IB History Topic Ceylon/sri Lanka Revision Notes (HL)

IB History Topic Ceylon/sri Lanka Revision Notes (HL) | RevisionDojo

Nation Building and Early Social, Political and Economic Developments

After independence, Sri Lanka focused on consolidating democracy, expanding welfare policies and building national identity, while facing deepening ethnic inequality.
The new state adopted a Westminster-style democracy with regular elections and strong political parties.
Early governments invested heavily in education, healthcare and food subsidies, creating a broad welfare state.
Economic development lagged due to dependence on tea, rubber and coconut exports.
Political parties increasingly appealed to ethnic identity, shaping national debates.
Tensions grew between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority over language rights, jobs and university access.

Case study

Sinhala Only Act (1956)

Origins and Intent

The government made Sinhala the sole official language, replacing English and excluding Tamil speakers.
The policy aimed to empower Sinhalese voters who felt disadvantaged under colonial legacy.
Tamil political leaders protested, demanding parity between Sinhala and Tamil.
The law symbolized a shift toward majoritarian nationalism.
Education and government employment became harder for Tamil speakers.

Impact and Consequences

The act deepened ethnic divides and strengthened Tamil political mobilization.
Peaceful protests by Tamil parties were met with violence, worsening mistrust.
Language became the central issue of ethnic identity and grievance.
Later policies attempted partial accommodation, but resentment persisted.
The act laid the foundation for future separatist politics and armed conflict.

Definition

Majoritarianism

Political dominance by the ethnic majority at the expense of minorities.

Definition

Official language policy

Government decision defining the language(s) used for administration and law.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

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Note

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Nation Building and Early Social, Political and Economic Developments

After independence, Sri Lanka focused on consolidating democracy, expanding welfare policies and building national identity, while facing deepening ethnic inequality.
The new state adopted a Westminster-style democracy with regular elections and strong political parties.
Early governments invested heavily in education, healthcare and food subsidies, creating a broad welfare state.
Economic development lagged due to dependence on tea, rubber and coconut exports.
Political parties increasingly appealed to ethnic identity, shaping national debates.
Tensions grew between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority over language rights, jobs and university access.

Case study

Sinhala Only Act (1956)

Origins and Intent

The government made Sinhala the sole official language, replacing English and excluding Tamil speakers.
The policy aimed to empower Sinhalese voters who felt disadvantaged under colonial legacy.
Tamil political leaders protested, demanding parity between Sinhala and Tamil.
The law symbolized a shift toward majoritarian nationalism.
Education and government employment became harder for Tamil speakers.

Impact and Consequences

The act deepened ethnic divides and strengthened Tamil political mobilization.
Peaceful protests by Tamil parties were met with violence, worsening mistrust.
Language became the central issue of ethnic identity and grievance.
Later policies attempted partial accommodation, but resentment persisted.
The act laid the foundation for future separatist politics and armed conflict.

Definition

Majoritarianism

Political dominance by the ethnic majority at the expense of minorities.

Definition

Official language policy

Government decision defining the language(s) used for administration and law.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

IB History Ceylon/sri Lanka Notes

Paper 1 - The Move to Global War6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Rights and Protest6 subtopics

Paper 1 - Conflict and Intervention6 subtopics

Paper 2 - Independence Movements5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Emergence and Development of Democratic States5 subtopics

Paper 2 - Authoritarian States7 subtopics

Paper 2 - Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars4 subtopics

Paper 2 - The Cold War: Superpower Tensions and Rivalries4 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Europe18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of the Americas18 subtopics

Paper 3 - History of Asia and Oceania18 subtopics

Nation Building and Early Social, Political and Economic Developments

Sinhala Only Act (1956)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Nation Building and Early Social, Political and Economic Developments

Sinhala Only Act (1956)

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account