Ethnic tensions between the minority Tamils and majority Sinhalese erupted into civil war in 1983. The Tamils were the minority group favored by the British colonists. When the British left, laws were passed to redress the balance by favoring the Sinhalese. As a result, Tamils feel sidelined, and support for secessionism has grown. The conflict also has a religious dimension û most Sinhalese are Buddhist, while Tamils are mostly Muslim or Hindu.
