Question

Which of the following statements about Sri Lanka is/are true?

• A. The post-independence government of Sri Lanka was dominated by the Sinhalese
• B. The main administrative units in Sri Lanka are its composite states
• C. Sri Lanka has a federal system of governance
• D. The Sinhalese comprise 74 percent of the total population in Sri Lanka

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (D)

The Sinhalese comprise 74 percent of the total population in Sri Lanka

1. The Sinhalese comprise 74 percent of the total population in Sri Lanka. The Tamils, meanwhile, comprise 18 percent of the total population. The Sinhalese dominance in the government led to many majoritarian decisions being taken after Sri Lanka gained independence.

2. Sri Lanka has a unitary form of government, with local administrative units called provinces. The central government is the main tier of government, and the provinces do not have the kind of authority or autonomy given to states in a federal set-up.