In reality, however, the Sinhala Only Act has not affected the privileged classes of all communities. The Tamils and the Muslims who always invested in English continued to do so. And the priviligentsia in all communities continued to educate their children in private schools or send them abroad. In hindsight, it is obvious that it is the Sinhala people who suffered by switching over to their mother tongue. The Sinhalese and the Tamils have suffered inter-ethnic violence and the crunching violence of the state on an equal basis.
Poverty affects all communities.
Some bear their oppression with great pain unexpressed in political violence. At the same time, all share the same benefits of free education, free health, free money through poverty alleviation programs, subsidized food to the south and free food, medicine and other essentials to the north etc. Despite break-downs in social order, all have carried their share of burdens. In short, there has been a generous and equal distribution of iniquities and equities all round without discrimination. Such concern, such consideration makes me weep not with sorrow but laughter.