Who are the Tamils of Sri Lanka?

Tamils of Sri Lanka represent the oldest and second most popolous and Tamil community in the world after India.

The impact that the Tamil people and culture have had in the historical past of Sri Lanka is remarkable and undeniable. However, their existence has been greatly endangered after decades of bloody civil war. In the course of the same, their role within the political and economic life of the country was greatly reduced.

For this reason, today the Tamils of Sri Lanka are faced with great challenges in keeping their identity and legacy alive. They are subjected to great pressure both externally, in particular a pervasive sinhalization in Sri Lanka which is gradually marginalizing them in their own country, and from within due to the dispersal resulting from the diaspora caused by the events of the war.

Under this broad topic we will be then covering the following:
1) their composition, numbers, and location in the country;
2) history of the main groups;
3) discrimination and civil war;
4) diaspora;
5) main cultural and linguistic aspects that distinguish them from other Tamil groups outside Sri Lanka;
6) current issues.


Thanks to Sanjana Ranjit (  / sanjanaranjit.art  ) for the stunning thumbnail artwork!

0:00 Intro
0:25 composition, number, and location
2:13 main groups
3:01 history of Sri Lankan Tamils
4:32 history of Up-Country Tamils
6:17 discrimination after independence
6:50 militancy and Civil War
9:47 diaspora
11:07 varieties of Tamil language of Sri Lanka
13:11 culture and festivals
13:28 current issues

#tamil #eelam #tamilhistory