A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005

Sri Lanka is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic country with a rich social and cultural diversity. The last two decades have witnessed immense hardship and suffering of the people in the country due to lack of trust, mutual understanding and respect among communities. An ethnic conflict resulting from discrimination against the minorities by successive Sinhalese-dominated governments since independence and failure to adopt a nations building policy, became more acute in recent decades. The civil war since 1983 has led to disastrous developments. More than 70,000 people lost their lives, hundreds of families were shattered and thousands of properties destroyed. Thousands of people were displaced within the country and many fled abroad, increased war widowed women and women heads of house holds. Everlasting ethnic conflict eroded fundamental human rights; especially women became the prime victims in this ongoing war. There are four ways through which womens suffering could be explained. Firstly they are direct victims of rape, torture, arrest and detention. Secondly, they are direct victims as refugees and internally displaced. Thirdly they are victims as war widows and war survivors. Fourthly, they also participate in war as combatants. Tamil women have suffered greatly in all these categories. This study focuses upon the internally displaced persons and war widowed women. According to my study and experience women are the major victims and they face numerous problems because of their weaker position in the society. Major findings include that women face psychological trauma, social exclusion and economic vulnerability. Normally Tamil women face social restrictions in many spheres of their life. Aftermath war women face much more burdens than before; women have to take new roles as head of household, be responsible for whole family and look for jobs to survive. This study calls for political commitment from both parties to the conflict namely the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. This also proposes to take preventive measures so that there would not be anymore displacement of innocent people; women and children. Further, special measures must be devised to help and uplift the status of widowed women.