Abstract
The introduction to the book sets the scene for this collection of work on the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora in Australia. We outline the questions that the contributors have investigated through their research, creative and reflective pieces. The chapter explores the concept of home and what the (re)creation of home means, and how this scholarship is applied to Sri Lankan Tamils, especially forced migrants. We present an overview of the Sri Lankan context in regard to the post-independence, socio-political history and the conditions for Tamils in the post-war phase of the last ten years. This is contrasted with socio-political developments in Australia, especially its dealings with the post-war Sri Lankan nation and its treatment of Tamils, and asylum seekers and migrants. We also present an outline of the chapters which makes up this collection.
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Notes
- 1.
Australian legislation can be accessed at https//www.legislation.gov.au/
- 2.
The neighbouring island states were Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
- 3.
Australian Government. (2018, November 11). “Multicultural Australia: United, Strong, Successful. Australia’s Multicultural Statement”. Department of Home Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/mca/Statements/english-multicultural-statement.pdf
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Kandasamy, N., Perera, N., Ratnam, C. (2020). Introduction. In: Kandasamy, N., Perera, N., Ratnam, C. (eds) A Sense of Viidu. Palgrave Pivot, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1369-5_1
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