Sri Lanka
Current Situation
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Capital - Colombo |
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Population – 21.3 million |
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Language – Sinhala (official and national language), Tamil (national language) |
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Nationality – Sri Lankan |
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Size – 65,610 sq km |
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Geography – Island country in the Pacific Ocean, 31 kms south of India |
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Major religions – Buddhism (70%), Islam (7.5%), Hinduism (15%), Christianity (7.5%) |
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Ethnic communities – Sinhalese, (74%) Tamil (18%), Moslem (7.5%), Burgher, Veddha (Indigenous), Eurasian, Malay (0.5%) |
Sri Lanka experienced a civil war for over 25 years spurred by ethnic tensions which surfaced between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamil ethnic groups after the nation’s independence from British rule in 1948. These tensions and competing nationalisms centered around political power, minority rights and economic opportunities.
This ethnic war, which developed and gained momentum from the 1970s as a result of Tamil claims for self-determination and national identity, was mainly between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), fighting to establish a separate state in the northern and eastern provinces. The Muslims, the second largest minority group, were also caught up in the bloody conflict.
Both sides were responsible for severe violations of human rights. Civilians, not just combatants, suffered terribly during the war. The LTTE was listed by many governments as a terrorist organisation.
Act for Peace in Sri Lanka
Act for Peace is working with partners in the region, both in Sri Lanka and in Tamil Nadu, the south-eastern Indian state near Sri Lanka. Partners work to ensure internally displaced people (IDP) and refugees will have the support and skills to rebuild their lives and Sri Lanka. In the meantime, we are working to ensure that IDP and refugee camps have the resources necessary to operate.
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Can provide five blankets and five mosquito nets for families arriving in displaced persons camps
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Can put a female refugee through a women’s empowerment course. |
