Eelam

Eelam is a Tamil-language term meaning homeland or land, and in political usage refers to the concept of a separate, independent state for Sri Lankan Tamils. Tamil Eelam denotes a proposed sovereign entity to be created in the island nation, typically associated with Tamil nationalist movements.

Geographically, proponents have most often imagined Tamil Eelam as comprising parts of the northern and eastern regions of Sri Lanka, including areas within the Northern and Eastern Provinces such as Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar, Batticaloa, Ampara, and Trincomalee. Exact boundaries have varied across proposals and over time.

Historical background and political development: The idea gained prominence in the 20th century, with the Vaddukodai Resolution of 1976 by the Tamil United Liberation Front calling for an independent Tamil Eelam. The 1980s saw a violent conflict between Tamil militant groups and the Sri Lankan state, culminating in a lengthy civil war led by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The war intensified after the 1983 anti-Tamil riots, known as Black July. In 1987 the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord led to the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) and a temporary reconfiguration of the conflict. The war ended in 2009 with the defeat of the LTTE by the Sri Lankan government.

Current status: There is no internationally recognized sovereign state of Tamil Eelam. Sri Lanka remains a unitary state with a devolved provincial framework under the 13th Amendment, while the idea of Tamil Eelam persists in political discourse and diaspora communities without statehood.