of time. Many Tamils including Velupillai’s parents tried to apply for the citizenship but to no avail.
Two years later, the Government issued a Resettlement Policy. Leaving the Tamils outnumbered by the Sinhalese living around them. Hence, they went to stay in Jaffna where most of the Tamils lived. Velupillai studied hard hoping he could get into University and graduate and work as a Government Official. Finally, after years of hard work Velupillai manage to get into University. He studied hard and managed to get A’s for all of his subjects.
“Yes! This is my last year of University and I can apply to be a Government Official after I graduate!” shouted Velupillai.
“Congrats my boy, you had worked hard and you deserve it,” said his father.
However, at the last year of his studies in University, 1956, the Sinhalese Government issued an Official Language Act stating that only Sinhala could only be used in schools instead of English. After Velupillai heard the news, he was filled with hatred and anger as he wanted to work as a Government Official so he could improve the lives of the Tamils and giving them equal rights as the Sinhalese. At the end, Velupillai did not manage to pass his examinations therefore; he could only find jobs which only require little education. 4 years later, Velupillai got married and had a son with his wife. Velupillai wanted his son to study in University.
Years past and in 1972, the Sinhalese Government had issue a new university admission criteria stating that the Tamils had to score higher in order to get into University while the Sinhalese could score lower than the Tamils. In the end, Rajaa, Velupillai’s son did not make it to University. Therefore, the Tamils went to seek for the Government and said they wanted Independence. But the Sinhalese Government refused to do so. The Tamils were unhappy with the Sinhalese and they wanted revenge!
With much anger and hatred in Velupillai, he formed the Tamil United Liberation Front also known as the ‘Tamil Tigers’ in 1976. Then a civil war started. The Tamil Tigers were fighting against the Sinhalese’s military troupe. Many innocent people had died or received severe injuries. Houses, buildings and Temples were destroyed and dead bodies were lying everywhere.
Velupillai a 14 year old teenager, inspired to be a Government Official when he grows up. In 1948, after Sri Lanka (Ceylon) had gained its independence, the Sinhalese Government issued a Ceylon Citizen Act denying the citizenships of the Indian Tamils. Thus, 1 million Tamils were left stateless as they had left India to work in Sri Lanka for a long period of time. Many Tamils including Velupillai’s parents tried to apply for the citizenship but to no avail.
Two years later, the Government issued a Resettlement Policy. Leaving the Tamils outnumbered by the Sinhalese living around them. Hence, they went to stay in Jaffna where most of the Tamils lived. Velupillai studied hard hoping he could get into University and graduate and work as a Government Official. Finally, after years of hard work Velupillai manage to get into University. He studied hard and managed to get A’s for all of his subjects.
“Yes! This is my last year of University and I can apply to be a Government Official after I graduate!” shouted Velupillai.
“Congrats my boy, you had worked hard and you deserve it,” said his father.
However, at the last year of his studies in University, 1956, the Sinhalese Government issued an Official Language Act stating that only Sinhala could only be used in schools instead of English. After Velupillai heard the news, he was filled with hatred and anger as he wanted to work as a Government Official so he could improve the lives of the Tamils and giving them equal rights as the Sinhalese. At the end, Velupillai did not manage to pass his examinations therefore; he could only find jobs which only require little education. 4 years later, Velupillai got married and had a son with his wife. Velupillai wanted his son to study in University.
Years past and in 1972, the Sinhalese Government had issue a new university admission criteria stating that the Tamils had to score higher in order to get into University while the Sinhalese could score lower than the Tamils. In the end, Rajaa, Velupillai’s son did not make it to University. Therefore, the Tamils went to seek for the Government and said they wanted Independence. But the Sinhalese Government refused to do so. The Tamils were unhappy with the Sinhalese and they wanted revenge!
With much anger and hatred in Velupillai, he formed the Tamil United Liberation Front also known as the ‘Tamil Tigers’ in 1976. Then a civil war started. The Tamil Tigers were fighting against the Sinhalese’s military troupe. Many innocent people had died or received severe injuries. Houses, buildings and Temples were destroyed and dead bodies were lying everywhere.
Are the Tamils going to gain their independence? When will this civil war end?
1 comment:
pro :D
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