Power-sharing

• The ethnic composition of Belgium is very complex. 59% live in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch. 40% live in the Wallonia region and speaks French. 1% are German-speaking.
• In Brussels, 80% of the people speak French and 20% speak Dutch.
• The French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This led to tensions between the French and Dutch-speaking communities.
• Sri lanka has a diverse population. The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74%) and the Tamil-speakers (18%).
• Among the Tamils, there are two sub-groups; Sri Lankan Tamils (13%) and Indian Tamils (87%).
• Most Sinhala-speakers are Buddhists.
• Majoritarianism is a belief that the majority should be able to rule a country and impose their will on the minority.
• Sri lanka emerged as an independent nation in 1948.
• In 1956, an Act was passed which recognised Sinhala as the only official language of Sri Lanka, disregarding Tamil.
• The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggle for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of oppurtunity.
• Civil War is an intense and violent conflict between opposing groups within a country, which appears like a war.