Evaluate the causes of the civil war in Sri Lanka.

Candidates will appraise the causes of the civil war in Sri Lanka by weighing up the strengths and limitations of long- and short-term factors. Candidates may adopt a chronological approach that outlines the nature of society in colonial times and then the legislation and events after independence resulting in civil war. Alternatively, candidates may choose a thematic approach and address aspects such as ethnic tensions, British “divide and rule” policies, geographic distribution of ethnic groups, impact of the Citizenship Act, the issues of the official language and religion, access to education and the rise of militant Tamil groups. External factors such as the support for the Tamil cause from the United Kingdom and India may also be considered.