Religious pluralism and multi-ethnicity: a threat or opportunity for peaceful coexistence in Sri Lanka – a study

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.