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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019

data contained in documents and news reports published in local and international
newspapers and websites about the Sri Lankan conflict was accessed. In addition,

other sources that were used for this purpose were books, research papers,

monographs, theses, etc. Relevant contemporary documents preserved in the Sri
Lankan National Archives were also scrutinized, such as contemporary Hansards,

contemporary newspapers and various acts promulgated by successive governments,
etc. Following the collection of literature-based text materials, researcher engaged in

a field study to assess the validity and authenticity of these findings. A field survey

was conducted in the three villages of Meesalai, Valvettithurai and Varani of Jaffna
peninsula. Research sample comprised 44 persons, representing 30 males and 14

females. Most of them were elderly people who possessed extensive experiences of
the events that occurred in the 1970s in Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka. Valvettithurai

emerged as the main center of militant activities in the early 1970s. For that reason,
60% of the sample was selected from Valvettithurai. In-depth interviews and focus

group discussions were conducted in all three areas to collect reliable qualitative

information. Key informant interviews were conducted with knowledgeable people
in the surrounding villages and with officials of government institutions.

Content analysis method was used to analyse the data. As the first step of the data

analysis process all the collected data were coded. Secondly, all the data were

categorized to suit the main research aim. In order to do that numerous details that
were not relevant to the main research aims were omitted. Also, in the case of partial

viewpoints and incomplete information that were received, they were checked for
reliability. Whenever information seemed incomplete or less reliable, all the

information collected from the literature and interviews were cross-checked during
the analysis and the reliable information was extracted. In the end it was possible to

arrive at certain plausible conclusions by comparing all related details with each

other.

Tamil militancy in the Jaffna peninsula

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