INDIA- A Frenemy with SRILANKA

It has always been a complicated relationship India shares with Sri lanka.

It is said that these two countries were connected about two million years ago . Both these countries share a deep Racial and Cultural links. These two countries share a MARITIME border. The distance between India and Srilanka is merely 20kms, which makes Srilanka the most nearest country of India.

The Native people of srilanka were called SINHALESE and the people from Tamil nadu was known as INDIAN TAMILS. Though they both speak Tamil, the slang get slight differences. After a period of time, Tamil people were brought to srilanka and made to serve as PLANTATION WORKERS. This introduction of Tamil people were greatly opposed by the Sinhalese, as it affects the employment opportunities of the native people. The anger of the Sinhalese people turned into revolt in the 20th century. In 1956,1958 and 1977 , many ANTI-TAMIL programs were conducted. And in 1981, the incident of Burning the library of JAFFINA (the place of Indian Tamils) greatly angered the Tamil Nadu Government.

In the 1980's LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL ELAM headed by Prabhakaran was funded by the TAMIL NADU Government. In the meantime, The INDIAN GOVERNMENT intervened to regain the control of Jaffina.

This led to the outbreak of SRILANKAN CIVIL WAR, in 1983 and continued till 2003. Nearly 1,00,000 people were killed and many lost their livelihood. Major number of Indian Tamil were moved to Tamil Nadu as REFUGES. This ferocious war came to an end at MAY 2009, SRILANKA won the war by defeating TAMILTIGERS.

The FISHERY DISPUTES between TAMIL NADU AND SRILANKA, is always been a great threat to fishermen of Tamil Nadu. In the last 30 years, merely 1000 Tamil fishermen were lost their lives . This dispute mainly arise because of the boundary problems.

The only solution to this unsolved problem is to create a specific boundary between these countries. But, it is such a herculean task to bound to a specific border in the sea.

Despites the disputes, Srilanka has been the priority destination for direct investmsent from India. Srilanka is one of the largest trading partner to India in SAARC.

THE INDIAN HOUSING PROJECT, for the plantation workers who lost their homes during the war times in Srilanka was funded by the Indian Government. The launch of ISLANDWIDE OPERATION OF THE 1990 EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE was financed under the Indian grant assistance.

Due to the current issues between India and China, Srilanka supports China which makes India to consider Srilanka, an enemy country.

However, the INDIAN and SRILANKAN PEOPLE people were basically connected to each other through their race and culture. It really feels good to the people if India and Srilanka become a FRIENDLIEST NATION with each other.