Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka

<p>This study investigates the causes of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka from a civilizational point of view using as a base line the studies by Dr. Samuel P. Huntington. Sri Lanka a large island in the Indian Ocean has been engulfed by a separatist guerrilla war since the early 1980s. The armed campaign launched by the rebels mainly Tamil-Hindus against the government dominated by Sinhala-Buddhists is aimed at establishing a separate state in the northern and eastern parts of the island. The study documents the root causes and analyzes the civilizational aspects of this conflict Research demonstrates the conflict as a 'clash of civilizations.' Although the two groups in conflict Sinhala-Buddhists and Tamil-Hindus Share two different cultures they do not appear to have had distinct identities until they came into contact with a completely alien Western civilization. With the European dominance in the region since the sixteenth century Sinhalese and Tamils started establishing identities with the motive of preventing their absorption by the Western civilization. This resulted in friction between the Sinhala and Tamil people. This study identifies the 'clash of civilizations' in Sri Lanka and suggests that this conflict could be resolved by addressing the civilizational aspects of the two groups involved in conflict.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>