Policy Brief February 28, 2025

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a deeply religious society whose public institutions operate with at least a veneer of a largely secular ethos. The dominant religious traditions, especially Buddhism, profess commitments to peace yet are intertwined in a national history laden with strife and violence. Deep crises have disrupted many ongoing approaches as well as assumptions.
This paper explores issues of religio-nationalism in the spheres of education and social protection
in Sri Lanka, and how religio-nationalism has evolved in the country over time, during pre-colonial and colonial times, and following political independence. The review draws on relevant literature and analysis of more recent developments based on secondary data.
Other Publications
Policy Brief October 21, 2024
Sri Lanka COVID-19 Qualitative Study: Highlights and Takeaways
Policy Brief September 16, 2024

October 7, 2024
A Sri Lankan Paradox: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Political Change
Katherine Marshall and Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne reflect on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka and the recent political change.