18 Questions
Which region in Belgium has 40% of the population speaking French?
Wallonia region
Which country borders Belgium?
Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France
What percentage of Belgians speak German according to the text?
1%
What percentage of people in Brussels speak French?
80%
What is the major social group in Sri Lanka that makes up 74% of the population?
Sinhala-speakers
How does the population of Sri Lanka compare to that of Haryana?
The population of Sri Lanka is approximately the same as that of Haryana.
What are the two major social groups in Sri Lanka mentioned in the text?
'Sinhala-speakers' and 'Tamil-speakers'
What religious groups are most prevalent among the Sinhala-speaking people in Sri Lanka?
Buddhists
What percentage of the population in Sri Lanka are Tamil-speakers?
18%
Which community in Sri Lanka enjoyed a numeric majority and could impose its will on the entire country?
Sinhala community
The Sri Lankan Tamils felt the felling of alienation because they were..
Discrimination against them in jobs, denied them equal political rights and in other opportunities
In which regions of Sri Lanka are the Sri Lankan Tamils mainly concentrated?
North and East
What could happen if the Dutch community in Belgium decided to force its will on the French and German-speaking population?
Conflict among communities would escalate
How did the leaders of the Sinhala community seek dominance over the government in Sri Lanka?
By virtue of their majority
What was the significance of the 1956 Act passed by the democratically elected government?
It recognized Sinhala as the sole official language.
How did the preferential policies of the Sri Lankan government affect university positions and government jobs?
They favored Sinhala applicants over Tamil applicants.
What was stipulated by the new constitution adopted by the government in relation to religion?
The state was mandated to protect and foster Buddhism.
How did the continuous implementation of majoritarian measures impact the Sri Lankan Tamils?
It increased their feeling of alienation.
Study Notes
Sri Lanka: Majoritarianism and Ethnic Tensions
- In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil.
- Preferential policies favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
- A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
- These measures increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
- They felt that none of the major political parties led by Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their concerns.
Ethnic Composition of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka has a diverse population with 74% Sinhala-speakers and 18% Tamil-speakers.
- Among Tamils, there are two subgroups: Sri Lankan Tamils (native) and Indian Tamils (descendants of plantation workers).
- Most Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhists, while most Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.
- There are about 7% Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.
Comparison with Belgium
- Belgium is a small country in Europe with a complex ethnic composition.
- 59% of the population lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch, 40% lives in the Wallonia region and speaks French, and 1% speaks German.
- In the capital city Brussels, 80% people speak French, while 20% are Dutch-speaking.
- The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful, resented by the Dutch-speaking community.
Consequences of Majoritarianism
- In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala community enjoyed a majority and could impose its will on the entire country.
- In Belgium, the Dutch community could take advantage of its numeric majority and force its will on the French and German-speaking population.
- This could lead to a messy partition of the country, with both sides claiming control over Brussels.
Test your knowledge on the similarities between Belgium and Sri Lanka. Explore questions related to religion, culture, and social tensions between different communities in these countries.
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