Published Paper Details:

The article will enumerate the causes behind the religious extremism in Sri Lanka. It will underline the teachings of the Theravada tradition of Buddhism about war and conflict. Sri Lanka is a land of Buddhists�a religion that preaches peace and harmony. But a section of monks using the erroneous interpretation of texts is justifying violence on minorities. This has inculcated a sense of distrust among the various ethnic and religious groups in the society and transforming Sri Lanka into a majoritarian state. Sri Lanka has experienced similar targeting of minorities during colonial period as well when Buddhist revival movement was taking place. The earlier incidents of conflict and violence against the Muslims help to understand the present incidents which are taking place against them. Thus, the last section will deal with the various causes which have led to the rise to religious extremism in the post-civil war Sri Lanka. The spread of Islamophobia has not only contributed but vindicated the acts of violence on Muslims. The attack on Muslims, justified in the name of extremism in Islam and threat it poses to Buddhism globally, will be analyzed.