I. Discussion of the causes of the separation problem in Sri Lanka:
(i) Jaffna Province of Sri Lanka has a large concentration of Tamil population. The problem became serious when Tamilians began demanding a national homeland or "Eelam" in northern Sri Lanka. It is important to understand that there are essentially two categories of Tamilians in Sri Lanka.
(ii) The Ceylon Tamils whose forefathers had migrated to Sri Lanka centuries ago. They are estimated to be one million. The second category is of Indian Tamils whose forefathers were taken by the Britishers as plantation workers in the 19th century. They are another one million, many of them without citizenship. The problem of their status dominated early India-Sri Lanka relations. The conflict with Ceylon Tamils came later.
(iii) The Sinhalese fear Tamil domination, which is the principal reason behind the ethnic conflict. The difference between the two communities was exploited by British rulers in order to check the growing Sinhalese nationalism. The Tamils were allowed to enter the administration structure and thus gradually took control of the trade and profession.
(iv) Scarce economic resources and opportunities plus the majority pressure from its own people forced the Government of Sri Lanka to pass a series of steps to reduce the importance of Tamils- Indian and the Ceylonees.
(v) The representation of Tamilians in public service in 1948 was 30 percent, but by 1975 it had fallen to mere 5 percent. Sinhalese were encouraged to settle down in Tamil dominated in large numbers. areas
(vi) The citizenship law of 1948 and 1949 had deprived about 10 lakh Indian Tamils of political rights. The Tamil youth who had lost faith in non-violence organised themselves into Liberation Tigers. The aim of these 'Tigers' is a sovereign Tamil State of Eelam.
(vii) The issue of Tamilians, and the policy pursued by the government cast a dark shadow on Indo-Sri Lanka relations. India from time to time complained against the discriminatory policy of the Ceylon Government.
(viii) The agreement of 1964 sought to solve the problem of stateless persons (Indian Tamils) in Sri Lanka. About 3 lakhs of these people were to be granted Sri Lankan citizenship and about 6 lakh 25 thousand persons were to be given citizenship of India. These people were given 15 years time to shift to India in instalments.
(ix) Later in 1974, the fate of the remaining 1 lakh 50 thousand stateless persons was decided. It was agreed between the two countries that half of them were to be given citizenship of Sri Lanka and the rest would become Indian nationals. Thus, the issue of stateless persons was sorted out peacefully between the two countries.
(x) A territorial dispute arose between India and Sri Lanka over the ownership of one mile long and only 300 yard wide small island known as Kacchativu, in 1968. In 1974 under the agreement signed between the two countries, India accepted Sri Lankan ownership of the island.
II. History of Tamil Separatism and impact on India:
(a) The ethnic problem between Tamils and Sinhalese had a long history. It assumed serious proportions in 1983. As the gulf between the communities developed, militancy, separatist organisations became active.
(b) Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) demanded separate homeland for Tamils in 1988 Tamil Eelam. A reign of terror was unleashed against the agitating Tamils in 1983. .
(c) During 1983-86, about 2 lakh Tamils were rendered homeless. Racial riots, the worst in history, made thousands of Tamils refugees in India.
III. Steps taken by India to resolve separatism problem:
1. India offered to help resolve the crisis but it was interpreted as "Indian intervention in Sri Lanka" on behalf of the Tamils. When the situation became grim India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement in 1987.
2. India offered military assistance under the Accord. The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was sent to Sri Lanka to help restore normalcy in the country. The deployment of IPKF was also an extension of India's policy of reminding Sri Lanka and outside powers that if their involvement inside the region were to have an anti-Indian orientation, New Delhi would not remain a mute spectator.
3. Though the accord of 1987 was a triumph of Indian diplomacy, it proved to be costly for India. India lost about 12,000 soldiers, and it cost Rs. 2 crore a day on IPKF in the height of its involvement.
4. The worst part was that the Tamils turned against IPKF and a fighting broke out between the two. Rajiv Gandhi, the architect of India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987 was assassinated in 1991 at the behest of LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
5. India encouraged Sri Lanka to invite the peace process between Tamils and Sinhalese. In 1998 Sri Lanka invited Norway to work out a peaceful solution to the ethnic problem.
6. India stands for the unity of Sri Lanka. The greatest milestone of this process was the ceasefire agreement of 2002 between LTTE and Sri Lanka and the revival of the dialogue between the two.
7. From India's long-term point of view, Norway recognized India's legitimate interests in Sri Lanka and stated that it has no desire to come in the way of any Indian initiative to end the conflict in the region.
