Abstract:
Post war Sri Lanka continues to face a huge challenge of ethnic integration since, end of a
civil war by military means does not necessarily mean the end of the conflict. This divided
society can only build its shared future out of its divided past by having a well guided
reconciliation process since, reconciliation is an approach which consolidates peace, breaks
the cycle of violence by preventing the possibilities of the use of the past as the seed of
renewed conflict. Further ethnic integration via reconciliation should be a holistic approach
which should go beyond the ethno- religious boundaries in a multi ethnic society like Sri
Lanka. Theravada Buddhism the main religion of Sri Lanka, has a negative view towards
violence. Accommodative nature of Buddhism also provides a vast space for ethnic
integration by bridging the ethnic demarcation lines. Hence, Cambodia provides a promising
initiative for using Buddhism as a tool of post conflict peace building. Nevertheless religion
may not be productive in peace building among the ethnicities, when politicized or
manipulated as a tool of nationalism. Study finds that in the post-war context Sinhala-
Buddhist ideology is the principal and determining goal of a government. When seeking a
ruling ideology previous president, griped the Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism. Yet, neglecting
the reconciliation triumphalism was well promoted. ‗Non violence‘ and ‗Empathy‘ which are
the true essence of Buddhism were undermined by the arrival of fundamentalism. For
instance, in post war Sri Lanka Bodu Bala Sena has emerged as a tool of Sinhala-Buddhist
triumphalism by claiming as a counter - force of Islamic fundamentalism. Hence religious
fundamentalism makes serious damages in the social and ethnic fabric of the country leaving
reconciliation as a hostage of triumphalism. This leaves a huge challenge for the new
government to utilizing of state mechanisms and social movements for the proper
implementation of reconciliation process for ensuring post war ethnic integration.
