This document provides a historical overview of relations between the Tamil and Sinhala peoples in Sri Lanka over several centuries. It describes how the Tamils and Sinhalese originally lived in separate kingdoms that were later conquered by European colonial powers. In the 20th century, the island was unified under British rule and then gained independence in 1948, after which the Sinhala majority government implemented discriminatory policies against Tamils and suppressed calls for Tamil self-determination, leading to the emergence of an armed separatist movement. The document outlines key events in the escalating conflict between 1972-1983.

1. History of two nations In the island of Srilanka Part 1 of 2 SINHALA TAMIL

19. 1979 - Emergency Regulations & Prevention of Terrorism Act to give draconian powers to brutalise Tamils to give impunity to the armed forces. " The South African Terrorism Act has been called 'A piece of legislation which must shock the conscience of a lawyer.' Many of the provisions of the Sri Lankan Prevention of Terrorism Act are equally contrary to accepted principles of the Rule of Law." - Virginia Leary; Ethnic Conflict and Violence in Sri Lanka: Report of a Mission to Sri Lanka on behalf of the International Commission of Jurists, July/August 1981 This Prevention of Terrorism Act is still in force and so far an estimated 70,000 Tamil civilians have been killed by the Sri Lankan armed forces.

24. 1983 anti Tamil pogrom "Motorists were dragged from their cars to be stoned and beaten with sticks... Others were cut down with knives and axes." -London Daily Telegraph 26 July 1983 "The impact of the communal violence on the Tamils was shattering... The evidence points clearly to the conclusion that the violence of the Sinhala rioters on the Tamils amounted to Acts of Genocide." - The Review, International Commission of Jurists, December 1983

25. 1983 – THE EXODUS 'Awareness of their insecurity drove many Tamils, especially in the Colombo area, to abandon their homes and shops, and seek refuge in temples, airport hangers and improvised camps. Estimates of the numbers made homeless range upto 100,000, many in poorly provisioned 'refugee camps.' Tamils of Sri Lanka Minority Rights Group Report; September 1983 The government of India provided ships to repatriate the Tamils to Tamil Eelam and safety.

26. Mass evacuation away from Sinhala mob rule and carnage Aug1983 Tamil Refugees being taken in an Indian ship disembarking in Jaffna (August 1983) . The Truth: Tamils can only be safe in an independent Tamil Eelam. The Myth: Tamils live peacefully in the South amongst Sinhalese