Buddhist extremism, anti-Muslim violence and civil war legacies in Sri Lanka

What is it about?

This paper examines the phenomenon of Buddhist extremism and anti-Muslim ethnic riots in post-civil war Sri Lanka. Based on a series of interviews with religious leaders, the article argues that the country's lack of peacebuilding initiatives and the promotion of a monolithic national identity, coupled with the outright war victory and militarization of society, sustain ethnic tensions that can be mobilized for further anti-minority violence.

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Why is it important?

This article suggests that further ethnic violence in Sri Lanka is likely. The final publication was completed shortly before the Easter bombings that killed 259 people. Globally, we also witness a rise in religious divisions, which appear more salient than ethnic divisions, as a marker of social identity.