Bhuddist fundamentalism and Sri Lanka

Avis Sri Jayantha
for sangam Research in a BOOK REVIEW OF Buddhist Fundamentalism is a series of essays edited by Prof. Bartholomeusz of Florida State University and Prof. de Silva of Old Dominion University in Virginia says,"The editors, in their introductory chapter, use the Fundamentalism Project of Marty, Appleby and others to describe fundamentalism as 1) a reliance on religion as a source of identity, 2) boundary setting that determines who belongs and who does not, 3) dramatic escatologies [stories which give meaning], and 4) the dramatization and mythologization of enemies (p.2)
According to them, Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalism is different from other fundamentalisms in that there is no insistence on strict behavioral standards and believers do not form a coherent, readily identifiable group. Although there is no “sacred” text or scripture that serves as a blueprint for society, the authors argue that the mythohistorical tract, the Mahavamsa, carries canonical authority. Prof. Steven Kemper is quoted as saying that “the Mahavamsa has become the warrant for the interlocked beliefs that the island and its government have traditionally been Sinhala and Buddhist” (1991, p.2).
The editors emphasize that Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalism is “determined not only by historical tradition and ideology, but by politics as well... As our essayists argue, Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalism, used as a platform for politicians and patriots since the late nineteenth century, is concerned directly with power and dominance, especially dominance by the ethnic majority, the Sinhalese.”(p.8)"

Bhuddisn as a legitimating ideology for the Sri Lankan government. It enables them to define the Tamils as the other.

When a government resorts to religious ideology to delegitimise a minority group this often leads to abominable actions. Over years the other as the enemy becomes a potent weapon. It has been alleged that the Sri Lankan government has just used poison gas on Tamil civilians. Would this be surprise given the prevailing fundamental ideology.

As usual I wonder why this context is absent from reporting on the Sri Lankan conflict.