Draft One,

" If only the government granted what we wanted, life would be easier, " said Ali, while looking at his brother's grave, together with his mother, who is sobbing continuously.

Ali's two brother died during the riot between the Sinhalese and Tamil which has been going on for years. Ali is a Tamil, living in Sri Lanka for many years together with his family in the Northern part of Sri Lanka. Previously during the British colonial rule, Ali and his family were leading better lifes then. It was easier to find jobs and school was easier to get in. Ali and his two brothers had worked hard in school, as they wished to get in the university to further their studies. However, there is a twist in their life after Sri Lanka got its independent. The new government was made up of Sinhalese which then favours the Sinhalese more than other enthnic groups.

Ali has many good friends since young. They often play with each other, study together and have been close for many years. There has been a bond between them. However, Ali had to part with some of his friends one day as the government passed the Ceylon Citizenship Act of 1948, which this act granted citizenship only to those who were either born in Sri Lanka or those whose forefathers were born there. Ali was upset as he could not help his friends. Many Tamils in his neighbourhood felt a pang of panick as they found themselves stateless.

" Don't worry Ali, i will remember the memories we have and i'll never forget you. Help me send my regards to your mother too. I am gald to have you as a friend, " said Ali's friend, Kumar, who is almost tearing when he bid farewell to Ali.

"I will never forget the friendship between us, i will never forget the times when we are together playing since young. " cried Ali, who could no longer hold back his tears.

Ali was devasted for days, and what made his life worse is that the government helped the Sinhalese by resettling of poor Sinhalese peasants. Sinhalese peasants were transferred form the densely populated southwesten and central areas to Tamil areas, which Ali and his fellow friends had to stayed not only with Sinhalese, but also buddhist monks and the Sri Lanka Army which comprised mostly Sinhalese.

"Why the government has to be so unfair, " complained Ali to his mother.

"Stop complaining, life will not be better this way too," replied Ali's mother.

Ali and his brothers feels uneasy around the Sinhalese as whenever they are playing, they were often stared by the Sinhalese and bullied by them occasionally as most of the Sinhalese are staying around their area. Ali and his brothers were helpless and could not do anything then. During the year 1956, Ali and his brothers grew older too. Though they are still studying, they tried to find a job to help out in household expenses which their ageing mother is coping alone. But, during the year 1956, Sinhala was declared as the country's official language under the Official Language Act. Tamils in the government service were given three years to learn Sinhala or be dismissed.

"How are we able to learn Sinhala in 3years?" said Ali to his brothers.

"We will not be able to find a job anymore, how could we help mother?" said his brother, sighing away.

Ali and his brothers were helpless, they could not do anything at all, but to study hard and hopefully to get jobs once they finish their university. They then study really hard, and they really scored well enough to get into university. However, the government introduced new university admission citertia. Tamil students had to score higher marks than the Sinhalese students to enter the same courses in the universities. A fixed number of places in the university were also reserved for the Sinhalese, admission was no longer based soely on the academic results. Hence, Ali and his brothers were upset upon hearing the news.

Ali told his brothers, " there is nothing we can do now, we could only go out and find job and give up the idea on getting into the university. " His brothers nod their head to agree with Ali.

Days goes by, time has not been better. Ali and his fellow Tamils friends felt that they have been discriminated by the Sinhalese and the government and decide to approach the government for better change. Then, in the early 1950s, one of the Tamil political parties approached the government that the Tamil areas be recognised as a federation within the country. But in 1976, when their demands were still not met, a new political party called the Tamil United Liberation Front emerged, Ali and his brothers were involved too.

They then asked for a separate indepedent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka, and wanted it to be called Tamil Eelam as they believed that only separation from Sri Lanka would ensure their rights. However, their idea were rejected. Ali, together with other Tamils were very dissatisfied and angry. Ali and the Tamil United Liberation Front had been resorted to violence towards the Sinhalese, and as a result, it caused many innocent death. Worse of all, Ali's two brother were killed by the Sinhalese too. Since then, Ali had deep hatred towards the Sinhalese too.