The rain started to drizzled onto the faces of the people. Looking at their home, they could only see wrecks and destruction. The capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, which is a beautiful seaport to people, now becomes the nightmare. Horrifying sounds of bomber planes brings the people to another dimension. The loving couple, Ranuga and Sathi, held on tightly to each other, at the same time trying to give each other warmth. In the mid 1990, the Sri Lanka government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are in the middle of dispute. This excruciating dispute brings insufferable and torments to the deplorable ones.
"We can only resign to fate now. Let God decides the rest and remember I will always love you no matter what." Raguna murmured to his wife.
Tears flow down like the raindrops, Sathi look up at the sky, as though she is questioning it.
The young couple came to know each other since young. Ranuga and Sathi come from the same family backgrounds and share the common interests. Both theirs parents worked in a tea plantation site. Before dawn everyday, they will have breakfast while cycling on the way to school. In order to get to school, both of them must travel for 15 kilometres. After schooling, they help out their parents at home on house chores; this helps to relief the burden of their parents. Each night, they will go to each other houses to help prepare dinner and at the same time reflecting together about day in school.
In the year 1948, the government introduced the Ceylon Citizenship Act 1948; those who is either born in Sri Lanka or those whose forefathers were born there were granted citizenship. Father of Sathi, Rahul, told her that he wanted to apply for citizenship for the whole family, so that Sathi can get married with Raguna at ease. This is when tragedy strikes the two young couple. On a fine day, Rahul went to apply for citizenship, but he was rejected by the officers and went home empty handed. As Rahul's family are Indian Tamils, he could not apply for the citizenship, this caused them to be stateless. Although in 1964, Indian government made an agreement with Sri Lanka, it was not carried out fully as it was interrupted by the outbreak of ethnic violence. Although the family was stateless, this did not stop Raguna and Sathi from getting married.
In 1950, another policy, which causes unhappiness among Tamils, was the resettling of poor Sinhalese peasants. When Sathi was preparing dinner for the family, she was distracted by the loud noises made outside. Out of curiosity, she went out to find out what is happening. She was horrified to see Sinhalese peasants, Buddhists monks and the Sri Lanka Army. Few days later, the whole village were emptied and driven out by the Sri Lanka Army. Sinhalese settlers were offered homes and land of the Tamils who used to live in these villages. The government also armed the settlers.
"How could the government made such a decision? I'm pretty sure that the government knows that we Tamils are not against individuals moving here but are against large scale resettlement schemes where large numbers of Sinhalese move into our traditional Tamils areas!" hollered Rahul angrily.
After Sri Lanka gained independence, English remained the official language. In 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. Unfortunately, Rahul is working in the government service and is the only source of income in the family, with the 'Sinhala Only' policy; he could do nothing but comply. Three years later, he still found it difficult and was dismissed.
"Now I'm jobless. How are we supposed to get on with life? Without money, we can't buy any food. What should we do?" exclaimed Rahul depressingly.
"Father, don't worry. I'll go out and find a job with you. Nothing is impossible if we ourselves find it impossible,” assured Raguna.
Sathi’s younger sister, Neja, wants to go to a university. In Sathi’s eyes, Neja is a brilliant girl who is hardworking and full of perseverance. In year 1972, the government introduced new university admission criteria. Tamil students had to score higher marks than Sinhalese to enter the same courses in universities. Admission was no longer based solely on academic results from then. Being a Tamil, Neja need to score better result then the Sinhalese. Although Neja passed with flying colours; 227 out of 350, she still did not manage to meet the criteria for the admission. Being devastated, she could only accept the fact that she did not make it.
In 1976, demands of the Indian Tamils were still not met; a political party called the Tamil United Liberation Front emerged. Popularly known as Tamils Tigers, besides attacking the Sinhalese, the Tamil tigers also attacked Tamil members of police force, and politicians. Everyone in the family joined the Tamil Tigers, except for Raguna and Sathi who only want to have peace.
"Long Live Tamil Tigers! Long Live Tamil Tigers!" shouted people who joined in the riot...
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