by centuries of conflict between the Sinhalese (mainly Buddhist) and
Tamils (mainly Hindu). For some Sinhalese, Mahayana Buddhism re-
sembled Hinduism – and indeed was followed by many Tamils in early
times – and therefore defence of the Theravada stream was considered
crucial. Many Buddhist sites in India were destroyed in the 10th century
AD, around the time of a Hindu resurgence (and a popular Hindu text
that described the Buddha as a wayward incarnation of Vishnu), further
reinforcing the Sinhalese commitment to protect the tradition.Buddhist Nationalism
Since the late 19th century an influential strand of ‘militant’ Buddhism
has developed in Sri Lanka, centred on the belief that the Buddha charged
the Sinhalese people with making the island a citadel of Buddhism in its
purest form. It sees threats to Sinhalese Buddhist culture in Christianity,
Hinduism and, more recently, Islam. Sri Lankan Buddhism is historically
intertwined with politics, and it was a Buddhist monk who assessinated
Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike’s in 1959 because of his ‘drift’ from a
Sinhala-Buddhist focus, in contradiction of the very first Buddhist pre-
cept against killing. Many Buddhist monks have also strongly opposed
compromise with the Tamils.
In 2007, hardline Sinhalese-nationalist monks achieved leverage in
the Sri Lankan government through the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU;
National Heritage Party). In 2012, a group of monks who felt the JHU
was not aggressive enough in protecting Buddhism, founded the Bodu
Bala Sena (BBS; Buddhist Power Force), which has, along with other
radical groups, been implicated in several protests and attacks against
Muslim and Christian communities in recent years. At a 2013 opening
for a BBS training school, Defense Secretary (and brother of the pres-
ident) Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said in a speech that ‘it is the monks who
protect our country, religion and race’.Hinduism
Tamil kings and their followers from South India brought Hinduism to
northern Sri Lanka, although the religion may have existed on the island
well before the arrival of Buddhism, as a result of the island’s proximity
to India and the natural cultural exchange that would have taken place.
Today, Hindu communities are most concentrated in the north, the east
and tea plantation areas.P OYA DAYS
Poya (or uposatha) days fall on each full moon and have been observed by monks and
laypeople since the time of the Buddha as times to strengthen one’s practice. Devout
Buddhists visit a temple, fast after noon and abstain from entertainment and luxury. At
their temple they may make offerings, attend teachings and meditate. Poya days are
public holidays in Sri Lanka and each is associated with a particular ritual.
Durutu (January) Marks the Buddha’s first supposed visit to the island.
Vesak (May) Celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinibbana (final
passing away).
Poson (June) Commemorates Buddhism’s arrival in Sri Lanka.
Esala (July/August) Sees the huge Kandy festival, which observes, among other things,
the Buddha’s first sermon.
Unduwap (December) Celebrates the visit of Sangamitta, who brought the bodhi tree
sapling to Anuradhapura.For more
information on
Hinduism, see
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
religion/religions/
hinduism.In Hindu mythol-
ogy elephants are
seen as symbols
of water, life and
fortune. They also
signify nobility
and gentleness,
the qualities
achieved when
one lives a good
life. In Sri Lanka,
only the elephant
parades with
sacred Buddhist
relics and Hindu
statues.Peo
P
l
e of Sri
la
nka
Re
LI
g
Io
n