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Racism: A national constant?

17 Jan 2021

Despite being a nation with several ethnic communities, coexistence in Sri Lanka has at times been strained, even causing international concern on occasion. Racial tensions between the different communities have fluctuated during the past few decades with political influence playing a sinister role in intensifying tensions. Even after the end of a three-decade civil war, we seem to be unable to escape racial conflict amidst every administrative and constitutional decision. With racial differences coming up and conflicts still surfacing, albeit with more light shed on such situations, we took to the streets to speak to the public to find out if they think we are becoming a racist nation. Here’s what we found out.   The concept of SL is racism Yasodhara Pathanjali, artist  Everything about Sri Lanka is built on racism. From still being very stuck in self-hating colonial ideology to taking pride in being a nation of a particular religious and ethnic community, the entire concept of Sri Lanka from 1948 onwards is racism, and it's exactly what the departing British wanted. Somehow, we work hard to maintain it even today. From our education system and our language issues to our political system, the entire thing is wrapped up in racism. However the people in Sri Lanka are not racist, for the most part. Affects the younger generations
  1. Aaishah, marketer 
Sri Lanka has been going towards extremism in the recent past. It is affecting the younger generations badly and majority support is needed in order to mitigate the risk of another 30-year-old war. Ingrained in people’s minds Priyanka Perera, housewife  There is nothing about Sri Lanka that is not racist. Racism is ingrained into people’s minds. Although a three-decade war came to an end, the root cause that was causing it has not been eliminated. Therefore, we will never not have enough racial conflicts. With everything that is happening right now, it appears that we are becoming a racist nation once again and it is apparent that politicians will try to use that for their advantage and make things worse. The only way to get over this is to change the way people are thinking and this is not something that can be done overnight. Can create turf wars Aishath Manva Mohamed Saeed, design student  The society appears to be very racist and I believe if the younger generation doesn't step up it might eventually lead to extremism. Creating divisions among religions can create turf wars which may lead to the situation in India. For example, last year, India passed a bill about how Muslims cannot get an identity card and this created a massive outbreak and affected both parties. A two-way street Lakshan de Silva, Chairman of Arabian Business Co. Are Sri Lankans racist? Yes and no. while some Sri Lankans are racists, there are also Sri Lankans who get along with the multicultural society. As Sri Lankans, we must also understand that this nation has over 2,500 years of Buddhist cultures and traditions. It should be a duty and responsibility on the part of other races to respect the values of the long history of this soil. This particular statement, I believe, is the root cause of the racism that we speak of today. While Sri Lankan Buddhists preach this, they should also respect other religions. I strongly believe that it is a two-way communication, where we should have respect for all other races. Speaking from personal opinion, I schooled in a Catholic school where I was surrounded by Hindus, Muslims, and Christians or Catholics. Our minds were never corrupted by these remarks. I have had a beautiful childhood with numerous multicultural races. Unluckily enough, I was raised in the midst of a 30-year-old war. Yet I managed to meet Tamil friends whom I call brothers today. I strongly believe that the extremists who we believe come from the soil of this country must be educated and treated in the right way. I believe coexistence in a multicultural society is not hard if you know how to get along with people. Personally, I deal with such things in two simple ways; firstly, by respecting others’ beliefs and secondly, if I do not, I will not speak or comment about the specifics. A smile and a nod will get the job done. Manufactured by politicians Nimasha Dias, receptionist  I do not think Sri Lankans are racist. I think racism is manufactured by politicians as a ploy to divide and conquer. It is these notions that have seeped into society and are resulting in extremism. I believe this threatens the peaceful coexistence amongst various races and religions in the country. However, we may never get away from this as long as people in power pull their puppet strings on us. On the brink of extremism K.G. Dasun Lakshan  I think we are definitely moving towards extremism. My point of view is that the hierarchy of the country has already sucked the nectar and now it’s just the waste left and they are trying to sell the stinking leftover so-called racism to the brainwashed victims of the society (us). I believe we were never a racist nation by its origin but are too with its long-term deterioration. It's going to damage not only the coexistence, but also the growth, youth, and the future of it. I feel that this would drag us into a big mess like another civil war which could have been avoided, but unfortunately or fortunately, we will be able to witness the end. And we are so close to that. Worsening severity
  1. Udayasiri, marketing manager 
Yes, we are becoming a racist nation and yes, that has endangered the coexistence of various groups of people in the country. I believe this is a problem that has remained amongst our society for a long time. However, its severity is showcased with recent incidents.   History should not repeat itself  Hosni Imtiaz, Director of Imtiaz Designers  Sri Lanka is a country which has a vibrant culture and our national flag represents all ethnicities. This itself is a testimony that our country represents all nationalities. We have ended a civil war which prevailed for 26 years. Our lives were uncertain during the period. However, all citizens living in this country have a beautiful future ahead of us which should be protected by the heads of this nation. People who represent our country should set an example whilst bringing together all the nationalities to rise up as a nation. The nature of human beings is that we are interdependent. Every religion has extremist groups. We should neither allow nor control extremism to rise up at any given cost. If this can be done, we will not be going towards extremism. Do we have to reminisce about how we as a nation suffered during the civil war? I believe the lessons learned during that period are sufficient for us not to repeat them. Coexistence is the pillar that sustains many aspects of human life. As human beings, achieving a peaceful, effective, and harmonious coexistence not only helps to sustain our survival as a group, but also helps to promote wellbeing and progress. Leftists’ propaganda N.V. Perera, student  I don't believe Sri Lanka is a racist nation, nor has it been moving towards becoming one. What has happened is, the nationalist, Sri Lanka-first approach of the Government has been interpreted as such by parties that would benefit from it. It is an exaggerated, false narrative created to sow dispute among the people, in my opinion. As I said above, it is not the inherent racism of the country that is harming unity, but rather the leftists' and diaspora's propaganda that creates imaginary monsters for them to slay.  

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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


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