Tamil Eelam

Tamil Eelam was a proposed independent state sought by Tamil nationalists in Sri Lanka, primarily by the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), who fought for self-rule due to perceived discrimination and marginalization by the Sinhalese-majority government. The conflict, which lasted from the 1980s until 2009, involved a complex struggle for ethnic identity, political autonomy, and security. Although Tamil Eelam never became an official independent country, it symbolized Tamil aspirations for self-determination. The civil war ended with the defeat of the LTTE, leaving unresolved ethnic tensions and ongoing discussions about reconciliation and minority rights in Sri Lanka.