English essay draft 2

The tension between Sinhalese and Tamils started during the British colonial rule which favoured the Tamil minority in terms of jobs and education. Changes of laws have upset many people. It has caused many Tamils to lose their lives and property. Things started to change.

Rajiv, whose parents work with the British government body in Sri Lanka was born with a silver spoon. Since young, he stayed near a village, where this boy named Bala lived. Bala was at the river bathing when he met Rajiv. They got along well and became good friends. They tend to each other’s needs and seldom quarrel. Bala is a Sinhalese whose forefathers have been living in Sri Lanka for decades.

Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, the Sri Lanka government passed the Ceylon Citizenship Act of 1948. Rajiv and his family therefore became stateless, but his parents still continued to work and contributed significantly to the Sri Lanka economy. Life has been tougher for them. Whereas, life for Bala have been getting more smoothly. His parent held important jobs in the government.

Another policy was the resettlement policy of the 1950s, the Sinhalese has occupied the lands. Rajiv was unhappy as the arrival of the peasants was accompanied by Buddhists monks and Sri Lankan Army which was mostly Sinhalese. Therefore, Rajiv and his family were forced to move to another small part of the country with all the Tamils.

English were the official language in the early period. However, ever since Sinhalese took place, Sinhala was declared as the country’s official language under the Official Language Act in 1956. The Tamils were forced to learn Sinhala in three years time or be dismissed.

“I do not understand the question, how am I suppose to do the homework?!’’ claimed Rajiv.

“Everything has changed, you got to learn right from the start. Get started now!’’ exclaimed Bala.

Rajiv could not be bothered, and he started racking his brain on his homework. “If English was the official language, I bet you will understand the feeling I’m going through now.” thought Rajiv. Rajiv and Bala have been quarrelling very often since Sinhalese government take over.

In 1970, the government introduced new university admission criteria Tamil students had to score higher marks than the Sinhalese students to enter the same course in the universities.

“Father! Why are we the one to be working more harder than the Sinhalese people?” Rajiv growled.

“Bear with it, everything will be fine someday.” Father said it with no confidence.

Rajiv has scored higher in the examination then Bala.

“I’m rejected?! I scored higher than you but you got in to university!” Rajiv blurted out in exasperation.

Bala told Rajiv arrogantly in sarcastism, “There is no use crying over spilled milk, the result has shown that WE, the Sinhalese are much more important than YOU, Tamils.’’

“So be it, we are not friends anymore. There is no justice at all!” Rajiv said it in an aggrieved tone of voice.

The two of friends went their separated ways. Bala achieved more than he deserved and Rajiv on the other hand, has to work extra hard it was not fair, in Rajiv’s point of view, but five years down the road he joined an Liberation community, when time comes they first attacked the Court of Law. The Court of Law, where Bala is working since he graduated.