Question

In Sri Lanka, which one of the following changes to the 1956 law gave rise to the possibility of civil war?

• A. Ensuring power sharing among all sections.
• B. Declaring Sinhala as the official language.
• C. Declaring Tamil as the official language.
• D. Implementing a policy of preference for Sinhalese in government jobs.

Hint:

Remember: \[ \boxed{\text{1956} \Rightarrow \text{Sinhala Only Act}} \] This law declared Sinhala as the official language and became a major reason for ethnic conflict and civil war in Sri Lanka.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understand the background.
After Sri Lanka became independent in 1948, the Sinhala-speaking majority formed the government. Instead of adopting policies that respected the interests of all communities, the government introduced measures that favoured the Sinhalese community. These decisions created dissatisfaction among the Tamil minority.

Step 2: The 1956 Official Language Act.
In 1956, the Sri Lankan Government passed the Sinhala Only Act, under which Sinhala was declared the sole official language of the country. Tamil was not given equal status. This made it difficult for Tamil-speaking people to obtain government jobs, education and administrative services.

Step 3: Impact on the Tamil community.
The Tamil community felt politically, socially and economically discriminated against. They believed that the government was promoting the interests of the Sinhalese while ignoring the rights of the Tamils. This discrimination gradually increased tensions between the two communities.

Step 4: Rise of Civil War.
The continued neglect of Tamil demands led to protests and demands for greater autonomy. Over time, these conflicts became violent and finally resulted in a prolonged civil war in Sri Lanka that lasted for several decades. Thus, the 1956 language policy became one of the major causes of the conflict.

Step 5: Eliminate the incorrect options.
Option (A) is incorrect because power sharing promotes unity rather than conflict. Option (C) is incorrect because Tamil was not declared the official language. Option (D) was also a discriminatory policy introduced later, but the question specifically asks about the 1956 law, which refers to the declaration of Sinhala as the official language.

Step 6: Final conclusion.
\[ \boxed{\textbf{(B) Declaring Sinhala as the official language.}} \]