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| 1977, Feb |
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| Sri Lanka's worst wave of strikes in 20 years. | 1 |
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| July |
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| Mrs. Bandaranaike and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) were defeated in elections by the United National Party (UNP), led by J. R. Jayawardene. When Tamil Appapillai Amirthalingam became leader of the opposition, ethnic and language rights became the basis of opposition to the government. | 2 |
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| Sept |
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| The National State Assembly adopted a constitutional amendment establishing a presidential form of government. | 3 |
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| Dec |
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| Voting restrictions on plantation workers, mostly of Indian origin, were lifted. | 4 |
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