How did the Sri Lankan and the Belgium government try to solve the ethnic problems? (CBSE 2013)

Belgium and Sri Lanka are democratic countries having diverse social setups. Yet, both took completely different approaches when it came to sharing of power.

Belgium

• Belgium accommodated the interests of its two main ethnic groups - Dutch and French by formulating a power-sharing arrangement that gave both the groups an equal share in the working of the government.

• The Belgians realized that this was the only way of securing the country’s political stability and unity.

• This ensured that feelings of resentment towards the other community did not flourish in Belgium.

• The power-sharing arrangement in Belgium, although complex, has been running smoothly over the years.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, took a different stand with respect to power-sharing.

• The government in Sri Lanka was totally dominated by the majority Sinhala-speaking population, thereby ignoring the Tamil people.

• Power was concentrated in the hands of only one community, thereby undermining the interests of the others.

• This approach affected the unity of Sri Lankan population. Over the years, Sri Lanka has been riddled with civil wars and political instability.

• Refusal to share power has resulted in the weakening of the country.