Fifteen Years On, Sri Lanka's Tamil Survivors Struggle with Fear and Disempowerment

Fifteen years after the end of Sri Lanka's civil war, Tamil survivors, including former rebel fighters like Singaram Soosaimuthu, still live in fear and disempowerment in areas like Mullaitivu and Jaffna. The war, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, resulted in the deaths of at least 100,000 people on both sides and left many more missing.

Singaram Soosaimuthu, a 45-year-old former Tamil fighter, lost both legs in 2009 when the war drew to a close. Today, he fishes every day with his son, casting nets and reeling them in. Despite his personal success, the memories of the war still haunt him and many others like him.

The Tamil community, which makes up about 11% of Sri Lanka's population of 20 million, has been left to struggle with the aftermath of the war. Many parents have given up hope of ever learning the fate of the thousands of missing children. Parts of Tamil lands are decimated, with poor infrastructure and fewer economic opportunities.

Why this matters: The struggles of Tamil survivors in Sri Lanka have significant implications for post-conflict reconciliation and rebuilding efforts globally. If left unaddressed, the fear and disempowerment of these communities can lead to further instability and hinder economic development.

Survivors have lived under surveillance for years, and many now feel that members of the rising generation have grown too fearful and apathetic towards speaking up for their rights. Social activist Selvin Ireneus believes there is a clear agenda to degenerate the defeated Tamil community. 'The government doesn't want today's Tamils to be politically evolved,' he says. 'They only want them to eat, drink, and enjoy, and not have a political ideology.'

The defeat of the Tamil Tigers has effectively become a political defeat for the community, which has lost its bargaining power. K T Ganeshalingam, head of political science at the University of Jaffna, notes that successive governments have not followed up on promises to share power with the Tamil majority areas. This has led to stagnation in Tamil politics, with political leaders divided and in disarray.

Some Tamils, especially in the diaspora, still believe that the rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is alive and will return to take on the campaign to the next stage. However, Prabhakaran's nephew, Karthic Manoharan, says that it's time to put a stop to these rumors and acknowledge that the leader is dead. 'We don't have any doubt regarding his death because he loved his country so much. And he's not a coward to run from the country and live in another country to save himself, his wife, and his daughter,' he asserts.

In the villages of Mullaitivu district, many men are addicted to narcotics and alcohol, forcing women to be the family's main breadwinners. School dropouts are high, and civil activists are working to unify political leaders and strengthen their bargaining position ahead of the presidential election later this year. However, fear and apathy remain significant challenges to overcome.

Key Takeaways

• 15 years after Sri Lanka's civil war, Tamil survivors still live in fear and disempowerment.
• The war resulted in 100,000 deaths and many missing, with Tamils struggling to rebuild.
• Tamil community faces surveillance, poor infrastructure, and limited economic opportunities.
• Political leaders are divided, and the community has lost bargaining power.
• Fear and apathy remain significant challenges to overcome for Tamil survivors.