By Jeyan Pillai &
Gopinath Amarasingham
Two local immigrants from Sri Lanka share their perspective on the nation’s recent history, warfare, and the need for US citizens to understand & support their efforts

Sri Lanka, once prosperous and known as a paradise in the Indian Ocean, is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today. The origins of the current violence go back to the island’s independence in 1948. Nationalists from the Sinhala majority (74% of the population) passed laws discriminating against the minority populations – Tamils (18%) and Muslims (6%).

Violence escalated over the years, until 2002 when Tamil rebels and the Government of Sri Lanka entered into a cease-fire agreement with the backing of international donors. Unfortunately, the money obtained for peace efforts was diverted into war machinery. The Sri Lankan government has now withdrawn from the cease fire agreement.

The Sri Lankan government’s decision in September 2008 to ban most humanitarian agencies from the conflict zone endangers many. Aid cannot reach thousands of civilians in need. The United Nations has called the situation an “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.”

On average, 75 die and 200 more are injured daily. More than 3,000 civilians have reportedly been killed and 8,000 more wounded since January.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Sri Lankan government of indiscriminately shelling civilian populations to eradicate Tamil Tiger rebels, and civilians who escape the combat zone are forced into military-run camps with no freedom of movement.

If you would like to support and speak out for these civilians, please join us for an informational event to learn more about the plight of Sri Lanka, and hear our stories, on Thursday, June 18, 7pm  at UU of Buffalo.