Question

Study the cartoon given below related to Sri Lanka and answer the questions that follow:

1. Which community does the tiger shown in the cartoon represent?
2. Which community does the lion shown in the cartoon represent?
3. What did the balancing act by Rajpakshe aim at? Explain.

Answer 1

1. Tiger symbolizes the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Sinhala community's disregard for Tamil concerns led to the formation of Tiger. It advocates for the establishment of a distinct nation for the Tamils of Sri Lanka.
2. The lion is a symbol of the Sinhala community in Sri Lanka, which maintains that the island is the property of the Sinhala people and that the Tamils should not be granted any concessions.
3. The Sri Lankan leadership's quandary is illustrated in the cartoon, which depicts the challenge of balancing the Sinhala hardliners, Tamil militants, and tiger while advancing peace negotiations. The government is of the opinion that action would be taken by LITE in Sri Lanka if it is in accordance with the Sinhala community. Giving preference to LITE would lead to dissatisfaction among the Sinhala community and potentially divide the country.