Sri Lanka’s History: Colonialism, Independence and Conflict

Abstract

This chapter provides an account of Sri Lanka’s history, beginning with an outlining of the migration of Tamils and Sinhala from India to Sri Lanka and the establishment of the kingdoms in the country. It will then focus on the arrival of the colonial powers in Sri Lanka and the introduction of legal regimes to govern the inhabitants. Three colonial commissions had a profound impact on the country. The Colebrooke-Cameron, Donoughmore and the Soulbury Commissions delineated the legal parameters, created local constitutions within which Sri Lanka would operate. Sir Charles Jeffries affirmed that while Britain was duly considering the lack of its own constitution, for practical reasons the colonial power was very much imposing powers and duties upon the subordinate administrations to control the colonial subjects. Further examination is required to explore the role of colonial policies on ethnicities. Were Sinhala nationalism and Tamil separatism two inevitable consequences of colonial policy?