Buddhist-Muslim Religious Co-Existence in Sri Lanka: A Historical Analysis
Keywords:
Sinhala-Buddhists, Multi-religious society, Religious-Coexistence, Sri LankaAbstract
Sri Lanka is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural country. The Sinhalese people constitute the majority ethnic group of Sri Lanka, while Hindus, Muslims, and Christians are the minorities. Many historical records have proven that Muslims in Sri Lanka had a long history of peaceful co-existence with other ethnic groups, especially Sinhala-Buddhists. However, after the end of the civil war in 2009, the hostility against Muslims has increased in various forms. Therefore, sustainable religious co-existence has become a challenge in a multi-religious society like Sri Lanka. This study examines both the historical and current views on the Buddhist-Muslim relationship to enlighten the community about both communities' interactions. This study used a qualitative approach alongside the data collected from research articles, dissertations, books, newspaper articles, websites, activity reports, and publications.
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