Indian Involvement

India was involved in the conflict in 1980s for many reasons. Indian leaders, many projects and worries were about Tamil seeking independence. Latter was strong in Tamil Nadu. As the ethnic Kingship was the main thing that had a strong for independance for Sri Lankan Tamilians. Throughout the conflict, Indian central and state governments supported both sides. Since 1883-1887, Indian Government of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) provided training and monetary support to 6 Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups.

India became active in late 1980s and on 5th June 1987, Indian Air force adopted food parcels to Jaffna while it was under siege by Sri Lankan faces. India dropped 25 tonnes of food and medicine by parachute into areas held by the LTTE in a district support towards the rebels. Negotiations were held and the Indo-Sri Lankan Peace Award was signed on 29th July 1987 by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Jayawardene.

India agreed to establish order in North and East through a force dubbed the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF), and to cease assisting Tamil insurgents and militants. Groups including LTTE, agreed to surrender their arms to the IPKF which over saw a cease fire and a disarmament of the militant groups.

Jayawardene declared that he would fight the Indians to the last bullet. This led to unrest in south. The arrival of IPKE to take control of most of the areas in the North of the country enabled the Sri Lankan Government to shift its forces to the South. This led to an uprising by Janaha Vimukthi Peramuna in the South which was put down bloodily over the next two years.

While most Tamil militant groups laid down their weapons and agreed to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict .The 3 year long conflict was also marked by the IPKF being accused of committing various abuse of human rights. The IPKF also net opposition from the Tamils Nationalist sentiment led many Sinhalese to oppose the island and entered into or secret deal with LTTE. But premadasa government ordered the Sri Lanka army to hand over arms consignment to IPKF mounted, and called for the withdrawal of IPKF from the both sides of the the Sri Lanka conflict grew. Gandhi refused to remove the IPKF from Sri Lanka. The new Prime Minister V. P. Singh ordered the withdrawal of the IPKF. Their last ship left Sri Lanka on 24th March 1990.

The 32 months of IPKF resulted in deaths of 1200 Indian soldiers and over 5000 Sri Lankans. The cost for Indian Government was at over 10.3 billion rupees.

Written by Chiranth Kumar S. (1215253) PME