ABSTRACT
Since 1983, open warfare has existed between the government of Sri Lanka and guerrilla armies of Tamil youths. The conflict has evolved into a bloody stalemate between the government security forces and the guerrilla army of the Liberation Tamils of Tamil Eel am. Accounts of nationalism focus on the popular aspects of nationalism, those related to the manifestations of the nationalistic feelings, or what some scholars have called primordial ties. The rise of Sinhalese nationalism and the extension of Sinhalese control over the post-independence government and society coupled with a growing gap between the aspirations of the Tamil community and those of the Sinhalese community. The excessive nature of some of the provisions such as the penalties for failing to tell authorities of guerrilla activities they are aware of challenge the democratic values of Sri Lankans. External factors have helped to make the emergence of militant Tamil Nationalism possible.
