Janins’ between Colombo and wherever blog

To pick up on my previous post. Here is an account of how the English language was administered in Sri Lanka from its removal to its reinstatement and then removal yet again.
We take up the story in 1971:

1971 - Youth Insurrection
A rebellion by the non English speaking youth of Sri Lanka.
Including a plan to burn the public libraries. Since the youth felt that the English books represented power and privilege, quite symbolic of the antagonistic attitude to English which remains till the present day.

Fast Forward——> 1983
The Jaffna public library burnt down…… History repeats itself.

1972
Sri Lanka is declared a republic. Sinhala remains the official language with Tamil as a national language.

1978 - New Consitution
Adopted by the government. Sinhala remains the official language. Tamil is "declared" to be an official language. Not much progress there except having a written constitution. Some "other" countries do not have a written constitution most notably the United Kingdom.

1987 Indo-Sri Lankan Accord
This was a peace accord officially signed on the 29th July 1987 by J.R.Jayewardena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Rajiv Gandhi. Prime Minister of the Republic of India. The word "Socialist" in describing Sri Lanka shouldn’t be forgotten since there are more socialist leanings here than there are in India.
Typically the Sinhalese majority saw the signing of a peace accord as a "defeat," this was proven by the authorities declaring the day a day of mourning. Black flags where hung in Colombo and "mala batha" (funeral food) was served in boutiques.
In hindsight, I wonder why the majority weren’t celebrating peace? Is this the start of the pig headed nature? Which accounts for our current woes?
English is added to the other two official languages.

November 1987 - 13th Ammendment to constitution.
English has its status weakened to the "link" language. The official languages are as previous.

1997 - Education reforms.
English is introduced at Grade one in schools. While English medium instruction from Grade five permitted in schools with the "means to do so" (that’s if they can find any competent English teachers…..). The introduction of "General English" as an A - Level subject.

That’s my condensed version, hope my commentary helps to elucidate things.
For a more up to date version check this out
Please feel free to add any comments.

Well it appears that I am not alone in believing that what is on ICT for …. is rather long winded. The sages who run Kottu appear to feel the same way as this image shows : It’s lovely to see a sense of humour……. The real solutions to this countries problems are with it’s people, technology is not the solution in my opinion. There I’ve said it, maybe it’s time we had a blog dedicated to how sri lankans treat their society and each other and examined and pontificated on that rather than the merits of FOSS etc… I suspect though that that would be telling us all here in SL what we already know…………

    From my observations of living here in Sri Lanka, a lot of the problems which keep reappearing on the heavyweight Mojo and ICT for whatever blog s. Where you need something akin to a doctorate to fully understand what is being discussed are related to the change in this islands national language.
    So here is a brief history of the English language here in Sri Lanka:

1796 - Treaty of Amiens
The British East India Company annexes the Maritime Provinces. English becomes the only official language.

1798
The Maritime Provinces are declared a British colony and the Ceylon Civil Service is established.

1799
Governor Frederick North establishes English Seminary for natives founded in Colombo on the 15 December 1799.

1815 - Kandyan Treaty
The fall of the Kandyan Kingdom heralds the takeover of the entire island by the British. The administration of the whole island is done in English.

1818 - Rebellion
The first revolt against English rule.

1848 - Kandyan Rebellion
Subaltern rebellion against English rule by the marginalised

1915 - Uprising
"Divide and rule" policy by the British results in bloodshed.

1948 - Dominion Status
Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) gains independence from Britain. English remains the only official language of independent Ceylon.

1956 - Official Languages Act
Sinhala. becomes the only official language of Sri Lanka. English is dethroned.

1956 and 1958
The Language riots to protest against the Sinhala only administration.

    That’s where in the time line this post ends, it could be said that a lot of what happened in 1956 accounts for a majority of our countries problems beyond those of the economic and environmental. Things get more violent after 1956 until the present day . More in my next post until then are the english a people or a language……. Where is the Caps Lock when you need it doh!
For 1970 to 1997 click here