Sri Lankan Tamil Dramas

Introduction

After the independence of Srilanka in 1948, Srilankan Tamil dramas started to develop in Tamil populated areas and in Colombo. Srilankan Tamil dramas can be categorized by regional identities. Jaffna, Colombo, Batticaloa, Mannar and Hill country are some of the regions which have developed dramas with their traditional identity. Srilankan Tamil electronic media had played an important role for the development of Tamil people. The ethnic conflict has minimized the scale of the Srilankan Tamil dramas.

History

ri Lanka

Consisting of a 65,610 km² area with an approximated population of 19.7 million, as of 2005, the island of Sri Lanka is geographically located in the Indian Ocean off the south east of the Indian Coast. The colonial powers arrival in 1505 and subsequent reigns of power denotes the present close relationship between Sri Lanka, the subcontinent and South East Asia. As evidenced by the continuous influences of Dutch law upon Sri Lankan jurisprudence after the British displaced the Dutch in 1796. In early 19th century the island became united under the British flag and was named the Crown Colony of Ceylon. A plantation economy was founded based upon tea, rubber and coconuts. As of 1931 Britain granted them self-rule and universal franchise followed by independence on February 4, 1948 and the subsequent constitution on August 31, 1978.

People

The currently known Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse. Ethnicities include, Sinhalese (74% of the population) most of who practice Buddhism and populate the South West, Ceylon Tamils (approx. 12%), Indian Tamils (approx. 5%) most of who practice Hindu but with sizable Christian minorities based in the ‘tea country’ of south-central Sri Lanka and other Minorities include Muslims (approx. 7%) majority practice Sunni Islam, Burghers and aboriginal Veddahs. Whilst the constitution of 1978 assures religious freedom it accedes predominance to Buddhist. However present internal conflict indicates that focus should be on the Tamils.

Internal Conflict

For approximately 20 years the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting for an independent homeland. The origin of the conflict lies within the corrosion in the relationship between the Tamils and Sinhalese societies as of the 1950s. In 1983 there was severe ant-Tamil protest in Colombo resulting in the lynching and killing of about 2000 Tamils. Towards 1987 the Sri Lankan Governments embargo of Jaffina was resulting in hardship. Consequently a Indo-Sri Lankan Accord was agreed upon which allowed Indian forces access to the northern region of Sri Lanka.

In 1988, partly in response to Indian intervention, a violent insurgency led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna which ended with the death of the leaders. In reaction the Sri Lankan army instgated a brutal counter-insurgency campaign ending in the death pf tens of thousands. Relatively over the next 2 years there was a degree of peace. However over the last 15 years the violence has risen resulting in massive deaths and a loss of Tamilan territory and the Tamil Tigers being labelled terrorist. In the last two years throughout the violence a measure of peace talks have been initiated at Geneva however they were inconclusive and violence is still a part of everyday living for Sri Lanka.

Interdependence and Identity

As stated Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland, a separate state called 'Tamil Eelam'at the northern end or Sri Lanka near the Jaffina province. Whilst there has been past co-operation between the Sinhalese and the Tamils, during colonial occupation, the Sinhalan pysche has determined that the Tamil are historical enemies. A threat to their singular identity. As a result Sinhalese became the official language of Sri Lanka and politics became Sinhalese dominated toward a Sinhala hegemonic state. Consequently the Tamils culture and identity was oppressed. On the other the Tamils saw Sri Lanka as a place of coexistence, a place with equal rights whilst maintaining their culture and values.

Sri Lankan Tamils are descendants of the indigenous Tamils and subdivided into three predominate groups; Jaffina Tamils – of the Jaffina Peninsula and of the Northern Province – and Batticaloa Tamils – the Tamils of the Eastern coastal region and Colombo. Each identity in question has historical, social, economic and cultural components. However a Sinhala dominated state and oppression has resulted in these individual identities being suppressed. Furthermore that conflict has displaced many native Tamils, many leaving the island and either settling in India or Western Countries. Some Tamilan artists have settled in Colombo making that the centre for Sri Lankan Tamil Dramas. Thus the suppression of their values and impression of the Sinhalese culture has led to an identity crisis for Tamils. For who are they if they have no acknowledgement or homeland? In essence it can be compared to the Palestine and Israel debate. However the suppression of the Tamilan culture/identity has been circumvented somewhat by the introduction of electronic media forms. Website visualising the claims for Tamil Eelam [http://www.eelam.com] and websites that allow the reports of Tamil related events [http://www.tamilnet.com] . They have allowed the world to view the Tamil perspective.

Dramas at present

Because of the civil war many Tamil artists were displaced from their native places. Some of them settled in Colombo and other western nations thus Colombo is the main center for Sri Lanka Tamil dramas. Additionally, the declaration of independence by Kosovo has fueled the Tamils calls for independence.

References

* "Eelatthin Tamil arangu by Prof. K.Sivatthambi in Kalaikkuralhal-of V.N.S Uthayachadran B.A(Cey), B.Ed(Cey)."
* Manogaran C an Pfaffenberger B, "The Sri Lankan Tamils: Ethnicity & Identity", West View Press, Colorado, 1994.
* Central Intellignece Agency, "CIA", [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html]
* Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom
*