Diplomarbeit

Titel der Diplomarbeit Sinhalese and its interrelation with Identity, Peace and Conflict

Verfasserin

Nisansala Sirimalwatta

angestrebter akademischer Grad

Magistra der Philosophie (Mag. Phil.)

Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 057 390

Studienrichtung lt. Zulassungsbescheid: Internationale Entwicklung

Betreuer: Dr. Wilfried Graf

Wien, im März, 2009 Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 3

I INTRODUCTION 4 1 Epistemic interest 4 2 Methodology 6

II INTRODUCTION INTO A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 8 1 Nationalism: Approaching a Holistic Framework of Understanding 10 2 The Cultural Dimension of Nationalism 11 2.1 Print Capitalism and Promoting Nationalism: Spreading 13 a ‘Social Construction’ 3 Structural Dimension of Nationalism 14 4 The Agent/Agency − Dimension of Nationalism 16 4.1 Defining National Identity 16 4.2 Ethnic Heritage and Nationalism 17 4.3 Educating Consensus 18 4.4 The Functions and Meanings of National Identity 19 5 The Non-Western Conception of the Nation 20 6 Discourses on Nationalism and Identity 22 7 Conclusion 24

III LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR MODERN 26 SINHALESE NATIONALISM IN CEYLON 1 Sinhalese Societal Structure in the Eighteenth Century 27 2 Structural Changes through British Colonialism 28 2.1 State and Religion in Ceylon 31 3 Cultural Changes: Religious Revival as Precursor for Nationalism 32 3.1 Arrival of Print Capitalism and the Formation of 32 ‘Protestant Buddhism’ 4 Anagarika Dharmapala as an Agent of Early Sinhalese Nationalism 35 5 The Temperance Movement and the Anti-Moors Riots of 1915: 37 Two Examples of Arousing Nationalist Sentiments 6 Agents of Change: National Identity and the Role of the 41 Ceylonese Elites 6.1 English and Vernacular Education 41 6.2 The Elite in Colombo and its Notions of Nationalism 42 6.2.1 Communal versus Universal 44 7 Post-Orientalist Identity Discourse in Ceylon 46 7.1 The Invention of Modern Ethnic Identities 47 7.2 Colonial Census in Ceylon 48 7.3 The Introduction of the Aryan Theory 52 7.4 The Pali-Chronicles: The Role of Religious Mythology 53 8 Conclusion 55

»» 1 IV HISTORY OF IDENTITIES IN POSTCOLONIAL 58 1 Majority Politics: Consolidating Nationalist Values 58 2 Constitutional Developments: Framing Identity and Discrimination 62 3 Influencing the Socio-Cultural Perception: Obstacles to Inter-Ethnic 63 Accommodations 4 The Rise and Success of Sinhala Nationalism 67 4.1 Creating Unity and Empowering the Sinhalese Masses 67 4.2 Sinhala Nationalising the State 70 5 The Janatha Vikmuthi Peramuna: Insurrection in the 73 Name of a Sinhala Nation 5.1 Socioeconomic Stimulation for Sinhala Nationalism 78 6 The Role of Elites and the Masses 81 7 Cultural Production through the State: Education and Media 83 8 The Rise of the Tamil Tigers 85 : the Anti-Tamil of 1983 88 9 Conclusion 91

V SINHALESE NATIONALISM − IDENTITY , CONFLICT 96 AND PEACE IN PRESENT -DAY SRI LANKA 1 Three Gaps in Peacebuilding 97 1.1 The Interdependence Gap 97 1.2 The Justice Gap 98 1.3 The Process-Structure Gap 99 1.4 The Authenticity Gap 99 2 The Sri Lankan Peace Process in Brief 100 Excursion: Tsunami, Peace and Sinhalese Nationalism 102 3 Gaps in the Sri Lankan Peace Initiatives 103 4 Exploring Perceptions of Rural Sinhalese Youth: 106 Introspective Thoughts 4.1 Methodological Choice 108 4.2 Participants 108 4.3 Procedure 109 4.4 Picturing My Own Experiences and Thoughts on 110 Interviewing Rural Sinhalese Young Adults 4.4.1 Sinhalese are Very Hospitable People, Smiling and Friendly 111 5 Conclusion: Peaceful National Identities 120

VI SOURCES 126

VII APPENDIX − Questions for the interview 134

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG (139) − SUMMARY (141) 139

CURRICULUM VITAE 143

»» 2 Acknowledgments

The writing of my thesis has benefited enormously fr