By Lahiruni Dias Amarawardena

Abstract: This paper examines the consequences of religious violence within Sri Lanka, focusing on the case of the 2019 Easter Bombings perpetrated by an Islamic extremist group. It considers the bombings as a catalyst for increased violence against Muslims in the country and a heightened expression of such violence by Sinhalese Buddhists. These distinctions are crucial as they underscore the persistent historical divisions between ethnic and religious groups in Sri Lanka, rooted in the colonial era and reinforced during the country’s violent Civil War spanning from 1983 to 2008. The objective of this paper is to explore how the Easter bombings exacerbated existing societal divisions by analyzing anti-Muslim sentiment in the country, as manifested through acts of violence (both state-sponsored and individual harm) targeting the Muslim community. The measurement of anti-Muslim sentiment relies on reports by the government and external organizations regarding the treatment of Muslims in Sri Lanka, as well as the culmination of such rhetoric by Buddhist nationalist political leaders in the country. Ultimately, the paper concludes that there has been a discernible increase
in anti-Muslim sentiment subsequent to the 2019 Easter bombings. It suggests that the intensified rise of Buddhist nationalism in Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of the attacks, contributes to an uneasy political climate and persistent divisions within the population.