Sri Lanka has retained democracy since its independence in 1948. But it faced a serious challenge, not from the military or monarchy, but rather from ethnic conflict leading to the demand for secession by one of the regions.
After its independence, politics in Sri Lanka (it was then known as Ceylon) was dominated by forces that represented the interests of the majority Sinhala community. They were hostile to a large number of Tamils who had migrated from India to Sri Lanka and settled there. This migration continued even after independence. The Sinhala nationalists thought that Sri Lanka should not give 'concessions' to the Tamils because Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhala people only. The neglect of Tamil concerns led to militant Tamil nationalism. From 1983 onward, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was fighting an armed struggle with the army of Sri Lanka in pursuit of their demand for a "Tamil Elam" or separate country for the Tamilians of Sri Lanka. At one point in time, the northeastern part of Sri Lanka was controlled by the LTTE.
The government of India has from time to time tried to negotiate with the Sri Lankan government on the Tamil question. But in 1987, the government of India for the first time got directly involved in the Sri Lankan Tamil question. India signed an accord with Sri Lanka and sent troops to stabilize relations between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamils. Eventually, the Indian Army got into a fight with the LTTE. The presence of Indian troops was also not liked much by the Sri Lankans. They saw this as an attempt by India to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. In 1989, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) pulled out of Sri Lanka without attaining its objective.
Understanding IPKF Withdrawal from Sri Lanka
The question asks for the specific year the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was withdrawn from Sri Lanka. This event is a significant point in the history of the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict and India's involvement.
Context of IPKF Involvement
Sri Lanka faced a major challenge due to ethnic conflict, particularly between the majority Sinhala community and the Tamil population. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fought for a separate Tamil state, known as "Tamil Elam". India became directly involved in 1987 when it signed an accord with Sri Lanka and deployed troops. The aim was to stabilize the situation between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamils. However, the Indian Army eventually clashed with the LTTE, and the presence of Indian troops was viewed by many Sri Lankans as interference in their internal affairs.
IPKF Pull-out Year
The provided text clearly states the outcome of India's involvement:
- The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed in 1987.
- The IPKF faced challenges and conflicts during its mission.
- In 1989, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) pulled out of Sri Lanka.
Therefore, based on the information given in the text, the IPKF was pulled out of Sri Lanka in the year 1989.
Important Questions from South Asia and the Contemporary World
SAFTA stands for:
Match List I with List II.
List-I List-II A. India-Pakistan I. LTTE B. India-Bangladesh II. Brahmaputra River C. India-Sri Lanka III. ASEAN D. Act East Policy IV. Tashkent Agreement Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Which one of the following was the first country to liberalize its economy in the South Asian region?
In 1972, Shimla Agreement was signed by:
Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal Accord was signed in:
