Sri Lanka Crisis

 What do we know about the situation?

 The country's political crisis began on April 18th, 2016, when former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was accused of attempting to forcibly remove President Maithripala Sirisena from office. In protest, thousands of people took to the streets, calling for Rajapaksa's ouster. On May 29th, Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister, ending his controversial rule. Three days later, he was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport while traveling to Singapore. He was charged with violating the terms of his bail for his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate his political opponent Gotabaya Rajapakse.

 Rajapaksa's brother-in-law, Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was appointed acting president until a newly elected government could be formed. However, he was not able to win an absolute majority in parliament due to opposition parties boycotting the vote. Following several failed attempts to form a coalition government, the speaker of the House declared President Sirisena the winner of the election. A month after the election, Sirisena dissolved parliament and called elections for August 2015.

  How did India respond?

 In response to Sri Lanka's political upheaval, India dispatched its air force to assist with peacekeeping efforts. Indian military officials have been stationed at Colombo International Airport since June, securing diplomatic shipments and preventing any potential attacks.

 India has also been working closely with neighboring countries to ensure stability in their surrounding regions. The Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar (Burma) have all pledged support for Sri Lanka's peace process. These nations agreed to provide assistance and security if necessary. China and Pakistan have both offered aid as well, although they have yet to commit troops to Sri Lanka.

What else happened?

 Despite being unable to form a new government, Rajapaksa refused to resign as prime minister. On July 15th, he announced the formation of a national unity government composed of members from his party, the SLFP, and the UPFA. His opponents boycotted the vote, leaving him no choice but to appoint allies from outside of the political system.

 On July 21st, Rajapaksa announced that the government had passed a constitutional amendment providing for presidential continuity should the head of the state die or become incapacitated. He then submitted the draft amendments to the Cabinet for approval. Critics called these amendments unconstitutional and said they would likely lead to legal challenges.  

What does this mean for the situation?

 With the current circumstances of Sri Lanka, many believe that war may soon erupt between the two sides. The new government is composed of those who supported Rajapaksa's removal from power, meaning that a civil war may be unavoidable. Additionally, it is believed that Rajapaksa still maintains significant influence over the armed forces, making the army unlikely to support a peaceful resolution.

 The United Nations Security Council remains concerned about the ongoing instability and violence in Sri Lanka. The council requested that Rajapaksa step down from his position as prime minister and allow for a new government to be formed.

 What actions can I take now?

 If you live in Sri Lanka, you may have already lost access to banks and ATMs; however, it is advised that all Americans continue to keep their money safe at home. If you plan to travel internationally, make sure you update your passport information and contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate before setting out.

 Sri Lankan Civil War

 The Sri Lankan civil war is a conflict that lasted from 1983-2009. The war was fought between the government forces and ethnic rebel groups over political differences relating to power sharing and constitutional reform.

            

 Ethnic Conflict

 Ethnic conflict occurs when people belonging to different cultural backgrounds (ethnicities) live under the same conditions. Examples would be a conflict between Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus. There are many possible causes for ethnic conflict, including religion, language, economic status, and social structure.

 Genocide

 Genocide refers to the systematic killing of members of a particular race or ethnicity. Ethnic cleansing is practiced by governments who want to remove certain racial groups from their country. An example of this practice would be what happened in Sudan where they forced people to leave their homes by force in order to move them into camps. These camps were then burned down eliminating any trace of these people's existence.

              

 Human Rights Violations

 Human rights violations occur when someone's human rights are abused without justification. An example of this would be torture, where individuals are physically or mentally harmed without justification. Most countries have laws in place to protect citizens from being tortured.

 Internal Displacement

 Internal displacement is when a group of people is forced out of their home area because of violence or natural disasters. In some cases, people flee their home country in search of refuge and asylum. People fleeing war-torn regions are often refugees.

 Refugees

 A refugee is someone who is forced to relocate due to persecution. A refugee may flee his or her home country because of fear of death at the hands of their persecutors. Other reasons could include poverty, environmental destruction, and lack of employment opportunities.

 State Terrorism

 State terrorism is an act committed by states against their own citizens. States use tactics such as torture, imprisonment, murder, and rape to silence their opposition.