Belgium and Sri Lanka are democratic countries having diverse social setups. ... Sri Lanka, on the other hand, took a different stand with respect to power sharing. The government inSri Lanka was completely dominated by the majority Sinhala-speaking population, thereby ignoring the Tamil people.

Belgium and Sri Lanka are two countries that have implemented power sharing arrangements in different ways. The following are the differences between the two countries:

Ethnic Diversity
Belgium is a country with two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the French-speaking Walloons. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is a country with several ethnic groups, including the majority Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities.

Type of Power Sharing
Belgium has implemented consociational democracy, which means that there is a proportional representation of both linguistic groups in the government. This type of power sharing ensures that both groups have an equal say in the decision-making process. Sri Lanka has implemented devolution of power, which means that power is shared between the central government and the provincial councils. This type of power sharing ensures that regional autonomy is respected.

Role of Language
In Belgium, language plays a significant role in the power sharing arrangements. The government and public services are divided along linguistic lines, and there are separate schools and universities for each linguistic community. In Sri Lanka, language is not the primary factor in power sharing arrangements. Instead, it is based on regional autonomy.

Impact on Society
The power sharing arrangements in Belgium have been successful in reducing tensions between the Flemish and Walloon communities. However, there are still some issues that need to be addressed, such as the lack of representation for smaller linguistic groups. In Sri Lanka, the devolution of power has not been fully implemented, leading to ongoing conflicts between the central government and provincial councils.

In conclusion, Belgium and Sri Lanka have implemented different power sharing arrangements based on their unique circumstances. While Belgium has focused on linguistic diversity, Sri Lanka has focused on regional autonomy. Both countries have had varying degrees of success in implementing their power sharing arrangements.