(i) In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil. (ii) The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for positions in educational institutions, armed forces and other government jobs. (iii) A new constitution declared that the state shall protect and promote Buddhism, the religion of the majority Sinhala community. All these government measures gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.