Draft 3 & 4

Citizens were fighting each other. Innocent people were killed. Many people lay dead on the street. Kumar and his family were running for their lives. Kumar thought back to the time when there was a peaceful Sri Lanka…

When Kumar was young, the country was peaceful with no conflicts. There was almost no violence and the people usually got along well. Kumar was part of a family of English-educated Tamils who were very talented in their field of work. They were merchants who owned a shop at Colombo. However, it was not to last.

After the British left, the new government, made up of mostly Sinhalese, enacted a policy which stated that whoever was born in Sri Lanka would be able to apply for citizenship. The act did not affect Kumar’s family, who were born in Sri Lanka, but it affected some of his friends’ parents, who emigrated from India. Kumar heard complaints from some of the Tamils when he was walking to school.

“The act is just an excuse for the Sinhalese to chase away most of us!” One Tamil shouted, angry with the government.

Most of the others agreed. Kumar noticed something in his race. That feeling would cause violence between his race and the Sinhalese. That feeling was resentment.
In 1950, the government decided to resettle the Sinhalese peasants. They were transferred from the south-western and central areas to the northern and eastern areas, where Kumar and his family were living. Kumar, then 28, was unhappy with the decision. Many Tamils complained about the policy. Kumar also complained about it, although he was still living in Colombo.

In 1956, the government declared that henceforth, Sinhala would be the only official language of Sri Lanka. Many Tamils complained about the policy and wanted Tamil to also be an official language. Kumar and his family had to resign from their jobs since they did not speak Sinhala. Kumar decided to join the protest against the act. Unfortunately, when the police forces broke up the demonstration, the peaceful protest turned into a riot. Kumar had to flee for his life, or else the police would beat him to death. Eventually, Tamil was declared an official language. Kumar, however, was still worried that his country would fall due to racial riots.

“I’m scared,” Kumar’s son, Muthu, said to him that night, shaking in fear. “What happens if they kill us?”

“Don’t worry,” Kumar comforted his son, despite his worry. “They would never be able to kill us.”

In 1972, the university admission criteria were changed to benefit the Sinhalese. Many of the Tamils complained about the policy, saying that it was discriminating against them. Kumar was worried about the country, fearing that one day, it would descend into chaos.

In 1976, the Tamil United Liberation Front was formed, contesting for an independent Tamil state. Kumar did not join the party, still believing in a united Sri Lanka. At the same time, an organization known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was formed. The organization used violence to try to convince the government to give them a separate state. Kumar was horrified, shocked that his race would even think about using violence.

“Look out!” Kumar’s wife, Fatima shouted.

“Huh? What?” Kumar woke from his trance, dazed.

A bottle was hurtling towards Kumar. He narrowly dodged the bottle. Left and right, Sinhalese were throwing anything they could find at the Tamils. The family decided that escaping overseas was the best choice, as they had family there. They tried to run to a friend's house, but there were people blocking the way. When they finally reached a safehouse, Kumar contacted his friend to meet his family the next morning.

That morning just when Kumar woke up, a loud banging was heard from the door. When he opened the door, a mob of Sinhalese was waiting for him. Kumar sighed, resigned to his fate, and knelt before them, getting ready for his 'reward'...