Civil war in Sri Lanka

Civil war in Sri Lanka
Conflict	Civil war in Sri Lanka
Caption	Topographic map of Sri Lanka
Date	23 July 1983 – 18 May 2009
Place	Sri Lanka
Result	Sri Lankan government victory
Combatant1	Government of Sri Lanka, • Sri Lanka Armed Forces, Supported by:, • India (1987–1990), • Pakistan, • China, • Israel, • United States (2001–2009)
Combatant2	Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Supported by:, • Tamil Nadu (sympathizers), • Diaspora networks
Commander1	• J. R. Jayewardene, • Ranasinghe Premadasa, • Chandrika Kumaratunga, • Mahinda Rajapaksa, • Sarath Fonseka
Commander2	• Velupillai Prabhakaran, • Pottu Amman, • Soosai

Civil war in Sri Lanka. The conflict was a protracted armed struggle fought on the island nation of Sri Lanka from 1983 to 2009. It primarily pitted the government, dominated by the Sinhalese majority, against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who sought an independent state called Tamil Eelam in the north and east. The war was marked by extreme brutality, including major conventional battles, terrorist attacks, and severe human rights violations, ending with the military defeat of the LTTE.

Background and causes

The roots of the conflict lie in post-independence policies perceived as discriminatory by the Tamil minority. The passage of the Sinhala Only Act in 1956 established Sinhala as the sole official language, marginalizing Tamil speakers. Subsequent measures, including standardized university admissions favoring Sinhalese students and state-sponsored colonization schemes in traditional Tamil areas like the Eastern Province, fueled grievances. Anti-Tamil riots, such as those in 1958 and 1983, catalyzed militancy. Organizations like the LTTE emerged from this climate, advocating violent secession from the central government in Colombo.

Major phases and timeline

The war's initial phase (1983–1987) involved escalating guerrilla warfare by the LTTE against the Sri Lanka Army. The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987 led to the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Jaffna, which then fought the LTTE until its withdrawal in 1990. The second Eelam War (1990–1995) included the LTTE's siege of Jaffna Fort and the Battle of Pooneryn. The third Eelam War (1995–2002) saw major government offensives like Operation Riviresa to recapture the Jaffna Peninsula. A ceasefire, brokered by Norway in 2002, collapsed by 2006. The final, decisive phase (2006–2009) included the government's capture of Eastern Province in 2007 and culminated in the bloody Battle of Mullaitivu on the Nandikadal Lagoon.

Key military and political actors

The government side was led successively by Presidents J. R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Kumaratunga, and Mahinda Rajapaksa. Military strategy was executed by commanders like General Sarath Fonseka of the Sri Lanka Army. The principal rebel force was the LTTE, led by its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and intelligence chief Pottu Amman. The LTTE's naval wing, the Sea Tigers, was commanded by Soosai. Other Tamil militant groups, such as the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), were largely eliminated or sidelined by the LTTE. International actors included peace facilitator Norway and military suppliers like Pakistan, China, and Israel.

Human rights and humanitarian impact

The conflict resulted in catastrophic loss of life, with estimates ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 killed. The LTTE was notorious for suicide bombings, including the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and Ranasinghe Premadasa, and the use of child soldiers. Government forces were accused of widespread shelling in no-fire zones and extrajudicial killings. The final months saw immense civilian suffering in the Vanni region, documented by groups like the United Nations and ICRC. Key incidents include the 1990 massacre of policemen and the Trincomalee massacre. Hundreds of thousands were internally displaced, with many fleeing to camps like Menik Farm.

Peace efforts and international involvement

Multiple peace attempts were made, most notably the Norwegian-brokered 2002 Ceasefire Agreement monitored by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. Talks were held in locations like Geneva and Oslo, but foundered on issues such as the LTTE's demand for an interim Tamil Eelam administration. The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord led to the failed IPKF intervention. Other nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan (as part of the Tokyo Donor Group), attempted to leverage aid for peace. The European Union proscribed the LTTE as a terrorist organization in 2006, impacting its diaspora funding.

Aftermath and legacy

The war ended with the government's victory in May 2009 and the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran. President Mahinda Rajapaksa oversaw a period of triumphalist reconstruction and rapid economic development, particularly in Hambantota. However, allegations of war crimes by both sides, documented in the United Nations-backed Darusman report and the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), remain unresolved. The Tamil-majority Northern Province remains heavily militarized. Political tensions persist, exemplified by the rise of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the 2019 Easter bombings by Islamist extremists, in a nation still grappling with the war's deep ethnic divisions.

Category:Wars involving Sri Lanka Category:Separatist conflicts in Asia Category:20th century in Sri Lanka Category:21st century in Sri Lanka