Sri Lanka Study 1

[Pages:116]area handbook series

Sri Lanka

a country study

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Sri Lanka

a country study

Federal Research Division Library of Congress Edited by Russell R. Ross

and Andrea Matles Savada Research Completed October 1988

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On the cover: Ruwanveli Dagoba, Buddhist shrine built by Dutthagamani, near Anuradhapura

Second Edition, First Printing, 1990. Copyright ?1990 United States Government as represented by

the Secretary of the Army. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sri Lanka: A Country Study.

Area handbook series, DA pam 550--96 Research completed October 1988. Bibliography: pp. 281--300. Includes index. 1. Sri Lanka. I. Ross, Russell R., 1935-- . II. Savada, Andrea

Matles, 1950-- . III. Library of Congress. Federal Research

Division. IV. Series. V. Series: Area handbook series. DS489.S68 1990 . 954.93 89--600370

Headquarters, Department of the Army DA Pam 550-96

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402

Foreword

This volume is one in a continuing series of books now being prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country Studies--Area Handbook Program. The last page of this book lists the other published studies.

Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country, describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors. Each study is written by a multidisciplinary team of social scientists. The authors seek to provide a basic understanding of the observed society, striving for a dynamic rather than a static portrayal. Particular attention is devoted to the people who make up the society, their origins, dominant beliefs and values, their common interests and the issues on which they are divided, the nature and extent of their involvement with national institutions, and their attitudes toward each other and toward their social system and political order.

The books represent the analysis of the authors and should not be construed as an expression of an official United States government position, policy, or decision. The authors have sought to adhere to accepted standards of scholarly objectivity. Corrections, additions, and suggestions for changes from readers will be welcomed for use in future editions.

Louis R. Mortimer Acting Chief Federal Research Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 20540

111

Acknowledgments

This edition supercedes the Area Handbook for Sri Lanka written by Richard F. Nyrop, et alia, in 1970. Some parts of that edition

have been used in the preparation of the current book, and the authors of Sri Lanka: A Country Study are grateful for the seminal work done by the earlier edition's authors. The authors also wish to thank various members of the staff of the Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C. for their assistance.

Various members of the staff of the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress assisted in the preparation of the book. Richard F. Nyrop made helpful suggestions during his review of all parts of the book. Elizabeth A. Park prepared the telecommunication sections in chapters 3 and 4; Robert L. Worden researched the data used in preparing maps for the book; Carolina E. Forrester checked the content of all of the maps and reviewed the text of the section on geography; and Arvies J. Staton contributed to the figures on military ranks and insignia. David P. Cabitto, Kimberly Lord, and Paulette Marshall did the illustrations; and David P. Cabitto, Sandra K. Ferrell, and Kimberly Lord prepared the graphics. Martha E. Hopkins edited portions of the manuscript and managed editing of the book; Marilyn L. Majeska edited portions of the manuscript and managed production; and Barbara Edgerton and Izella Watson performed wrd processing.

Others who contributed were Harriet R. Blood, who assisted in the preparation of maps; Mimi Cantwell, Richard Kollodge, Ruth Nieland, and Gage Ricard, who edited portions of the manuscript; Catherine Schwartzstein, who performed final prepublication editorial review, and Shirley Kessel of Communications Connection, who prepared the index. Malinda B. Neale of the Library of Congess Composing Unit prepared camera-ready copy, under the direction of Peggy Pixley. The inclusion of photographs in this book was made possible by the generosity of various individuals and public and private agencies.

V

. Contents

Page

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Preface

Country Profile

Introduction

xxv

Chapter 1. Historical Setting

i Peter R. Blood

ORIGINS

5

Ancient Legends and Chronicles

6

The Impact of Buddhism

7

THE CLASSICAL AGE, 200 B.C.-A.D. 1200

8

Early Settlements

8

Rise of Sinhalese and Tamil Ethnic Awareness

11

DECLINE OF THE SINHALESE KINGDOM, 1200-1500 .. 16

Sinhalese Migration to the South

16

A Weakened State: Invasion, Disease,' and

Social Instability

16

EUROPEAN ENCROACHMENT AND DOMINANCE,

1500--1948

17

The Portuguese

17

The Dutch

22

The British

24

INDEPENDENCE

40

Divisions in the Body Politic

41

United National Party "Majority" Rule, 1948--56 . . . 41

Emergence of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party

43

Tamil Politics

44

Sri Lanka Freedom Party Rule, 1956-65

45

The United National Party Regains Power, 1965-70 . 48

United Front Rule and Emerging Violence, 1970-77 . 49

The United National Party Returns to Power

51

Chapter 2. The Society and Its Environment

57

James Heitzman

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

61

Geology

61

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