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The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka the Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka

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The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka the Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka This study has examined the phenomenon of post-war religious violence in Sri Lanka in the hope of improving our understanding of how and why such violence occurs. It has discussed the overarching legal, policy and institutional framework that applies to the prevention of violence. It has also analysed trends in violence and the contextual factors that motivate such trends. The analysis reveals that religious violence in Sri Lanka occurs in two essential forms: ‘chronic’ and ‘acute’ violence. This distinction ought to inform our understanding of the nature of religious violence in this country and help us to better design interventions of prevention and cure. For violence much like illness comes in diverse forms. The diagnosis must be accurate. The response to violence much like treatment for illness must be precise to be potent. INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ETHNIC STUDIES ISBN 978-955-580-168-3 9 789555 801683 Printed by, Horizon Printing (Pvt) Ltd. The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka International Centre for Ethnic Studies & Equitas 2015 The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka Colombo, 2015 Copyrights © International Centre for Ethnic Studies and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education. This publication may be reproduced by any organisation for use in human rights education activities, provided the source is acknowledged and International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education (Equitas) are notified of such use. No part of this publication may be adapted, distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the authorization of ICES and Equitas. Commercial use and reproduction are prohibited. Copyright © International Centre for Ethnic Studies and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education ISBN – 978-955-580-168-3 Legal Deposit - Cover Artwork by Yazan Khalifeh The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka Colombo, 2015 The Chronic and the Acute: Copyrights © International Centre for Ethnic Studies and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education. Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka This publication may be reproduced by any organisation for use in human rights education activities, provided the source is acknowledged and International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education (Equitas) are notified of such use. No part of this publication may be adapted, distributed in any form or by any means, or by stored in a database or retrieval system without the authorization of ICES and Equitas. Commercial use and reproduction are prohibited. Copyright © International Centre for Ethnic Studies and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education ISBN – 978-955-580-168-3 Legal Deposit - * Gehan Gunatilleke * Gehan Gunatilleke is an attorney-at-law and researcher based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is the Research D irector at Verité Research, and also teaches post-graduate courses in human rights, democratisation and Cover Artwork by Yazan Khalifeh development offered by the University of Sydney, University of Colombo and the Open University of Sri Lanka. He is currently a Commonwealth Scholar at New College, University of Oxford. Acknowledgements This research is a component of the Promoting Religious Harmony Project which aims to enhance understanding between different religious groups in Sri Lanka, promote social harmony, and foster inter-religious coexistence. The project is implemented by: International Centre for Ethnic Studies is an independent research centre, with a focus on ethnicity, identity politics, conflict resolution, post-war reconciliation, democracy, governance, human rights, and gender. The mission of ICES is to deepen the understanding of ethnicity, identity politics and conflict, and to foster conditions for an inclusive, just and peaceful society through research, publication, dialogue, creative expression and knowledge transfer. Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education is a non-profit organization that works for the advancement of equality, social justice and respect for human dignity in Canada and around the world through transformative human rights education programs. The International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education (Equitas) wish to thank those who have dedicated their time and expertise and have actively participated in the implementation of the different components of this project. Our thanks to Gehan Gunatillake for writing the report, to Janeen Fernando of Verité Research who assisted with the research and to Dr. Kumudu Kusum Kumara at University of Colombo, and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Open University of Sri Lanka; both of whom reviewed the report and provided comments. We also acknowledge the support of Kethaki Kandanearachchi, Rapti Ratnayake, Samitha Hettige and Chamindry Saparamadu, who assisted with several aspects of the project. This project is made possible through the financial support of the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. Acknowledgements The Chronic and the Acute: Post-War Religious Violence in Sri Lanka This research is a component of the Promoting Religious Harmony Project which aims to enhance understanding between different religious groups in Sri Lanka, promote social harmony, and foster inter-religious coexistence. The project is implemented by: Table of Contents Foreword International Centre for Ethnic Studies is an independent research centre, with a focus Executive Summary on ethnicity, identity politics, conflict resolution, post-war reconciliation, democracy, Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 governance, human rights, and gender. The mission of ICES is to deepen the understanding of ethnicity, identity politics and conflict, and to foster conditions for an 1. Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework ................................................................. 3 inclusive, just and peaceful society through research, publication, dialogue, creative expression and knowledge transfer. 1.1 International standards and best practices ...................................................................... 3 Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education is a non-profit 1.2 Constitutional framework ....................................................................................................... 8 organization that works for the advancement of equality, social justice and respect for human dignity in Canada and around the world through transformative human rights 1.3 Laws on religious violence and hate speech ................................................................. 10 education programs. 1.4 Policy and institutional framework .................................................................................. 12 2. Data on Religious Violence ............................................................................................ 15 The International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) and Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education (Equitas) wish to thank those who have dedicated their time 2.1 Categorisation of religious attacks .................................................................................... 15 and expertise and have actively participated in the implementation of the different components of this project. Our thanks to Gehan Gunatillake for writing the report, to 2.2 Classification of perpetrators .............................................................................................. 16 Janeen Fernando of Verité Research who assisted with the research and to Dr. Kumudu 2.3 Quantitative mapping of religious attacks ..................................................................... 18 Kusum Kumara at University of Colombo, and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Open University of Sri Lanka; both of whom reviewed the report and provided comments. We 2.4 Case studies ................................................................................................................................ 26 also acknowledge the support of Kethaki Kandanearachchi, Rapti Ratnayake, Samitha Hettige and Chamindry Saparamadu, who assisted with several aspects of the project. 2.5 Demographic mapping of religious attacks ................................................................... 30 3. 2.6Context Chronic of Religiousand acute Violenceviolence ................................ ......................................................................................................................................................... 3533 This project is made possible through the financial support of the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. 3.1 Socio-cultural context ............................................................................................................ 35 3.2 Economic context ..................................................................................................................... 38 3.3 Political context .......................................................................................................................
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