Abstract:
This study focuses on how religious pluralism and multi-ethnicity influence peaceful
coexistence in a multi-cultural society. Sri Lanka is one of the multi-ethnic and multi-religious
countries in South Asia where religions and ethnicity play a significant role in determining the
stability of peaceful coexistence, politics, economy, and other socio-cultural changes. The
positive impact of religious pluralism and multi-ethnicity is to promote peaceful coexistence
by breaking down the barriers and bringing a better understanding of other cultures enrich
lives, and encourage tolerance. In Sri Lanka, due to the negative consequence of the religious
plurality and multi-ethnicity, it has experienced religious fundamentalism, racism, prejudice,
and discrimination, and conflict in the past, and peaceful coexistence has threatened. Scholars
in the study argued religious plurality and multi-ethnicity have been impacting positively and
negatively in the process of peaceful coexistence in the country. The secondary data pertaining
to the study have been collected from the various published source's books, research papers,
and other literature in this background. This Research has carried out by reviewing of pieces
of literature survey analysis through descriptive and comparative analysis methods. In
conclusion, Sri Lanka is an ideal place for practicing religious pluralism through multi-cultural
practice to promote coexistence, but that threatens various factors such as political power,
ethnocentrism, religious extremism, and other negative impacts on peaceful coexistence.
