The British employed divide and rule policies in Sri Lanka primarily by favoring the Tamil minority over the Sinhalese majority in bureaucratic and administrative positions. This strategy was designed to create and exploit ethnic divisions, fostering mistrust and rivalry between the two groups. By providing Tamils with better educational opportunities and key governmental roles, the British aimed to maintain control over the island by preventing any united opposition from the Sinhalese majority. This practice sowed seeds of ethnic tension that have had lasting effects on Sri Lankan society.
Assess how the British used divide and rule policies in Sri Lanka.(1 point)
Responses
They chose Sinhalese over Tamils in bureaucratic positions.
They chose Sinhalese over Tamils in bureaucratic positions.
They favored the Tamil over the native Sinhalese.
They favored the Tamil over the native Sinhalese.
They made the Tamils refugees of the nation after a military coup.
They made the Tamils refugees of the nation after a military coup.
They used scorched-earth tactics on the ethnic minorities.
1 answer