Page 52 - RASAS 2025

10 Ruhuna Arts Student’s Annual Sessions (RASAS) -2025
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Youth Movements and Their Influence on Religion and
Spirituality in Modern Sri Lanka

M.H. Hanan
Department of Arabic & Islamic Studies, University of Peradeniya
a20213@arts.pdn.ac.lk

ABSTRACT

Religion and spirituality in Sri Lanka are increasingly shaped by youth participation, particularly within higher

education. This study examines how youth-led religious movements at the University of Peradeniya, namely
the Muslim Majlis, Buddhist Society, Student Union, Tamil Sangam, and the Society of Arabic and Islamic

Studies, contribute to religious practice and spiritual engagement in both traditional and modern contexts. The
objective is to explore how these movements nurture moral discipline, interfaith dialogue, and peaceful
coexistence while addressing challenges of globalization, digital media, and cultural change. The research

adopts a qualitative methodology, combining semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Data
were collected from 15 leaders of student religious societies and 100 students, with a mixed sample of male
and female participants selected within the university framework. Additionally, direct observation of religious

ceremonies and events provided valuable insights into lived practices. Data were analyzed in light of present
experiences and historical developments in Sri Lanka’s religious landscape. The findings show that youth
movements at Peradeniya play a dual role: some aim to revive traditional practices, while others develop

innovative forms of spiritual expression suited to contemporary student life. Overall, these movements
strengthen religious identity while also creating new avenues for spiritual growth, dialogue, and inter-

community understanding. The study concludes that youth are not passive recipients of tradition but active
shapers of Sri Lanka’s evolving religious and spiritual life.

Keywords: activism, interfaith, spirituality, tradition, youth

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